Event Type : Tours, Talks & Walks

Starting at The Jewellers Arms in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter we take a leisurely walk around the area looking at:

Harriet Samuels factory The largest jewellery chain in Britain

Art Deco Mother & Child painted mahogany statue by William Bloye.

The Tree of Life mosaic in Richmond Park by Cathy Ryall.

The Supreme works reliefs by William Bloye.

The Palladium opened in 1911.

The Old Toll House, Arts & Crafts building.

Dogs are welcome.

If you’re interested in Birmingham its history and architecture, this is for you.

We start and finish at the Jewellers Arms in the Jewellery Quarter.

Founded in 1553, the Jewellery Quarter still produces 40% of all Jewellery sold in Britain.

Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter was and still is a unique place steeped in incredible history. We look at some fantastic creations, from diamonds, gold and silver, to buttons and badges.

Hidden away from the busy main roads, you will find narrow alleyways, hidden courtyards and Georgian buildings to explore.

The tour is on footpaths and is approximately 1 mile, and takes 1 1/2 hours.

Join the Celebrating Birmingham’s Burial Grounds project and discover which birds make their homes in the magnificent Jewelry Quarter Cemetery of Key Hill with this early morning dawn chorus walk.

The event will be held in a socially distanced, covid safe manner and will meet all the current rules regarding gathering outdoors.

The Celebrating Birmingham’s Burial Grounds Project is an initiative of the burial ground conservation charity Caring for God’s Acre funded by Historic England, The National Heritage Lottery Fund and the Garfield Weston Foundation. Find out more about the work of Caring for God’s Acre by visiting www.caringforgodsacre.org.uk .

Join me on a leisurely stroll around the lost pubs of Birmingham’s fabulous Jewellery Quarter. We look for the locations of The Pelican, The Salutation, The Gothic, The Duke of York, The Vampire, and The Engin. As we search for the lost pubs, we explore the rich history and unique buildings of the Jewellery Quarter. We start and end at one of the oldest pubs, the Jewellers Arms.

Key Hill sits on the edge of what remained in the latter part of the 18th century of Birmingham Heath. Its history reflects the history of the heath and of the growing town of Birmingham. Its natural geology has played an important role in its development first by the Overseers of the Poor and then as the General Cemetery.

Key Hill House was the first Birmingham home that the Scottish engineer James Watt returned to from Scotland with his young son, James junior. Though the Watts leased the house for only six months it stood for a further 120 years and the subsequent tenants and owners reflect the industrial development of the area and as such are no less interesting.

When George Demidowicz, who has published extensively on the historical geography and archaeology of Birmingham and the West Midlands, and John Townley, an independent researcher with an interest in steam power, realised that they were both researching the same building, Harper’s Hill House, they decided to pool their efforts. What has subsequently emerged is a history of all three of James Watt’s Birmingham homes: Key Hill House, New Hall and Harper’s Hill House, the homes that he lived in for fifteen years before his final move out the town of Birmingham to Heathfield, in Handsworth.

This talk is free but places are limited. The talk will take place via zoom and ticket holders will be sent a link to join on the day of the event.

We visit the two-tier catacombs.

The druid burial that looks like it should be at Stonehenge

The grave of Alfred Bird of Birds custard

The man who invented tennis.

The inventor of the lightbulb

The JQ connection with the Titanic

The Avery scales family

The printer whose embalmed body was moved around Birmingham.

The walk takes approximately two hours and involves walking over uneven ground, so sturdy footwear and good mobility is recommended.

We visit the two-tier catacombs.

The druid burial that looks like it should be at Stonehenge

The grave of Alfred Bird of Birds custard

The man who invented tennis.

The inventor of the lightbulb

The JQ connection with the Titanic

The Avery scales family

The printer whose embalmed body was moved around Birmingham.

The walk takes approximately two hours and involves walking over uneven ground, so sturdy footwear and good mobility is recommended.

Harriet Samuels factory The largest jewellery chain in Britain

Art Deco Mother & Child painted mahogany statue by William Bloye.

The Tree of Life mosaic in Richmond Park by Cathy Ryall.

The Supreme works reliefs by William Bloye.

The Palladium opened in 1911.

The Old Toll House, Arts & Crafts building.

Dogs are welcome.

If you’re interested in Birmingham, its history and architecture, this is for you.

We start and finish at the Jewellers Arms in the Jewellery Quarter.

If the event is cancelled due to Covid regulations, full refunds will apply.

Join Dennis Cluley, who has been working in the Jewellery Quarter since 2007, for an informative evening tour exploring Key Hill and Warstone Lane cemeteries, a fun way to end the work day!

A fantastic chance to explore the newly restored cemeteries and learn about famous faces from Birmingham past who found their final resting places in the Jewellery Quarter, including John Baskerville who died once and was buried three times!

Tickets cost £5 and booking is essential as places are limited to ensure social distancing. Ticket revenue will contribute to the gravestone restoration fund. You will visit some memorials in need of restoration on the tour.

We will meet outside The Rose Villa Tavern at 5.30pm and walk over to the cemeteries together. The tour takes around 1 hour and 30 mins but questions are encouraged so please allow 2 hours.