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 Birimingham museum by sourbugger
It's a impressive collection of artefacts, paintings and local history housed within an exuberant building of Victorian ironwork.
The Edwardian tearoom is a delight, and very few could fail to be impressed by what is probably the best collection of pre-Rafaelite paintings in the world.
If you only go to see the building itself - do. You are bould to be sidetracked by the well-thought out and well displayed galleries. Leave a Comment
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www.templegallery.co.uk by Imbi
Time
9.30am-5.30pm Mon-Sat Leave a Comment Address: 5 Great Western Arcade
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 Pen Museum, Birmingham by eddilowe
Admission FREE
This bit from the Pen Museum website:
"Birmingham was the centre of the world pen trade for more than a century, employing thousands of people, and pioneering craftsmanship, manufacturing processes and employment opportunities for women. The availability of cheap pens enabled the development of education and literacy throughout the world."
This museum has only been fully open since 2002. It was really interesting and even though I have lived in Birmingham since I was a teenager I knew nothing of the history of the trade. Ask the museum staff to talk you through the displays, they were all very friendly on our visit (I believe they are all volunteers who are interested in the trade so make use of their knowkledge). Ask to see both rooms as it isn't obvious that the second room is even there and that is where most of the exhibits are.
There are displays of writing equipment made in Birmingham the history of the pen companies. You learn about the manufacturing process and the staff let us have a go at operating the hand presses and making a pen nib for ourselves. You are also encouraged to ahve a go at writing with reed pens, quills, steel pens & typewriters. Leave a Comment Address: Unit 3,The Argent Centre, Frederick St,Bham B1 3HSPhone: +44 (0)121 236 9834Directions: From St Phillips Cathedral in Bham town centre, go down Newhall Street and Graham Street. At crossroads at top of Graham Street on opposite corner on your right is the Argent Centre.Website: http://www.penroom.co.uk/
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 Museum of the Jewellery
Quarter by eddilowe
Admission FREE
The organised tour is a must. It lasts for an hour. When you enter the shop section ask staff to allocate you to an organised tour. At busy periods you may have to go away and come back later so you would be advised to head here first and get booked onto a tour at whatever time suits you best. You can always ring the museum beforehand to see what they advise.
History of the Museum
The museum is centred around the old Smith & Pepper jewellery factory. This was founded in the 1890s by Charles Smith and his uncle Edward Pepper. Their mark S&P was registered with the Assay Office in 1899. They manufactured brooches, bangles, lockets etc for the wholesale trade. If you have an old Bamboo bangle it may have come from Smith & Pepper so check the marks.....
Eventually running of the business passed to 3 of Smith's 9 children, Eric, Olive and Tom, who ran the company until the 1980s. At this time being aged in their 70s and 80s they wanted to retire but none of the 3 had any children and due to a recession they found it impossible to sell the business.
So one day in 1981 all the managers and workers downed tools and closed up shop for one last time. The factory was "discovered" 10 years later exactly as it had been left a decade before, just as though all the workers would walk back in at any moment and so Birmingham City Council decided to preserve it exactly as it was and turn it into a museum.
What I found fascinating was that the factory looked exactly as it would've done at the turn of the century. There was no modernisation at all and it really is like stepping back in time. The whole time the factory was in production nothing really changed - manufacturing processes never changed, I don't even think the decor changed.
Check website or phone for opening hours/days as it changes slightly throughout the year. Appears to be closed most Mondays.
Well worth a visit. Leave a Comment Address: 75-79 Vyse Street, Hockley, Birmingham, B18 6HAPhone: +44 [0]121 554 3598Directions: Metro tram line Birmingham Snow Hill to Jewellery Quarter station only 50 metres from museum. There is a road map on the website. Or, from end of Charm Bracelet trail at the clock, cross straight over and walk all the way down Vyse Street.Website: http://www.bmag.org.uk/jewellery_quarter/
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 Sarehole Mill by eddilowe
JRR Tolkien, author of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit lived near Sarehole as a child and as such, a connection with the mill is strong. The rustic village of Sarehole is said to have been the inspiration for The Shire in Lord of the Rings.
I haven't been here for years although for about 3 years I drove past it every day on my way to where I used to work. With the recent LOTR films it seems inevitable that the place will attract more people and I hope to visit there again soon.
Admission:
Free Admission. Open Easter to the end of October Tuesday to Sunday 11.30am to 4pm. Closed Mondays except Bank Holidays
An interesting website on the Tolkien Discovery Trail is virtualbrum
They always have a Tolkien weekend at Sarehole Mill every year which is a big affair. Not sure on dates but I'm sure an Internet search would help you.
I learned a few things about my own city on this website! Leave a Comment Address: Colebank Road, Hall Green, B'ham B13 0BDPhone: +44 [0]121 777 6612Directions: Buses: Number 11 (+44 [0]121 200 2700 travel information)Website: http://www.bmag.org.uk/sarehole_mill/
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I went to the Gas Hall to see the wonderful "Turner's Britain" exhibition. There were so many unusual paintings and drawing brought together it gave you a new insight into this artist. I had thought only of his seascapes and industrial paintings prior to this exhibition. I had not expected all his landscape and technical architectural drawings and sketches, neither had I expected to learn so much about his friends and politics. One learnt, through the works on show, about his commercial side; his poor childhood; who commissioned his works and something of his meteroric rise in stature.
The Gas Hall was originally the place where Birmingham residents came to pay their gas bills in the Victorial period when gas was manufactured and sold by the local council and not by private profit-making utilities as now. It has been converted into a large open space with a cast iron roof and lots of natural lighting from the roof, and is now used for special exhibitions. There was a charge for this one but many of the exhibitions in the Gas Hall are free. Leave a Comment
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 www.bmag.org.uk by grayfo
email bmag.enquiries@birmingham.gov.uk Leave a Comment Address: 75 - 79 Vyse Street, Hockley, Birmingham. B18 6HAPhone: +44 121 554 3598Directions: The Jewellery Quater
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 Back to back houses by GalahadLeave a Comment Address: Corner of Hurst Street and Inge StreetDirections: Just to the south of the Inner Ring Road not far from New Street Station.
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 BMAG by grayfo
The museum is very pro active in its exhibitions and displays. A visit to the Edwardian Tea Room should not be missed and the museum has its own shop. The museum has over a million visitors a year.
Admission free (but donations are advised). Leave a Comment Address: Chamberlain Square, Birmingham. B3 3DHPhone: +44 121 303 2834Website: www.bmag.org.uk
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 Picasso's Hatstand by M0B1US
First thing to note is that the museum is FREE, apart from the Gas Hall exhibition (currently Beatrix Potter) and that after the far from grand entrance, as you climb the steps you are greeted by the beautiful Round Room which is part of the impressive Fine Art exhibition.
From here you can venture through the shop into a balconied room containing decorative ceramic tiles and then on from there into the Edwardian Tearoom...
What the gallery is justly famous for is its collections of Pre-Raphaelite art which is some of the best in the World!
Other exhibits include extensive collections of archaeology, silverware, natural history and sculpture - so something for every one!
I have to say one of my favourite exhibits was the model of the Acropolis of Athens... ;-) Leave a Comment Address: Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, B3 3DHPhone: +44 [0]121 303 2834Directions: Just around the corner from Victoria Square and New Street. MAPWebsite: http://www.bmag.org.uk/
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