Official Website of Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter » Museums

St Paul’s Gallery

jqadmin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:51:20 +0000

St Paul’s Gallery was founded in 2001 and specialises in music related artwork and artefacts. Its collection of works from bands including Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie and Queen attracts customers and collectors from across the globe.

St Paul’s Gallery is the World’s largest retailer of signed limited edition album cover art prints and displays every image within the vast white wall gallery. All prints are signed by the original artists and many also signed by band members including Jimmy Page, Mark Knopfler & Paul Weller.

Many musicians visit the gallery and donate concert artifacts including stage concert banners, guitars, drums and rare artefacts. Regular launches are held of new album cover editions, often with the band members present.

St Paul’s Gallery also offers a range of limited edition signed musician photographs and portraits including Madonna, Keith Richards & Frank Zappa.

There is also an in house framing service available. There is a full online catalogue on the web site www.stpaulsgallery.com

St Paul’s Gallery
94 Northwood Street
Birmingham
B3 1TH

Opening Hours
Monday – Saturday: 10am – 6pm
Sunday 11 – 4pm

Pen Room Museum & Learning Centre

penroom — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:32:37 +0000

During the 19th Century, 75% of everything written in the world was with a ‘Birmingham’ pen. Birmingham was at the forefront of this trade until it declined in the 1950’s with the invention of the biro and fountain pen. At one time there were about 100 factories in the Jewellery Quarter area. The development of the steel pen reduced the cost of writing and enabled the spread of literacy throughout the world.

Set in the atmosphere of a former Victorian pen factory, the Pen Room Museum is dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of this trade. There is ongoing research into the social, historical and technical aspects of the trade and also the Jewellery Quarter itself. The museum has assisted people tracing their genealogy and is keen to hear from anybody who has had connections with the trade.

The Pen Room is more than just a passive museum with objects on display. It is a hands on collection! Visitors can try writing with a variety of different implements including quills and typewriters; you can also try writing in Braille or make your own pen nib using original machinery.

The Pen Room has a range of educational activities that covers both formal and informal learning. The collection can be used to support a variety of curricular subjects including literacy, local history and citizenship. Calligraphy Classes are held at the Pen Room on Saturday mornings from 10am – 11.30am.

The Museum is keen to form partnerships with community groups to encourage participation in various cultural activities. For more information please use the contact details below or visit the Pen Room website www.penroom.co.uk

Opening Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 11am – 4.00pm
Sunday: 1.00pm – 4.00pm

Address:
Pen Room Museum & Learning Centre
Unit 3, The Argent Centre
60 Frederick Street
Hockley
Birmingham
B1 3HS

Main contact: Malcolm Caston

Museum of the Jewellery Quarter

jqmuseum — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 08:29:14 +0000

Enjoy a guided tour around a real jewellery factory little changed since the early part of the last century, including a demonstration of jewellery making techniques at the jeweller’s bench. For more than eighty years Smith and Pepper produced jewellery from this workshop, founded in 1899.

The ‘Earth’s Riches’ gallery showcases jewellery made from material found in the natural world, from whale tooth and coral to diamond and platinum. A wide range of original jewellery by local designer makers is sold through the museum shop, as well as a wide variety of gifts and books.

In a new extension opened in 2009, the Museum tells the story of jewellery production in Birmingham over the last 200 years as well as exploring the Jewellery Quarter as it is today. A new temporary exhibition space will also be created and supported by a programme of workshops and events for all the family.

The Museum was recently voted in the top 3 of free European visitor attractions above such world famous attractions as the Notre Dame.

Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday 10:30am to 4:00pm all year round, plus Bank Holidays.

Location: 75-80 Vyse Street, just 75 metres from the Jewellery Quarter clock and 25 metres from the Jewellery Quarter Station.