We were staying a few days in Birmingham and I was keen to visit the Jewellery Quarter. We strolled to it from the city centre. The whole area was fascinating as we noted the two Pavement Trails, Charm Bracelet and Findings, telling the history of the various buildings, past and present. So many jewellery workshops, button-making factories, retailers, metal warehouse, the assay office, and the 1779 "Jewellers' Church" of St Paul's.
The Museum is built around an actual preserved jewellery workshop. It had been a family-run jewellery manufacturing firm for many years and when the brothers ceased trading in 1981, they just locked the door and left everything as it had been. We had a fascinating guided tour round by a young lady jeweller, who demonstrated how to use the old machines in the traditional way.
Afterwards we were able to look round the gallery admiring the locally-made glittering jewellery and metalware as well as learning about how things were for the workers in the old days. A really unusual and intriguing visit. It's situated quite close to the Jewellery Quarter Train station.
Regretfully I didn't notice how suitable it was for disabled visitors, but am sure the website would say.
