Birmingham has shaped more of modern life than most people realise. This week’s Birmingham Brief looks at some of the inventions, industries and ideas that helped put the city on the world stage, from steam power and the Industrial Revolution to pens, buttons and the Assay Office in the Jewellery Quarter. Matthew Boulton and James Watt helped transform industry through their work on the modern steam engine, while Birmingham’s makers, manufacturers and jewellers built a reputation that reached far beyond the city. The Jewellery Quarter still carries so much of that story today. From the Pen Museum to the Assay Office and places like The Button Factory, Birmingham’s history is hidden in the names, buildings and streets we walk past every day. That’s what makes this city so special. It’s not just where things happened, it’s where ideas were made, industries were built and everyday objects became part of global life. Follow for more local insight into Birmingham’s culture, community and property market. #Birmingham #JewelleryQuarter #BirminghamHistory #WestMidlands

Posted by Miller Rose at 2026-07-31 08:31:51 UTC