Birmingham has long been known as ‘the city of 1,000 trades’.
The city grew to prominence as a centre of manufacturing and engineering in the 1700s and 1800s, leading the industrial revolution and was the home of many highly-skilled firms producing a huge range of products - with some firms from that time still in business today.
The Gun Quarter, for example, became the area of the city that was, for many years, a centre of the world’s gun-manufacturing industry. And many other manufacturers also based their operations in Birmingham with different companies and factories producing toys, watches, bicycles, guns, clothes, and later, motorcycles and cars.
Birmingham also became known for the Jewellery Quarter, which is home to more than 100 retailers, diamond dealers, and workshops. A huge 40% of the jewellery made in the UK is still produced by the 300 independent manufacturers of the city’s Jewellery Quarter, continuing a trade first recorded in Birmingham in 1308.
Numerous inventors also emerged during Birmingham’s past, and the city’s skilled workforce and infrastructure encouraged other inventors and businessmen from across the world to set up shop in the city.
So, we’ve taken a look at 13 Birmingham’s longest-running businesses - with the oldest dating back more than 350 years:
5. Hortons & Sons, Gun Quarter
Steve Horton’s 272 year-old business Hortons & Sons, has supplied guns to Earls, Lords and members of the Royal Family - some of which still sit in the Sandringham Estate Gunroom. The business was founded in 1751 and today is ran by dad-of-five Steve | Google
6. The Diskery, Birmingham city centre
With the city’s legendary music scene, it’s only right we included Birmingham’s oldest surviving record shop in this list. The Diskery opened in 1952 and has been supplying music in the city ever since. The record store is currently located on Bristol Street. | Google
7. Cadbury, Bournville
Cadbury in Bournville of course makes our list. Arguably the most famous company to come from the city, Cadbury was formed in 1847, John Cadbury became a partner with his brother Benjamin and the company became known as “Cadbury Brothers”. The Cadbury factory is located in Bournville, south Birmingham | Local TV
8. The Old Crown, Digbeth
One of Birmingham’s most famous watering holes. The Old Crown in Digbeth claims to be one of the oldest extant secular buildings in England. It is Grade II* listed, and first opened in 1368, retaining its “black and white” timber frame, although almost all of the present building dates from the early 16th century. | Google Street View