As I'm sure many of you are aware Birmingham was the hub of the Jewellery trade in Britain for many years. Most of the city's factories were in what is now known as the "Jewellery Quarter" which is an area peppered with small independent workshops making everything from watch cases to earrings, trophies and fine tableware.
I've struggled to find out much about the buildings early history. Most of the buildings around this area of Birmingham were built in the 1860's, and were designed to have a shop at ground level with workshops above. This building seems to have been laid out in such a fashion. Particularly lavish for a workshop, the building boasts some very nice plasterwork and carpentry on it's staircases. Originally my best guess is most of the upstairs was workshops, with a trade counter at the top floor, served by a hatch in a door. Here original racking and safes can still be seen, along with a dispenser for wrapping paper.
In about 1963 the first floor was occupied by the 'marmoset nightclub', which was an executive club for "the discerning". The ripped up photos of scantily clad dolly birds may add an insight as to the kind of club the marmoset was. My guess is it closed some time in the late 60's and other than the shop below being used as a cafe and a couple of floors above being used as offices the greater part of the building has been disused ever since.
The floor above, which was the original office to the jewellers had been used as the clubs office. This whole floor had been plaster boarded off some time in the early 70's and only a tiny hole allowed access... the whole place was a time capsule, kind of like if you dropped an imperial tonne of pigeon crap on the black country museum.
This must be 1930's if not older
I'd suggest that chimney will be on the deck pretty soon!
The club's bar
Flypress, minus it's handle
The cellar still had this range in situ
I've struggled to find out much about the buildings early history. Most of the buildings around this area of Birmingham were built in the 1860's, and were designed to have a shop at ground level with workshops above. This building seems to have been laid out in such a fashion. Particularly lavish for a workshop, the building boasts some very nice plasterwork and carpentry on it's staircases. Originally my best guess is most of the upstairs was workshops, with a trade counter at the top floor, served by a hatch in a door. Here original racking and safes can still be seen, along with a dispenser for wrapping paper.
In about 1963 the first floor was occupied by the 'marmoset nightclub', which was an executive club for "the discerning". The ripped up photos of scantily clad dolly birds may add an insight as to the kind of club the marmoset was. My guess is it closed some time in the late 60's and other than the shop below being used as a cafe and a couple of floors above being used as offices the greater part of the building has been disused ever since.
The floor above, which was the original office to the jewellers had been used as the clubs office. This whole floor had been plaster boarded off some time in the early 70's and only a tiny hole allowed access... the whole place was a time capsule, kind of like if you dropped an imperial tonne of pigeon crap on the black country museum.
This must be 1930's if not older
I'd suggest that chimney will be on the deck pretty soon!
The club's bar
Flypress, minus it's handle
The cellar still had this range in situ
