1700s - Gold Age of Birmingham began
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1700s Gold Age of Birmingham began. Regional centre of industry, trade and culture. Rebuilding and enlargement. Invention and enterprise. Machinery and improved communications. Growth of metal trades - small wares requiring little material and much skill, because of distance from raw materials and markets, cost of packhorse transport. Brassware, 'toys', buckles, buttons, guns, jewellery. Company of Gunmakers former. 1707 King Edward's Grammar School rebuilt. 1709 St. Philip's Church built, centre of new planned town of Georgian elegance. Rich families beginning to move from old houses, now being converted wholly to industry. Lower town steadily declining to slums. 1716 First abortive attempt to obtain Charter of Incorporation for Birmingham. Efficient administration impossible when burgesses lacked control of their own community. 1720s Turnpike Acts obtained for main roads out of city. 1724 Bluecoat School established. 1728 Birmingham goods sold all over Europe 1731 Westley's Plan for Birmingham published. First known (1553 plan deduced therefrom.) 1734 Workhouse built. |
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