The Georgian Square around St. Paul's Church (the last Georgian Square in Birmingham) saw such distinguished residents as James Watt, inventor of the steam engine and Washington Irving - who wrote The Legend of Sleepy Hollow while living with his sister here. John Baskerville, printer, calligrapher and designer of the famous typeface that bears his name, is buried in St. Paul's churchyard.
By the early 20th century, 30,000 people were employed in Birmingham's jewelry trade. But because the Jewellery Quarter was a tight knit community of artisans, crafts people and manufacturers - with little retail activity, it was, until recently, Birmingham's secret.
Not any more.
Today it is a jewelry buyers heaven. Of the 400 jewelry related businesses in the area, 100 are retail jewelry shops. The area is rich in designer-makers who create custom made items at remarkably reasonable prices. Much of the jewelry that is made and sold in the quarter is also sold on to stylish London jewelers (who sell it at much higher prices). In fact, 40 per cent of the jewelry sold in the whole of the UK is made here. The area's assay office, where gold is tested and given its quality mark, is the busiest assay office in the world.
Get here onthe Birmingham Metro tram, from Snow Hill Station to Jewellery Quarter Station. Cross St. Paul's Churchyard to Vyse Street and the Jewellery Quarter Information Centre at 120 Vyse Street, then just follow your nose.
Take a walk in the Jewellery Quarter.
