During the Victorian era, Birmingham was the epicentre of the world’s pen trade (it’s important to note that pens in those days were what we’d call nibs today). In the Jewellery Quarter, there were about 129 pen factories, employing around 8,000 craftspeople (70% of whom were women), creating about 100,000 varieties of pens. So where better to open the UK’s only pen museum?
The Pen Museum can be found within an old pen factory, at the Grade II* listed Argent Centre, celebrating the Birmingham pen trade during the 19th century. And while all that may sound a little dry and boring from the outset, it’s actually one of Birmingham’s quirkiest and most interesting museums—boasting a range of interactive activities that everyone can enjoy.
What’s there to do at The Pen Museum?
You’ll not only be learning about the many pen companies of Birmingham (once responsible for 75% of all pens worldwide) and the history of the trade, from quills to fountain pens, but you’ll be able to have a go at making your own nib using traditional machinery, and experience the conditions of steel pen workers.
You can also have a go at learning calligraphy; try out the differences between feather quills, reed pens, and steel pens; and use graphology to analyse your own handwriting. Plus, discover prominent pen manufacturer Josiah Mason’s role in founding the University of Birmingham
This is all on top of a range of displays, activities, classes, and talks, all aimed at keeping the legacy of the pen alive. You’ll also find regular events taking place at The Pen Museum. These can range from modern calligraphy classes to murder mysteries, living heritage days and guided tours of the museum itself.
What else can I do in the Jewellery Quarter?
Nicknamed ‘The City of a Thousand Trades’, pen nibs weren’t Birmingham’s only famous output in the Jewellery Quarter. In fact, you will find several museums celebrating the Second City’s industrial past—including the Newman Brothers’ Coffin Works museum and the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter (where you will find the jeweller Smith & Pepper’s preserved workshop).
The Pen Museum is open Thursday to Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm, with tickets starting from £8.95 for an adult and £4.70 for a child (5 to 15). You can learn more by heading here.
