The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter is built around a perfectly preserved jewellery workshop offering a unique glimpse of working life in Birmingham’s famous Jewellery Quarter.
When the proprietors of the Smith & Pepper jewellery manufacturing firm retired in 1981 they simply ceased trading and locked the door, unaware they would be leaving a time capsule for future generations.
Today the factory is a remarkable museum, which tells the story of the Jewellery Quarter and Birmingham’s renowned jewellery and metalworking heritage.
Explore this extraordinary time capsule on a lively guided tour. Watch live demonstrations at the jewellers’ bench of the traditional skills of this fine trade, and discover what it was like to work here.
The museum also contains two self-led galleries – ‘Story of the Jewellery Quarter’ which explores the history and development of the Jewellery Quarter and ‘Earth’s Riches’ which displays jewellery made from natural materials from across the world.
Here you will find things left as they were on Smith & Pepper’s last working day. Gather round the main jewellers’ bench to watch a demonstration of the traditional skills of this fine trade and discover what it was like to work here.
The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter shop and Smith and Pepper Tearoom are free to visit and are open Tuesday to Saturday (and Bank Holiday Mondays) from 10.30am – 5pm.
Smith & Pepper Tearoom
The Smith & Pepper Tearoom has a delightful adjoining courtyard for visitors to enjoy.
We sell freshly made sandwiches, cakes and biscuits along with a selection of teas and coffees. Download the Smith & Pepper Tearoom menu .
The tearoom was once a jewellery factory called T.L. Mott and produced butterfly wing jewellery.
Shop
The museum gift shop sells original work by local designer makers, along with a wide variety of gifts, greetings cards and books.
The shop is located in the museum entrance.
Shop Online
The shop at The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter now also has an online shop where you can purchase a fantastic range of unique gifts and souvenirs and have them delivered straight to your door.
As well as getting a great gift, all shop purchases help to support Birmingham Museums Trust to continue to care for Birmingham’s unique collection and the delivery of our award winning education programme.
Did you know that The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter is one of many museums in Birmingham?