Early history of Birmingham

The town of Birmingham came into existence in the 1160s, but people have lived in this area for hundredof thousands of years.

The earliest authentic notice of Birmingham occurs in Domesday Book of 1086, where it was describe as a small village in which it is called Bermengeham.

The de Bermingham family held the Lordship of the manor of Birmingham for four hundred years from around 1150. In 1156 Peter de Birmingham obtained a market charter from Henry II, but it was not until the 14th century that it emerged as a settlement of any significance.

During the last four centuries it has been variously written Brumwycheham, Bromwycham, Brummagen and Burmyngham.

Pottery was being made in Birmingham by the thirteenth century. The kilns were positioned on the edge of the town to keep them away from wooden buildings, because of the fire risk. Birmingham pottery has become known as ‘Deritend ware’ because of the area in which it was made.

Birmingham established itself in the field of industry, starting off with the wool trade in the thirteenth century, and becoming an important center for the metal and iron industries from the sixteenth century onwards.

Between 1550 and1700 Birmingham’s population grew from 1,500 to11,500. By 1700it was the fifth largest town in England with a national reputation for metal working.
Early history of Birmingham