History of Birmingham – From market town to post-industrial metropolis

Birmingham was a place of some consideration at the time of the conquest; and gave name to the ancient family of Birmingham, who then and long after possessed the lordship and obtained a market for Henry I (1068-1135), and two fairs from Henry III.

Birmingham is the second-largest city in England. It began as a Saxon village. The earliest authentic notice of Birmingham occurs in Domesday Book of 1086, where it was described as a small village in which it is called Bermengeham.

During the last four centuries it has been variously written Brumwycheham, Bromwycham, Brummagen and Burmyngham. In the early 12th century it was popular market town. Birmingham’s first market charter was granted in 1166.

In 1250 the people of Birmingham were given the right to hold a fair each Summer. In the Middle Ages, a fair was like a market but it was held only once a year.

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.

By then it was also known for leatherworking. Leather was tanned then used to make gloves, saddles, bottles, shoes, and many other things. The development of Birmingham’s extensive canal network marked Birmingham as a key player in the global export market.

In the mid-seventeenth century, Birmingham was largest market town in Warwickshire that was the world’s first true industrial town, its population tripling by the end of the century.

In the reign of Charles I (1600-1649), Birmingham distinguished itself in the parliamentary cause and was the scene of some conflict’s, in the last of which in 1643, it suffered considerably, having been taken, partially burnt and a heavy fine inflicted on the inhabitants by Prince Rupert.

In the eighteenth century, Birmingham was the center of Britain’s Industrial revolution. Metalworking of all kinds flourished in the town. There were also many gunsmiths and some locksmiths. In the late 18th-century glass making boomed in Birmingham.

In the 19th century, George and Richard Cadbury opened their iconic chocolate factory in Bournville, securing Birmingham’s position as a beloved household name across the world.
History of Birmingham – From market town to post-industrial metropolis

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