@clebby has already covered most of the details about this place. Here's a summary.
Had our eyes on it for years, never realised it was so good inside, could never get in, could never persuade the local minicab firm who inhabit part of the building to let us in. One day i saw it on rightmove, photos showed epic, put in extra special effot. Some physical barriers to cross but more social, too many onlookers. Eventually got the timing right, got inside, immediately got locked inside, realised tripod had been left in the car, eventually worked out a way to get out again without burning it, returned for a second time, probably burnt it that time but happy with photos all considered, excellent place and explore...
I have to say this is the best place i've seen in the Jewellery Quarter, it's only contender is the official museum which is a similar works bought in the 1980s and preserved as it was the day it closed. So if you can't get in here it's well worth paying to see the official one, they do a better job of explaining the various processes than i do!
Entering via the front door you find yourself in a lavishly tiled staircase
Turning right you find yourself on the ground floor level, steps lead down to an un-eventful cellar
The shelves still sag under the weight of 100s of forging die sets
Then you catch sight of the forges and presses themselves
In an alcove we find a small shaper and belt driven drill press
My favorite is this globe shaped grinder
Moving further towards the rear we find a row of belt driven forging hammers
The tooling on the shelves would have been placed in here. When the rope is pulled the hammer would be lifted up to the top of the machine and when the rope is released gravity did the rest.
Opposite the forges there is nice a row of fly presses but unfortunately no more time for photos on the ground floor, the man next door is making a cup of tea and we are in full view lurking near these machines
Back at the stairs it's time to head up the the first floor.
The first floor housed the admin area of the firm. Here you see a single booth where customers would have come to arrange transactions
The door to the booth.
A drawer in the fitted benches complete with company details
And inside more paperwork, this example was a company brochure complete with cover
letter
A small washroom for the office employees
Entrance to the womens toilets
An internal telephone system
The building housed many safes
Too many to photograph really!
A lovely table had obviously been a little too short for their liking
Last part on the middle floor was this little canteen area complete with enamel gas stove and belfast sink
Had our eyes on it for years, never realised it was so good inside, could never get in, could never persuade the local minicab firm who inhabit part of the building to let us in. One day i saw it on rightmove, photos showed epic, put in extra special effot. Some physical barriers to cross but more social, too many onlookers. Eventually got the timing right, got inside, immediately got locked inside, realised tripod had been left in the car, eventually worked out a way to get out again without burning it, returned for a second time, probably burnt it that time but happy with photos all considered, excellent place and explore...
I have to say this is the best place i've seen in the Jewellery Quarter, it's only contender is the official museum which is a similar works bought in the 1980s and preserved as it was the day it closed. So if you can't get in here it's well worth paying to see the official one, they do a better job of explaining the various processes than i do!
Entering via the front door you find yourself in a lavishly tiled staircase
Turning right you find yourself on the ground floor level, steps lead down to an un-eventful cellar
The shelves still sag under the weight of 100s of forging die sets
Then you catch sight of the forges and presses themselves
In an alcove we find a small shaper and belt driven drill press
My favorite is this globe shaped grinder
Moving further towards the rear we find a row of belt driven forging hammers
The tooling on the shelves would have been placed in here. When the rope is pulled the hammer would be lifted up to the top of the machine and when the rope is released gravity did the rest.
Opposite the forges there is nice a row of fly presses but unfortunately no more time for photos on the ground floor, the man next door is making a cup of tea and we are in full view lurking near these machines
Back at the stairs it's time to head up the the first floor.
The first floor housed the admin area of the firm. Here you see a single booth where customers would have come to arrange transactions
The door to the booth.
A drawer in the fitted benches complete with company details
And inside more paperwork, this example was a company brochure complete with cover
letter
A small washroom for the office employees
Entrance to the womens toilets
An internal telephone system
The building housed many safes
Too many to photograph really!
A lovely table had obviously been a little too short for their liking
Last part on the middle floor was this little canteen area complete with enamel gas stove and belfast sink
