Birmingham Assay Office

Title: Birmingham Assay Office

Built in: 1877

Location: Newhall Street, Birmingham B3 1BF

Short intro: A historic office dedicated to the hallmarking of precious metals

Description: The Birmingham assay office was opened by an Act of Parliament in 1773, after the manufacturer Matthew Boulton lobbied parliament, insisting Birmingham needed its own Assay Office. At a time when silversmithing was booming, hallmarking silver material was rigorously enforced in the United Kingdom, ensuring quality levels to maintain fair competition between jewellers and confidence for consumers. The original Assay Office was run out of leased rooms in the Kings Head Inn on New Street, and the Newhall street premises was not purpose-built until 1877, where it became the largest office of its kind in Europe. Today, the Assay Office has outgrown its old residence and has moved to a much larger plot, on Moreton Street.