Birmingham's Gunmaking Heritage

Guns have been built in the Birmingham area since the 17th century. The industry grew and was organised into the 'Gun Quarter' during the 18th Century. A commemorative plaque in the Gun Quarter claims that around this time Birmingham was the "foremost arms producer in the world", the town's closest rival being London.

Some of the history of the Gun Quarter can be found at Made In Birmingham and Wikipedia. Many gunmakers have operated in Birmingham, some well known examples include:

• Joseph Bentley - shared patents with Webley and Scott.
• Thomas Bland & Sons - now trading the USA. but still using Birmingham proof for quality assurance.
• Braendlin & Sommerville - eventually Galand & Sommerville.
• A A Brown & Sons - Founding member John Joseph Brown, learned his trade at Webley and Scott, B.S.A. and W. W. Greener, the company is still trading in 2007...
• Farmer & Galton - supplied weaponry to the Company of Merchants in Africa.
• W. W. Greener - Owned the large Prize Gun Works in Loveday street.
• Thomas Ketland - established in the early 18th century and became one of the largest businesses in the gun quarter.
• The Kynoch Gun Factory.
• Parker Hale - closed down in 2000.
• William Perry - established in 1778, manufactured brass and silver guns, often marking them with a London tag.
• Westley Richards.
• E. Roberts - specialised in walking stick shotguns.
• William Powell & Son (Gunmakers) Ltd.
• William Tranter - founding partner in B.S.A. 
• Webley & Scott - revolver manufacturers.
  

Many of the photographs on this site are of a William Powell & Son pair. One of these is being demonstrated by the Enville Estate's Head Gamekeeper, Brian Hayes.

This pair was built for Bernard Dudley Docker of the Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA) in 1919.

To follow our location route see
Enville Estate and the Sheepwalks.

More shots of the W. Powell Pair
Muskets with Gun Stand

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