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origins, growth and sales organisation of Farmer and Galton were shaped by the slave trade. Between 1742 and 1760, the firm manufactured the largest part of its output for export; the period immediately before
Britain's Industrial Revolution. In the 1750s, they were the chief supplier of arms to the Committee of the Company of Merchants Trading in Africa, enabling the firm to grow rapidly, making it one of the biggest and most successful businesses in Birmingham.
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so naturally, there would be an increased demand for gun manufacturing so they could expand, keep control, and quell any disturbances in its colonies. The number of guns produced increased, in the 18th century, at the start of the industrial revolution, it was around “tens of thousands” but by the 19th century, it was around a few million.
253:. It was stressed that they would need to be of high enough calibre to equal the small arms that were imported from abroad. After a successful trial order in 1692, the Government placed its first contract. On 5 January 1693, the "Officers of Ordnance" chose five local firearms manufacturers to initially produce 200 "
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area, but fifty years later the trade had moved to the present-day Gun
Quarter. Many of the gunsmiths also expanded to less cramped parts of the city – the Gun Quarter is a very small area, and early accounts describe many "higgledy piggledy" houses and factories with different gunshops and gunsmiths
539:
In August 2011 a controversy was created when the
Birmingham Council, in an unwelcome move, decided to change the name of the Gun Quarter. The council had received a petition from a mere 50 residents from a local church group to change the name to St George and St Chad's Quarter. The Birmingham Post
299:
By the end of the 18th century the Gun
Quarter had become a thriving gun-manufacturing community. Government viewing rooms were opened in Bagot Street in 1798, employing sixty or seventy people to ensure that guns produced were of the necessary standard to provide for the British army. Military use,
215:
Birmingham became the capital of global trade in arms because
Britain was involved in multiple wars since the 17th century. Britain's involvement caused a constant demand for wartime supplies, specifically in gun manufacturing. The British empire, expanded tremendously, between the 1600s and 1900s,
492:
The increasing mechanisation of gun manufacture in the US and Europe was a significant step in the decline of the
Birmingham gun trade, which had for centuries been based on the skilled specialist craftsman. The mass-produced, so-called 'ready made' guns began to flood the market in the 1880s; the
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saw the
Government once again approach Birmingham engineering companies with the prospect of arms manufacture, and within a matter of weeks Birmingham and the Gun Quarter witnessed much preparation for ammunition and gun manufacture. Many of the workers were women due to the enlistment of men into
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but
Birmingham produced the majority of the firearms in Britain. During this time the Gun Quarter made a variety of calibre weapons from high quality to the less elaborate. In general, British weapons were well made, but less decorative than those produced on the continent; above all they earned a
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demand fell; the need for skilled, specialised labour fell as the market became flooded with cheaper, machine-made guns, and gun manufacturing in the area began a slow decline. In the 1960s, a large part of the Gun
Quarter was demolished by post-war town planners, with the area split in two by the
694:
During the eighteenth century, the
Birmingham-based Farmer and Galton Gun Manufacturers produced thousands of firearms which were used by European merchants and African business people in the trade and capture of slaves. In 1702, James Farmer began his gun manufacturing business, and within three
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alone', being traded along with other pieces of hardware, metal or cloth, as the price for a slave. This is a shocking statistic, considering that the population of Birmingham was around 30,000 in 1765, meaning that five times more guns had been sent to Africa than were people in the city. The
703:). Galton eventually took charge of the Birmingham branch of the manufacturers on Steelhouse Lane. Guns were in high demand, a demand that Farmer and Galton aimed to satisfy. Such was the extent of the trade, that Hugh Thomas suggests that by 1765, '150,000 guns had been sent to Africa from
136:, England, which was for many years a centre of the world's gun-manufacturing industry, specialising in the production of military firearms and sporting guns. It is an industrial area to the north of the city centre, bounded by Steelhouse Lane, Shadwell Street and Loveday Street.
358:, parts were manufactured by independent specialist sub-contractors and assembled by "fabricators" or "setters-up", the "makers" commissioning and marketing the completed guns. In the late 18th and early 19th century, barrels were mainly manufactured outside the quarter (in
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was built in 1813, then one of only two such proof houses in England, the other being in London. The building was managed by a consortium of the town's gun traders, its purpose being to ensure that the guns manufactured in the area were safe for use. It is still in use.
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The number of firms in Birmingham's gun industry was 125 in 1815, 455 in 1829 (two-thirds of these in the Gun Quarter), and by 1868 there were 578 gun firms in the city. The trade employed 2,867 people in 1851, out of a total of 7,731 in the whole of England and Wales.
340:, which fought alongside the British forces. It has been estimated that production of guns and components between 1804 and 1815 averaged more than three-quarters of a million items per annum, more than two-thirds of England's production during this period.
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and who ended his working career as resident caretaker with Greener. He founded the firm with his two sons, Albert Henry Brown and Sidney Charles Brown. The company are still trading, with the firm now run by Sidney's son Robin Brown and his son Matthew
466:
By the nineteenth century, the introduction of the percussion system combined with the adoption of modern production methods led to Birmingham becoming the dominant producer in British firearms. A few London makers remained, such as the government-owned
528:. Due to the UK's tight laws regarding gun ownership, including sporting arms, there is only a small commercial market for firearms in the country; consequently, the majority of Birmingham's gun manufacture today is of
535:
The Gun Quarter has continued to decline in the 21st century, losing approximately 25% of its manufacturing jobs in the 3 years from 2003 to 2006, and the trend is continuing, with many vacant and underused buildings.
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residing in close proximity to one another. 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.
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During the early to mid-17th century Birmingham's population numbered only several thousand; the town was home to many foundries and workshops that made a wide variety of metalware, including guns. Sir
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were manufactured for the Government alone. 3,037,644 barrels and 2,879,203 locks were made and then delivered to London for assembly, and around 1,000,000 items were also delivered to the
622:– Owned the large Prize Gun Works in Loveday street. The firm are still trading today, making exhibition guns for collectors by David Dryhurst (Greener's last apprentice) and Richard Tandy.
946:
W.A. Richards, 'The Birmingham Gun Manufactory of Farmer and Galton, and the Slave Trade in the Eighteenth Century' (unpublished Undergraduate, University of Birmingham, 1972), p. 3.
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In the 1960s, many of the traditional workshops of the Gun Quarter were demolished by post-war town planners, with the area split in two by the construction of the
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Today only a small handful of gun manufacturers and traders remain in the Gun Quarter. The last remaining large gun and rifle manufacturer in the area is
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The Birmingham Small Arms Trade Association had supplied many of the guns during this period, and in 1861 fourteen of these gun smiths formed the
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listed more than fifty specialist trades involved in gun manufacture, "till late years most of them being carried on under different roofs".
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after 1707). The importance of the trade to the town grew rapidly throughout the 18th century, with large numbers of guns produced for the
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brought much business to the gun makers of Birmingham, and from 1854 to 1864 more than 4,000,000 barrels were proved there. Most military
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354:"Gun-makers" did not usually manufacture the parts for their guns or even assemble them: in keeping with the traditional nature of
202:. Many buildings in the area are disused but plans are in place for redevelopment including in Shadwell Street and Vesey Street.
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Eric Hopkins, Birmingham: The First Manufacturing Town in the World 1760–1840 (London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1989).
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Hugh Thomas, The slave trade: The history of the Atlantic slave trade, 1440–1870 (London: Picador, UK, 1997), p. 45.
175:. During both the First and Second World Wars the area played a major role in the manufacture of small arms for the
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in Whittall Street was a focal point of the area. It was demolished in 1920s to make room for the expansion of the
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by a gun maker from the quarter, and nearly a third of a million gun stocks were produced from this source alone.
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579:– Founded by Albert Arthur Brown who was the son of John Joseph Brown, a gunmaker who had at one time worked for
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304:. A 1788 Parliamentary report counted over 4,000 gun makers, with 100,000 guns a year going to slave traders.
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The Bull pub still stands today; in the mid-19th century it was where gun workers were paid their wages
1031:"The Transatlantic Slave Trade – The Lifeline Expedition – Healing the past, transforming the future."
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The first recorded gun maker in Birmingham was in 1630, and locally made muskets were used in the
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720:: The building contains a museum of arms and ammunition, and can be visited by prior arrangement.
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The British Government began to rely heavily upon the skilled gun manufacturers of the town. The
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Hundreds of gunmakers have existed in Birmingham; some of the better-known examples include:
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required special efforts, and between 1804 and 1817 a total of 1,827,889 muskets, rifles,
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number of Brummies employed by the trade fell from 5,500 in 1881 to 4,100 in 1911.
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reported on it, in response over 4,500 signed a petition not to change the name.
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It is estimated that around 800,000 weapons were shipped from Birmingham to
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Photograph of the now demolished St Mary's Row, viewed from Loveday Street.
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At the start of the 18th century, gun manufacture was concentrated in the
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Revolver. Webley's revolvers became the official sidearms of the
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Empire of guns: the violent making of the industrial revolution
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143:. By the 1690s Birmingham artisans were supplying guns for
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and silver guns, often marking them with a London tag
997:"Birmingham's Gun Quarter name change row continues"
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771:"Plans revealed for 24-storey student flats complex"
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476:reputation for reliability and fine craftsmanship.
260:" per month over the period of one year, paying 17
48:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
300:however, was accompanied by a major market in the
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198:of 2008, the Gun Quarter is now a district within
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413:, whereas for the cheaper African market common
910:On the progress of the Small Arms Manufacturer
799:. Stanford University Press. pp. 10–18.
236:, a weapon Birmingham was selling to London.
1140:The Firearms Technology Museum: Gun Quarter
896:Accounts and Papers of the House of Commons
516:Grange Road, Bournbrook with the works of
374:), and locks were mainly sourced from the
1128:(2nd ed.), Stroud: The History Press
1020:, Birmingham: Cornish Brothers, pp.
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417:was used. During the Crimean War a large
108:Learn how and when to remove this message
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1052:(revised ed.), Routledge, pp.
1050:Birmingham and Midland Hardware District
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504:announced the 'Death of Gun Quarter'.
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647:– established in 1778, manufactured
46:adding citations to reliable sources
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1192:Areas of Birmingham, West Midlands
1017:Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham
980:About BSA: March of the Piled Arms
690:Farmer and Galton Gun Manufacturer
657:– producers of the famous British
500:. In 1963, a local newspaper, the
380:Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham
320:, Prize Gun Works is on the right.
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1145:Birmingham Gun Barrel Proof House
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769:Jones, Tamlyn (24 October 2017).
743:Jones, Tamlyn (9 November 2017).
718:Birmingham Gun Barrel Proof House
685:– pistol and airgun manufacturers
264:per musket, plus 3 shillings per
447:, who supplied revolvers to the
443:. One of the main suppliers was
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1073:Save The Birmingham Gun Quarter
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430:Birmingham Small Arms Company
132:is a district of the city of
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935:Treadwell & Dingley 2013
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608:– supplied weaponry to the
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498:Birmingham Inner Ring Road
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189:Birmingham Inner Ring Road
1197:Urban quarters in England
612:in Africa as well as the
568:Braendlin and Sommerville
455:is known to have owned a
1126:The Birmingham Gun Trade
1124:Williams, David (2009),
1035:lifelineexpedition.co.uk
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469:Royal Small Arms Factory
268:for delivery to London.
245:, one of the new, local
562:Thomas Bland & Sons
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200:Birmingham City Centre
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1048:Timmins, S. (2013) ,
1029:Harvey, Paul (2004),
795:Satia, Priya (2018).
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898:, Volume 82 page 727
697:Samuel Galton senior
610:Company of Merchants
577:A A Brown & Sons
439:during the latter's
302:Atlantic slave trade
187:construction of the
177:British Armed Forces
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885:, pp. 317–318.
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287:in Steelhouse Lane.
1173:52.48448; -1.89688
894:W Scott & Co,
701:Sir Francis Galton
683:Webley & Scott
659:Lee–Enfield rifles
614:East India Company
581:Webley & Scott
557:Webley & Scott
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489:the armed forces.
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391:Webley & Scott
338:East India Company
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247:Newdigate Baronets
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169:American Civil War
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1009:on 2 October 2012
806:978-1-5036-1048-4
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31:This article
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883:Harman 1885
859:Harvey 2004
849:, p. .
639:Parker Hale
635:Gun Factory
520:and Co. Ltd
486:World War I
449:Confederate
403:Crimean War
318:W W Greener
165:Crimean War
157:slave trade
145:William III
130:Gun Quarter
1186:Categories
1156:52°29′04″N
1097:: 85–106,
972:References
724:Gun safety
705:Birmingham
664:E. Roberts
407:gun stocks
251:small arms
182:After the
134:Birmingham
98:March 2015
68:newspapers
1159:1°53′49″W
1116:3 October
1111:110533082
923:Dale 2011
780:9 January
754:9 January
544:Gunmakers
441:Civil War
368:Smethwick
262:shillings
255:snaphance
230:snaphance
1040:13 March
987:13 March
712:See also
670:shotguns
530:air guns
461:revolver
451:forces.
419:saw mill
389:An 1868
364:Deritend
330:carbines
258:musquets
232:lock on
171:and the
600:Bristol
473:Enfield
437:America
432:(BSA).
397:in 1887
334:pistols
293:Digbeth
206:History
82:scholar
1109:
1060:
1056:–103,
803:
633:Kynoch
592:Brown.
411:walnut
332:, and
234:musket
84:
77:
70:
63:
55:
1107:S2CID
730:Notes
649:brass
423:Turin
415:beech
360:Aston
89:JSTOR
75:books
1118:2015
1058:ISBN
1042:2015
1024:-318
989:2015
801:ISBN
782:2018
756:2018
631:The
587:and
459:.44
401:The
370:and
128:The
61:news
1099:doi
1054:102
1022:317
678:BSA
471:in
44:by
1188::
1105:,
1095:75
1093:,
1089:,
1033:,
999:,
839:^
773:.
747:.
583:,
532:.
366:,
362:,
191:.
179:.
167:,
163:,
1101::
937:.
925:.
873:.
861:.
834:.
809:.
784:.
758:.
616:.
111:)
105:(
100:)
96:(
86:·
79:·
72:·
65:·
38:.
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