Historic Assay Office collections made available online

THE silverware, coins and library collection of Birmingham’s historic Assay Office have been made available for the public to view and search online.

The Heritage Lottery Fund supplied the Assay Office with a grant so it could transfer its paper records into an electronic catalogue complete with photographs.

As part of the Heritage Lottery Fund project, an oral history was recorded detailing the life of the Assay Office and its development.

Oral historian, Helen Lloyd conducted 29 interviews with current staff, wardens, guardians, customers and former employees to create a unique audio archive that captures the voices and memories of the people who have worked for the Assay Office and others in the Jewellery Quarter who have a close association with it.
 
The result is a fascinating insight into a business that was founded in 1773 and has been located in the Jewellery Quarter since 1877.
 
The employees of the Assay Office, both current and former, have lived and worked through times of significant social and industrial change.
 
The Oral History Archive provides an insight into the part the Assay Office has played in the Jewellery Quarter and how hallmarking remains vital to the assurance of quality that has characterised the Birmingham jewellery and metal trades for many years.

Further details are available here