Pen Museum

Pen Museum in Birmingham is the only museum in the United Kingdom devoted entirely to the history of pen making. It tells the story of how this English city became the centre of the world pen trade, and it does so inside a building that once belonged to that very industry.

Where is the Pen Museum?

The museum is in the Jewellery Quarter, at 60 Frederick Street, Birmingham B1 3HS. It occupies part of the Argent Centre, a former pen factory. The building is Grade II* listed, so the setting is part of the experience: you learn about factory work in a place where factory work actually happened. The Jewellery Quarter is a district known for its workshops and historic trades, which makes the museum an easy addition to a wider walk through the area.

What is the museum about?

The subject is the Birmingham steel pen trade. In the 19th century the city produced steel pen nibs on a huge scale. Depending on the source, around a hundred companies, and by one count 129, were involved. At its height the trade employed an estimated 8,000 people, and roughly 70% of them were women. Much of the work was done by hand or on small presses, and the museum gives credit to the female workforce that kept the industry running.

The trade declined as fountain pens and then the ballpoint pen took over the market. The museum follows that arc from boom to decline and explains why a single city mattered so much to writing around the world.

What can you do there?

This is a hands-on museum rather than a hall of silent display cases. Visitors can:

• write with a quill and ink, as people did before steel nibs became common;
• try typewriters from later periods of writing technology;
• make their own pen nib using the same type of machinery that women workers operated in the 19th century.

The nib-making session is the main draw for many people, because it turns a historical description into something you do yourself.

Who runs it?

The museum is run by the Birmingham Pen Trade Heritage Association. It was set up as a registered charity in 1996 and became a charitable incorporated organisation in 2018. The museum opened on 28 April 2001 under the name Pen Room, founded by Brian Jones, Larry Hanks, Colin Giles and Ray Handley. In 2026 it marks 25 years of sharing the history of Birmingham's steel pen industry.

Frequently asked questions

Is it only about pens? Mostly, yes. It focuses on the pen trade and the people who worked in it, and it also touches on the link between pen manufacturing and Birmingham's wider history, including the figure of Josiah Mason, a prominent pen maker connected with the founding of the University of Birmingham.

Can I try something myself? Yes. Writing with a quill and making a nib are part of the visit.

Are opening hours and ticket prices fixed? They change, and sources disagree. Check the museum's official website before you go, especially because it is a small, charity-run site with limited opening days.

Who is it for? Anyone curious about industrial history, women's work in the 19th century, or the objects behind everyday writing. It suits curious adults and families alike.