The Pen Museum

Reviews, get directions and contact details for The Pen Museum

About

Immerse yourself in the exciting world of pens and calligraphy and explore our amazing collection of over 5,000 objects.

Story

To promote and preserve the history and legacy of the steel Pen Trade in Birmingham, for the advancement of the education and benefit of the public. To maintain a museum that displays the skill and craftsmanship of the Pen Makers and their employees and also houses historic artefacts and ephemera related to the art of writing.

To actively engage with, interest and inform as wide a cross-section of the community in the West Midlands as possible as to the social significance of the introduction of the steel pen, including the wider national and international impact of the Birmingham Pen Trade. To provide opportunities, particularly for young people, to develop an interest in written communication and an appreciation of its place in the modern world.

Mission

To promote and preserve the history and legacy of the steel pen trade in Birmingham, for the advancement of the education and benefit of the public, to maintain a museum that showcases the skill and craftsmanship of the pen makers and their employees and also houses historic artefacts and ephemera related to the art of writing.

Products

Independent Museum
Interactive Activities
Admission:

Adult: £5.00 / Gift Aid: £5.50*

Concession: £4.00 / Gift Aid: £4.40*

Children under 16 go free.

*Gift Aid admission prices include a 10% voluntary donation.

Disabled adult visitors pay standard adult admission but can bring a free carer/personal assistant.

Address: Unit 3 The Argent Centre 60 Frederick Street Hockley, Birmingham B1 3HS, XWM, GB

Phone: 0121 236 9834

ku.gro.muesumnep@seiriuqne

State: XWM

City: Birmingham

Zip Code: B1 3HS

opening times

Tuesday: 11:00-16:00
Wednesday: 11:00-16:00
Thursday: 11:00-16:00
Friday: 11:00-16:00
Saturday: 11:00-16:00
Sunday: 13:00-16:00

Update Info

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Reviews

We walked into the museum on a Sunday without prebooking and this was not a problem. There are three areas to the museum; an initial history overview with the opportunity to use different pen nibs, an interactive section with the original machinery where you can make a nib, and a section on calligraphy. The layout was very good and informative and the volunteers were engaging and helpful. We enjoyed a 1.5hrs period in total and learnt a lot. Would definitely recommend as it gives a good backdrop to industrial Birmingham as well.

What an utterly charming place with a fascinating insight into Birmingham’s amazing pen-making history. Very informative and with friendly volunteers helping out, plus the opportunity to make your own pen nib as well as to try writing with a variety of different pens. I left inky-fingered and happy.

This was a very interesting museum to visit, living up to expectations for the only pen museum in the UK! The museum tells the history of the pen trade and how it expanded across Birmingham, showing relics of objects used by the makers back then too. Pen sculptures are fascinating themselves, crafted with attention to detail for different displays like a pyramid and even a star! There is a room with model machinery including typewriters to use and fancy dress, a guided tour was given of another room where they demonstrated how to use the machinery and the old mail was kept here too.

What an amazing place. The modest exterior hides the joys that lie await inside.  The first room offers you a history of the pen trade, and a chance to try out our penmanship at a table. Notice the blue inked fingers of everyone else who made a mess of themselves too as you walk around   The large main room, packed with nibs, boxes, tools and so much is an utter gem. We spent a long time with the wonderful Larry Hanks showing us how a nib is made, and how no idea that we'd all have a hands-on opportunity like this. It was the highlight of our day. Taking home pen nibs that we had made almost entirely on our own was a lovely surprise!  We chose to visit on our wedding anniversary, and as quirky as that might sound to some, it was the highlight of our day! Lovely to chat with Larry and his team of volunteers afterwards too.  Now, if only I could have written this review with ink and not had to type it in :-

A brilliant 2 hours well spent in the Pen Museum. If you like nibs you're in! Room 1 nibs galore, try your hand with calligraphy  and recordings of Doris talking about her time working there all fantastic. It just warms you up for room 2 - Larry former employee absolute classy legend helping you make your own nibs on the machines and sharing a lifetime's experience. A genuine privilege to be in his company. Room 3 typewriters and handwriting analysis staffed by 2 volunteers of very different heights. Still buzzing a day later. Get yourselves to the Pen Museum ASAP!

A surprisingly fun place with lovely volunteer staff. Lots of little activities to try as well as learning the history.  Unfortunately a bit expensive for a small museum.  ACCESSIBILITY: One step to get in the main door, but they can open a step-free entrance on request 2 rooms easy to get around, 1 room narrow with uneven flooring and significantly darker. I couldn’t get my walker along all of it. This is the room with the pen nib machine.

I had the best time this weekend at the pen museum! I love stationary and my fountain pens, and this provided a unique insight into the history of pens, particularly the ones manufactured in Birmingham. The staff were very pleasant and helpful. I especially enjoyed the interactive activities like nib making workshop, the calligraphy and type writing! Im looking forward to using my new pens from the shop…  I would recommend visiting. Thanks!!

10 stars out of 5! As someone who admires calligrapher, I have been fond of pen, ink, quill, parchment, letter paper, envelopes, wax, seals and anything related to writing since I was a child. Before coming to Birmingham this time, I was looking forward to this place the most. The museum was built across the street from a pen factory whose early pens were sold to Disney. The first room is devoted to art made with nibs, with magnifying glasses for a closer look at the nibs; The second room is not only for displaying more nibs, pens, inks, pens cases, stamps, ink bottles etc, but also to introduce the making of the nib. The guide will take the visitors to operate the equipments for making the nib. Although you can't use it without burning the nib yourself, they will give you a free fine nib. The third room displays not only nibs, but also pen holders, ink containers, nib cases, and old typewriters which allows you to type. In addition, the museum also has calligraphy classes, which can be booked online. Love this museum, definitely one of the most unique and interesting I've seen in Birmingham.

This museum is a pleasant surprise. Located in the Jewellery Quarter it is easy to access. The visit begins in a room that is at the entrance where it is possible to read about the history of pens, since the times when there were hundreds of factories that employed women, men and children. Children operated the machines that required less force and danger. The machines responsible for the different stages of the manufacturing process were operated by women and men. Being a repetitive job was dangerous and they could loss fingers, being burned and many others and other situations. In room 2 you can see these machines and see how they work and watch a video and in room 3 the largest of them all you can see different types of nib and try on your penmanship. Visit and you will see that it is very interesting and you can purchase products at the entrance for your own use or offer.

Fantastic museum with passionate staff, intricate displays, and highly interactive exhibits.Visited onWeekendWait timeNo wait

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