Winterbourne House and Garden
Restored to its Edwardian Arts and Craft splendour, Winterbourne House is a unique heritage attraction – set within seven acres of beautiful botanic gardens. Only minutes from Birmingham city centre, Winterbourne is a hidden gem – home to beautiful antiques and over 6,000 plant species from around the world. Wander along the woodland walk, stroll through the hazelnut tunnel, cross the 1930’s Japanese Bridge or simply soak up the tranquillity of this perfectly English Edwardian home.
Website: www.winterbourne.org.uk
Follow them
@winterbournehg on twitter, facebook and instagram
Newman Brothers at the Coffin Works
Newman Brothers at the Coffin Works, Birmingham
The Coffin Works isn’t quite what you’d might expect, and we promise the surprises will be pleasant ones! Entering the factory is like stepping back in time to the heyday of Newman Brothers in the 1960s, the shelves and workbenches at Newman Brothers are full of original stock and tools of the trade. With the original machinery working again, you can truly experience how this old Jewellery Quarter firm once operated on a day-to-day basis, producing some of the world’s finest coffin furniture, including the fittings for the funerals of Churchill, Chamberlain and the Queen Mother.
Volunteering at Newman Brothers offers a unique and rewarding experience. They have a fantastic team in place and they pride themselves on the quality of candidates they attract and the diverse opportunities they offer as a wider organisation linked to Birmingham Conservation Trust. Their volunteers play a key role in the success of Newman Brothers, allowing them to deliver the highest quality experience for their visitors.
Visit their website: www.coffinworks.org
Follow on
Twitter: @CoffinWorks
Facebook: @thecoffinworks
Instagram: @coffin_works
The Pen Museum
The Pen Museum, Birmingham
Based in a former pen factory in the heart of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, the Pen Museum tells the story of how modern pens evolved. The museum celebrates the Birmingham pen trade during the 19th Century and the lives of the manufacturers and workers whose expertise placed the city at the centre of this worldwide trade.
Learn about the many pen companies of Birmingham and the history of the trade from a quill to steel nib, to fountain pen. Visitors can make their own nib using traditional machinery, and experience the tough working conditions of the steel pen workers. Visitors can also try handwriting with feather quills, reed pens, and steel pens.
The Museum is dedicated to keeping Birmingham’s industrial legacy alive through displays, activities, classes, and talks. The Museum opened in 2001 and is a volunteer led charity operated by the Birmingham Pen Trade Heritage Association.
Visit their website: penmuseum.org.uk
Follow on
Twitter: @thepenmuseum
Facebook: Pen.Museum
Instagram: @thepenmuseum
