Argent Centre, Grade II* listed building in Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, England
The Argent Centre sits at the intersection of Frederick Street and Legge Road, displaying multicoloured brickwork and four corner towers with restored pyramidal roofs. Inside, narrow workshops wrap around an open courtyard, allowing natural light to reach work areas from multiple directions.
Built in 1863 for W. E. Wiley's gold pen manufacturing business, the building used fireproof hollow bricks bound with wrought iron. This advanced construction method eliminated the need for insurance and reflected early safety innovations in factory design.
The Pen Museum inside shows how pen manufacturing shaped the local economy and brought skilled workers to this neighbourhood over many decades.
The building is straightforward to navigate, as the open courtyard creates clear paths between workshop areas. Staircases connect all levels and guide visitors through exhibition spaces and modern office areas.
The workshops measured just 5 metres (16 feet) wide, allowing craftspeople to use natural light from both sides of the narrow space. This tight, clever design shows how factory architecture was optimised for precise handwork.
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