Birmingham's Gun Barrel proof House
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Birmingham
Gun Barrel Proof House The growth of gun
making in London led in 1637 to the incorporation by Royal Charter of
the London Company of Gunmakers. This Charter marked the introduction
of “proof” into England. Similarly in Birmingham, with a
population at this time of only 4000, there was a flourishing trade of
guns. |
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The Birmingham Proof House was established in 1813, by Act of Parliament, it was requested and obtained by the Birmingham Trade at its own expense. Almost 200 years later the purpose of the Birmingham Gun Barrel Proof House remains essentially unchanged and is able to offer many additional services to that of proof. Inside this historical & unique institute are assembled a store of documents and artifacts of real interest and today the Museum has been established |
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and dedicated to the gun trade and ammunition trade of the Birmingham
area. The aim was to ensure that something is retained of a trade which
was a founding trade of this City and which played such an important
role in its development and evolution. The Museum now houses a
collection of artifacts relating to the trade and to proof, and
organised tours can be arranged via the Proof Master. The Proof House
Banbury Street, Birmingham B5 5RH >website |
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