Former Birmingham Mint, Icknield Street

Image: © Robin Stott Taken: 5 Dec 2012

From the Wikipedia article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham_Mint – The Birmingham Mint, a coining mint, originally known as Heaton's Mint or Ralph Heaton & Sons, in Birmingham, England, started producing tokens and coins in 1850 as a private enterprise, separate from, but in cooperation with the Royal Mint. Its factory was situated in Icknield Street (grid reference SP057877), on the edge of the Jewellery Quarter. It was created by Ralph Heaton II, using second-hand coin presses bought from the estate of Matthew Boulton. From the Wikipedia article about the Jewellery Quarter http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewellery_Quarter – …on the fringe of the Jewellery Quarter is the Birmingham Mint redevelopment by Junared Property Group. When the Mint closed in 2003, work got underway to find an alternative use for the site. Demolition work on the site commenced in early 2007 and construction in September 2007. The scheme has been designed by Ian Darby Partnership and is being developed in two phases. Phase 1 will include 192 apartments and approximately 60,000 square feet (5,574 m2) of offices whilst Phase 2 will consist of 62 apartments and a 50,000-square-foot (4,645 m2) data centre is now in the planning stage. Ninex are constructing the complex. As part of the scheme, the Grade II listed façade and the 130-foot (40 m) chimney are being retained and incorporated.

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