A very brief history of Digbeth
7th Century
Early settlements form in Birmingham around this time, starting with the area we now know as Digbeth. The attraction here was the proximity to the River Rea, which to settlers meant access to drinking water and irrigation for crops. The soil was also noted for its fertility. Digbeth was then, as it is today, a great place to be.
1156
Birmingham becomes an important trading hub after the town receives a market charter.
1368
The Old Crown, one of Birmingham’s oldest buildings and today one of Digbeth’s favourite music venues, is said to date back to this year.
1643
Digbeth continues to grow into an important industrial era, which comes into play during the English Civil War. Local manufacturers produced thousands of swords for the Parliamentarian armies.
1791
Birmingham is named the “the first manufacturing town in the world”.
1837
Alfred Bird, a chemist and druggist, invents instant, eggless custard powder to accommodate his wife’s allergy to eggs. When he accidentally serves it to guests, he realised the commercial potential of his concoction. They loved it. Alfred and Sons was born.
1889
Following the Birmingham’s many Industrial Revolution advancements, much of Digbeth is built up of large industrial complexes.
1902
The Custard Factory is Alfred Bird’s new complex to produce his eggless custard. The factory remains in operation for the following decades, supplying the British Armed Forces in World War I, before eventually moving its operations elsewhere in the 1960s.
1988
The Bond Company is formed across two main sites: The Bond and The Arch. The previous industrial buildings were used for a Gas Works, the HQ for a canal logistics company and a warehouse for HP Sauce.
1993
Funding is secured to restore The Custard Factory and in 1993 the first phase is launched. The offices are full before the brochures are printed.
2013
A landmark returns. Birmingham’s iconic JFK memorial mosaic was built at St Chad’s Circus in summer 1968. In 2007 it was removed to accommodate the street’s redevelopment. In 2013 it returned to Birmingham, this time on Floodgate Street in Digbeth.
2017
Oval acquires part of Digbeth for some much-needed investment to revitalise the neighbourhood.