The Argent Centre is situated at the Gateway to Birmingham’s famous Jewellery Quarter and offers spaces from 135 sq.ft. to 1965 sq.ft. It can accommodate various business and currently houses offices, jewellers, recruitment, costume designers, etc.
The Argent Centre with its Lombardic Renaissance facade stands proud at the entrance to Birmingham’s famous Jewellery Quarter.
The main entrance on Frederick Street has double doors and leads into a small lobby giving access to the staircase and modern lift. On the first and second floors there are small offices with large spaces being available on the ground and third floors.
All the communal areas are carpeted throughout with ladies and gents toilets on the first and second floors, with unisex toilets on the third floor. On the second floor there is a communal kitchen.
60, Frederick Street, Birmingham, B1 3HS
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The Argent Centre originally known as the Albert Works was built in 1863 for Mr W. E. Wiley’s gold pen factory together with a Turkish bath. The factory was built for £5,000 and Wiley’s gold pens retailed for 5 shillings each (25p.) Wiley employed around 250 people here until production ceased in 1876 as a result of merging with other pen manufacturers.
The Turkish baths décor was luxurious, with Indian matting flooring, luxurious couches. Billiards, chess and fencing were offered to the bathers. The baths were open to the public from 7am to 10pm with single bath prices ranging from one shilling to two shillings and six pence.
After Wiley left the site he offered the empty factory to the 1st Volunteer Battalion the Royal Warwickshire regiment. The building was renamed the Argent Centre in 1881 when it was occupied by silversmiths W.J. Myatt. Subsequently it has been used by the scientific equipment supplier Griffin & Gorge and laboratory equipment suppliers Gallenkamp.
The building originally had pyramids/turrets on each corner which MIA restored in 2020 along with finials.
Following the demise of the pen company the Grade II* listed building was purchased by MIA in 1984, restored and converted into 37 units and is now additionally home to the Pen Museum.
In 2020 the Grade II* listed Argent Centre received a restoration being carried out on the masonry and original metal windows together with the already mentioned, reinstatement of the pyramids/turrets and finials.