Hockley, West Midlands facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hockley |
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 Hockley
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| OS grid reference | SP060879 |
| Metropolitan borough | |
| Shire county | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Postcode district | B18 |
| Police | West Midlands |
| Fire | West Midlands |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| EU Parliament | West Midlands |
Hockley is a busy area in the heart of Birmingham, England. It is located about 1 mile (1.5 km) northwest of the city centre. You can easily reach it by train, as it has its own station called Jewellery Quarter station. Hockley is famous for being home to Birmingham's amazing Jewellery Quarter. This area still has many of its original buildings and small workshops where skilled craftspeople create beautiful jewellery.
In Hockley, you can visit the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter. This museum shows how jewellery was made in the past. The Birmingham Mint, which used to make coins, is also located here. If you are interested in art, the Jewellery School of the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design is on Vittoria Street. Nearby, The Big Peg is a group of workshops for artists and crafters. The homes in Hockley are often lovely old Victorian houses.
You might also see the Hockley Flyover murals at the "Hockley flyover" road crossing. These murals are on a special type of concrete building called "brutalist" architecture. They are so important that they are protected as a listed building, meaning they cannot be changed easily.
Hockley's Rich History
Hockley has been the centre of Birmingham's jewellery industry since the 1830s. Before that, the city was known for making buttons, pins, and toys. The jewellery trade in Hockley grew very quickly. It soon became much bigger than the jewellery making in nearby Derby. Hockley ended up making a large amount of the fine jewellery for the entire British Empire.
Hockley is also home to two important old cemeteries from the 1800s. Key Hill Cemetery opened in 1836. It was for people of all faiths, but many non-Church of England Protestants were buried there. Warstone Lane Cemetery opened in 1847. This cemetery was mainly for members of the Church of England.
Hockley was the first place in Birmingham to get a tram line connecting it to the city centre. This tram line opened in 1873, making travel much easier for people.
A writer named Kathleen Dayus was born in Hockley in 1903. She wrote many books about the area between 1982 and 2000. These books are now collected under the title The Girl from Hockley. They tell stories about what life was like in Hockley.
Famous People from Hockley
Many interesting people have come from Hockley. Here are a few:
- Jessie Eden - A strong leader for workers and trade unions. She is even shown in the TV series Peaky Blinders.
- Billy Walton
- Fred Allen (footballer)
- Harry Howell (cricketer)
- Jamelia - A well-known singer.
- Kathleen Dayus - The author who wrote about Hockley.
- Daniel Sturridge - A famous footballer.
- Joan Armatrading - A talented singer and songwriter. She lived in Hockley from the age of seven.
- Benjamin Zephaniah - A celebrated poet and writer.
