Hockley has always been an integral part of Birmingham. It features heavily in the city’s history and trade and is particularly well known for its Jewellery Quarter and gun making industries. The area has traditionally been characterised by light industry and retail trade, with much of the housing dating from around the early 1900s.
As the regeneration of Birmingham continues, it is inevitable that this part of the city will be revitalised and become a more desirable place to live. One of the main routes into Birmingham passes through Hockley, and the presence of run-down buildings, boarded-up retail units and small warehouses does little to reflect the modern and vibrant city that Birmingham has become known for.
The Soho Foundry, although officially listed as being in Handsworth, lies very close to Hockley. This remains a working area of the city, and a drive around Hockley reveals clear signs of regeneration, with efforts underway to transform former brownfield industrial sites into modern housing and more attractive retail spaces.
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