The Political Correct Brigade Goes Marching On,

this time in Birmingham, in the 18th century there was a small concentration of gun makers in the industrial area of Digbeth, during the century, however, the trade gradually moved to the north-west fringe of the town largely on the Weaman estate around Whittall Street in the district now known as the Gun Quarter, this was conveniently situated near Kettle's Steelhouses in Steelhouse Lane and close to the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal, Sketchley's 1767 Directory of Birmingham lists 62 separate workshops involved in gunmaking,

by 1815 there were 125 firms involved in gun making mostly in the Gun Quarter, by 1829 there were 455 and by 1868 there were 578 gun firms in Birmingham, the Crimean War 1854-1856 was another boom time for Birmingham gun makers; in the decade from 1854 over four million barrels passed through the Proof House, 1862 sixteen separate gun firms amalgamated to form the Birmingham Small Arms Company, the BSA, with a large mechanised steam-powered factory at Armoury Road in Small Heath which took work away from the town centre, however, many small manufacturers remained in the Gun Quarter until the major rebuilding and road developments of the 1960s spilt the area in two, Birmingham's gun trade still exists as a small specialised industry, though only just in evidence in what remains of the old Gun Quarter,

so I guess the area has a good history of guns in the area, but just 50 people who have signed a petition have made the PC council change the historic area and is to become known as St George and St Chad, this is the problem with petitions, today only a few firms remain in England including Westley Richards and Co, Simon Clode, managing director of the firm, said it appeared the decision had been made hastily, 'it's a shame they're not acknowledging the history of Birmingham's gun making,' he added: 'no one from the council has approached us as gun makers, we employ six apprentices, we've got two more joining us next month, we're still going strong and export all over the world,' I wonder if the council petitioned people who wanted the name to stay as it is?

so what is next for this PC council? I know rename Cannon Hill Park, one of the biggest parks in Birmingham, what about Birmingham Small Arms, the famous motorcycle manufacture, wipe that from Birmingham's history books, sounds far to much like guns, the logo that appears on motorbikes even has 3 rifles on it! I wonder if the council will rename Armoury Road? as the author of this link stated, 'sadly the Birmingham authorities appear to be blind to the value of their own culture and history', that just about sums it up, but moving further afield I guess Arsenal Football Club should change it's name and remove that gun from it's logo? common sense and the PC council's of Great Britain will never go hands in glove whilst people like the ones in this renaming exercise have power.