Matthew Boulton and Assay Office, Birmingham bronze plaque

This bronze commemorative plaque records: Birmingham Assay Office. Since the 14th century in Britain articles of silver and gold have had to be tested at an assay office for metal purity standard and there hallmarked to protect the customer from fraud. Until the 1750s Birmingham's silversmiths and jewellers had to send their goods to London or Chester assay offices, which was inconvenient and expensive. Matthew Boulton campaigned for Birmingham to have its own Assay Office. In 1773 the first Birmingham Assay Office was opened on New Street. At first only silver was hallmarked not until 1824 could gold be marked with the Birmingham anchor mark. The Assay office has been in the present building since 1878. Recorded plaque organisation: Birmingham City Action Team.

Matthew Boulton, a prominent industrialist and entrepreneur of the Industrial Revolution, successfully campaigned for the establishment of an assay office in Birmingham in 1773, significantly boosting local manufacturing and commerce by reducing dependency on distant London and Chester offices.