A lorry is trying to trundle up Allison Street in Digbeth, past the row of parked police cars at the old station, to try and get to one of the last remaining industrial businesses in what was once a hub of industry as we make our way to AE Williams.
The pewtersmiths is the oldest of its kind in the world, home to the largest collection of brass moulds on the planet and the place where tankards, goblets, pots and more are made for Brummie homes, regal palaces, world class hotels and the sets of huge TV shows and films – read all about it.
Since 1779, the same family has been making pewter treasures, from tableware to jewellery and collectible tranklements, moving to Birmingham in the 1800s to be right in the heart of the country – where the money was.
Read more: The historic Harry Potter and Gladiator magic made by humble 247-year-old family business in Digbeth
Here in 2026, keeping the business afloat in Digbeth means negotiating with delivery firms to please, please reconsider driving into Digbeth to drop off what they need, a task less attractive with ever-changing road layouts and roadwork disruptions.
Rebecca Foster, 29, from Selly Oak, is the eighth generation to join the family business, one of four directors alongside dad Steve, cousin Sam and uncle David.
In the modern age, she’s working alongside the family to showcase the heritage brand to younger audiences, embracing TikTok and capturing the good spirits and family atmosphere that’s kept the place ticking over for nigh-on 250 years.
While the whole world recognises AE Williams as the creme-de-la-creme of pewter makers (there’s barely a blockbuster movie their items haven’t dressed the set of), the family behind the business says it feels they’re no longer welcome in Digbeth.
“We’re being forced out,” Steve said, plainly. The 59-year-old learnt how to cast pewter as a little boy, sweeping up soft pewter shavings and discarded, imperfect treasures from the factory floor for pocket money.
“This used to be a real manufacturing hub. Over there, you’ve got the Custard Factory but up here things have changed,” Rebecca says.
Steve adds: “You’ve got bus gates stopping you from coming in round by the markets and when that actually comes into force, you’ve got to go right the way round. That’s the problem: it’s going to gridlock whole of Digbeth.”
Father daughter team Steve Johnson and Rebecca Foster(Image: Kirsty Bosley)
“We’ve already had comments, because we have our like the metal parts come in for us to make the pewter.
“Trucks have said before, we’re not delivering up there. Then what do you do? We’re stuck.”
“I personally think that the Digbeth area is starting to go through a bit of an evolution,” Steve said.
“It’s starting to evolve again. The history around here was, I think, envied throughout the Midlands. And then that died away.
“More recently, we had the Ozzy Osbourne concert, you’ve had the celebrations of Ozzy Osbourne, we’ve had the Commonwealth Games. We also had the Peaky Blinders global movie, Birmingham on the world stage. The Invictus Games are coming as well. So, that’s all something that we should be celebrating this city for.
“It’s a shame the local council don’t celebrate it in the way that we want them to celebrate it.
“All you feel like is you’re being strangled all the time.
“Getting into the city is becoming a joke, because they don’t want you to come into the city anymore. Getting out of the city is even worse.
“They’ve already got rid of the wholesale markets where I was always told when I was a kid you could get the freshest fish in the country, caught during the night, to be here first thing in the morning. That’s gone.
“What’s going to be here? Flats. The same as there’s flats everywhere else.”
We ask, is Birmingham still the industrial heart of England?
“No. No. Not at all,” Steve says.
So what keeps morale up, we ask?
“The staff, you know? The staff have been loyal to us for so many years. We’re loyal to them. That’s what we do it for.”
There’s no telling whether AE Williams will still be making treasures in another 227 years/
But unless more help for Birmingham industry is forthcoming for Digbeth, it’s unlikely they’ll still be on Well Street if they do see out another couple of centuries.
