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One of the most significant streets in Digbeth is Bradford Street, which has been an integral part of the neighbourhood's fabric for over two hundred years. It was once a thriving industrial hub, with factories and workshops lining the street, and many of the original buildings still stand today. Hairpin House itself is built on the former Kirby Beard & Co, a former factory that produced metalworking machinery and tools. Founded in 1890 by William Kirby Beard, the company quickly became a leading manufacturer in the field, and its products were exported all over the world. The factory is famed for the Kirby hairgrip or, as it became affectionately known – the ‘Kirbigrip’ and the inspiration for the name 'Hairpin House'. Photo by Phyllis Nicklin (1954) Kirby Beard, Bradford Street | Copyright of MLA West Midlands and the University of Birmingham Birmingham is a city with a rich history and culture, and one of its most vibrant and exciting neighbourhoods is Digbeth. Located just a stone's throw away from the city center, Digbeth is a bustling area… <\/p>\n
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Photo by Phyllis Nicklin (1954) Kirby Beard, Bradford Street | Copyright of MLA West Midlands and the University of Birmingham<\/span>
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\nBirmingham is a city with a rich history and culture, and one of its most vibrant and exciting neighbourhoods is Digbeth. Located just a stone's throw away from the city center, Digbeth is a bustling area with a fascinating history that dates back to the 18th century.
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{"id":80,"date":"2023-03-22T12:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-22T12:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ilivearound.com\/blog\/?p=80"},"modified":"2025-04-15T10:05:43","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T10:05:43","slug":"history-discover-the-story-behind-hairpin-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ilivearound.com\/blog\/2023\/03\/22\/history-discover-the-story-behind-hairpin-house\/","title":{"rendered":"History: discover the story behind Hairpin House"},"content":{"rendered":"