'Heritage week opens your eyes to Birmingham'

"There are lots of events in the Jewellery Quarter," said Heritage Week co-ordinator Irene De Boo. "And it's not just bling and jewellery. There are walking tours, as it's quite a large area, which gives you more of a context"

An annual heritage week in Birmingham will throw the spotlight on an area of the city that has received World Craft City status.

Birmingham Heritage Week takes place in September with a particular focus on the Jewellery Quarter, which was been a centre for high quality manufacturing for more than 200 years.

But the week, which actually lasts 10 days, is city-wide with more than 200 events for people to sign up for.

Heritage Week co-ordinator Irene De Boo said: "Every year, we're amazed by the public's enthusiasm for exploring Birmingham's past – and this year's programme is our biggest yet."

The Jewellery Quarter was awarded World Craft City status as a celebration of "the city's rich heritage, skilled artisans, creative designers, proud makers and innovative contributions to the jewellery industry"

"I feel very strongly that heritage in Birmingham is overlooked," she added.

"There are lots of festivals in Birmingham and they are often art and culture related, music, food but Birmingham has a very rich heritage and a lot of people don't think it has.

"Birmingham as a city has a really interesting history and a lot of physical evidence is still there and what Heritage Week does is it opens places up and neighbourhoods to explore."

Ms De Boo added: "I think heritage week helps you to open up your eyes to Birmingham."

As part of the week, the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter and JW Evans Silver Factory are opening their doors to visitors.

Ms De Boo said Birmingham Heritage Week, now in its 11th year, had "really grown".

"It has grown in the number of events, so physically grown, but it has also grown in terms of it's more recognised and people look out for it," she said.

"Ten years ago, we had to contact people to take part. And now we are contacted by organisations asking if they can take part.

"So there is a real shift in it's more recognisable as a festival and I think it has a proper place now on the Birmingham festival calendar."

St Mary's College at Oscott is a residential training college for young men entering the Catholic Priesthood and a tour of the college in September has already sold out.

An evening at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral is being offered on 20 September

A walk round Edgbaston Reservoir, created in 1824, takes place on 15 September

A tour of the Victoria Law Courts, built in 1887-91 and designed by Aston Webb and Ingress Bell, has already sold out