Chinese dynasty in Birmingham (4)
I believe the answer is:
ming
'chinese dynasty' is the definition.
(historical Chinese dynasty)
'in birmingham' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'MING' can be found hidden inside 'birmingham'.
(Other definitions for ming that I've seen before include "Mediaeval Chinese dynasty, ware" , "Porcelain named after ancient Chinese dynasty" , "Famous porcelain from China 14th-17th centuries" , "Chinese dynasty noted for procelain" , "Chinese dynasty 14th-17th centuries, or porcelain" .)