A Victorian coffin fitting works in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter is about to be transformed into a business centre after securing additional funding. Following the revamp the Grade II listed Newman Brothers building in Fleet Street will provide commercial space for emerging companies.
Birmingham Jewellery Quarter
In addition the property will become the headquarters of the Birmingham Conservation Trust which is overseeing the restoration. However, the lid will not be closed on the building’s history as it will also house a museum featuring many of the breast-plates, crucifixes and shrouds left behind when the business shut.
The £2 million project, which has been stalled for some time, is being financed by English Heritage and Growing Places, a fund established to get developments moving again. It has also received Heritage Lottery funding and assistance from the City Council.
The Newman Brothers manufactured coffin furniture in Fleet Street from 1894 to 1999. During this time the company’s brass and metal coffin fittings were world renowned and adorned the caskets of Winston Churchill, Neville Chamberlain and Diana, Princess of Wales. At its height the factory employed 100 people.
Keith Stanley, of the Jewellery Quarter Development Trust (JQDT) welcomed the news.
“The Coffin Works will not only be an exciting and unusual heritage attraction, strengthening the Quarter’s heritage and tourism offer, but a quirky ‘character’ location offering low-cost workspaces for creative and start-up businesses,” he said.
Paul Haven, of the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP), describes the building as a ‘historical gem’ and says he is delighted that it is being brought back into use. He also urges developers with similar projects to come forward to see if they could benefit from Growing Places funding. The project is expected to be completed next year.
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