By Tony Chesters, research volunteer

This building had a wide variety of uses in it’s early life, shoe warehouse, coffee shop, mixed shop and house, publishers etc., not settling into uses linked to the jewellery trade until around 1920. From the 1920’s it continued as a mixed use premises with the upper floors divided into workshops and a ground floor shop until at least the 1960’s. It is now the home of a diamond specialist, ‘Brilliant Diamonds’.

Frank Walter Turner worked from his 2nd floor workshop as an engraver of gold and silver for at least 21 years from 1920. He was born in Birmingham in 1865, the son of Frank and Alice. His father worked as an optician and Frank grew up at 59 Steelhouse Lane. By 1901, aged 34 he was still living with his parents, now in Upper Gough Street and working as an engraver. In 1911 he was boarding in Rotton Park and in 1939 had rooms in 55 Irvine Street.

Building Timeline

1858

Matilda Cooper, Shoe Warehouse

1862

William Allday, Eating House\Coffee room

1901-06

John Warrilow, Ground floor shop and house

1906

George Sargent, 1st floor shop

1901-06

Arthur Horton, 1st floor shop

1901-06

George Gardiner, 2nd floor shop

1906

William Spalding, 2nd floor shop

1906-11

James Andrews, 1st floor shop

1911

George Sargent, Ground floor shop and house
John Henry Yates, 1st floor shop
Arthur Henry Wilks, 2nd floor shop
Walter George North, 2nd floor shop

1920

Stych & Whitlock, 1st floor workshop
Joseph Whitlock, 2nd floor workshop
Warrillows Limited, Publishers retail shop

1920-41

Frank Walter Turner, 2nd floor workshop – Engraver

1921

Henry Daniels, Jeweller
Henry Jackson, Jeweller

1941

William Edge, Retail shop
Mr Roberts, 1st floor workshop

1945

Sidney F Cleveley

1955

George H Mason

1960

S H Shipway & Doble, 1st & 2nd floor

2019

Building occupied by Brilliant Diamonds