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