Building timeline
c. 1820
House built - detached house, set back from the street and surrounded by landscaped gardens.
1845
Listed in the Post Office Directory as occupied by James Hermitage Esq.
1856 -1861
Listed in the Post Office Directories (1856, 1860) and Corporation Directory (1861) as occupied by Mr James Baldwin
1864
Listed in Post Office Directory as occupied by Nathan Henry, jewellery factor
1867
The Post Office Directory now lists Nathan Henry as general merchant
1868
Kelly’s Directory lists ‘Nathan Henry & Co, wholesale jewellers
1869 - 1877
Whites Directory, Hulley's Directory and Post Office directory - Henry Nathan & Co. export merchants
1879
Post Office Directory ‘Hyman Levi & Co. jewellers’
Late 1870s – early 1880s
The grounds of the house were sold off in plots for development
1881
Hulley’s Directory ‘Birmingham Middle Class School – Catcheside & Howorth, principals (in prior entries the school is listed at 47)
c.1882
The house was converted into a jewellery works, the plans for its conversion produced by Ewen Harper and registered in February 1882 as ‘Alterations to dwelling house and additions to workshop’. Two parallel workshop ranges were built to the rear of the house, both built of brick and two storeys. The house was refronted to give it the appearance of a purpose built factory. The new façade matches the adjoining Variety Works at no 46 Frederick Street which was designed by the same architect in the same period.
1883
Kelly’s directory lists 5 businesses for number 45 Frederick Street:
Arthur Johnson Smith, manufacturing jeweller
Robinson & McKewan, silversmiths
Albert Sydenham, jeweller’s factor
George Harvey, jeweller’s factor
Richardson E. & Co. silversmiths
1884
Kelly’s Directory lists 5 businesses:
Robinson & McKewan, silversmiths
Albert Sydenham, jeweller’s factor
George Harvey, jeweller’s factor
Birmingham Middle Class Schools, Rev Geo. Robt. Lee L.L>B manager
Evangelistic Mission Corps (Headquarters), Rev. George Robert Lee L.L.B chapln
(1884 is the 1st time 46 Frederick Street appears – A J Smith has then moved to that premises)
1886 and 1888
Kelly’s Directories lists 3 businesses:
Robinson & McKewan, silversmiths
Albert Sydenham, jeweller’s factor
George Harvey, jeweller’s factor
1889
The rear workshops are shown on the 1889 OS Map as forming two jewellery works with workshops joined along their length in a back-to-back arrangement
1890
Kelly’s Directory lists 4 businesses
Robinson & McKewan, silversmiths
Barnsley E. S. & Co silversmiths
Albert Sydenham, jeweller’s factor
George Harvey, jeweller’s factor
1892
Kelly’s Directory lists 5 businesses:
Robinson & McKewan, silversmiths
Barnsley E. S. & Co silversmiths
Spiers John & Co. jewellery case manufactuters
Myers Brothers, merchants
George Harvey, jeweller’s factor
1893-4
Hulley’s Directory lists 6 businesses:
Robinson & McKewan, jewellers
Barnsley E. S. & Co silversmiths
Lister Wooldridge, jewellers factor
Swingewood Albert, jewel case manufacturers
Reading & Lee, jewellers
George Harvey, jeweller’s factor
1895
Kelly’s Directory lists 8 businesses:
J & Co. jewel case manufacturers
Myers. Bros. merchants
Harvey G. W. & Co jewellers
Robinson & McEwan, jewellers
Swingewood A jewellers’ case maker
Gumpleson E. & Co. merchants
Barnsley E. S. & Co, silversmiths
Reading & Lee, jewellers
1896
Kelly’s Directory lists 6 businesses:
Robinson & McEwan, jewellers
Barnsley E. S. & Co, silversmiths
Swingewood Albert, jewel case manufacturer
45A George Reading, jeweller
George William Harvey , jeweller’s factor
Thomas Allen Harper, wholesale jeweller
