Everyone knows Birmingham as the ‘City of a Thousand Trades’, but did you know that one of those trades was in coffin works? While jewellery, firearms and pen nibs were once the Second City’s most famous exports, the Newman Brothers’ factory was responsible for fittings for the funerals of Winston Churchill and Princess Diana.
Newman Brothers Coffin Furniture Factory began its specialisation in the production of coffin furnishings—from handles and nameplates to shrouds and cushions—in 1894. This century-long practice lasted until 1998, having produced coffin works for figures such as Joseph Chamberlain, George V, and the Queen Mother.
Responsible for some of the finest upmarket coffin furniture in the world, it took years to transform the Grade II* listed building into a museum. But in October 2014, the factory finally reopened as The Coffin Works: The only museum in the UK dedicated to the production of coffin furniture and funerary fittings.
The Coffin Works
Step inside this preserved Victorian manufactory left largely untouched since the last workers walked out in 1998. Like a time capsule, the shelves and workbenches at Newman Brothers are still full of original stock and tools, while the original machinery is working again.
With both self-guided entry and daily guided tours, you can experience how this old Jewellery Quarter factory would’ve once operated on a day-to-day basis. Highlights include a huge archive of objects, live demonstrations, and interactive exhibits. Plus, there are plenty of events throughout the year.
With Halloween on the horizon, Coffin Works truly comes into its own—events include scary film screenings, gothic walks, and candlelit after-hours tours (with a complimentary cocktail, of course). If you’d like to learn more about Newman Brothers Coffin Furniture Factory, then head to the Coffin Works website.
