Newman Brothers’ Coffin Works – Review

While in Birmingham with some free time, I stumbled upon a hidden gem: the Newman Brothers’ Coffin Works. Located near the Jewellery Quarter, this Victorian warehouse premises was once used to manufacture coffin furniture. It’s centrally situated, just a short walk from the city centre and shopping area.

Upon arrival, the site is a striking and well-maintained building, proudly displaying the Newman Brothers’ name on the brickwork. I was warmly greeted by the staff and purchased admission. The cost is very reasonable, and I was given a welcome brochure that I took a look at while enjoying a coffee onsite before exploring the museum.

“Coffin Works” Picture credit to Coffin Works

I opted for the self-guided tour, but you can also book to join tours advertised at set times. The museum has volunteers in most rooms who guide you through what you’re looking at, explaining the purpose of each room and providing background information. All the staff were very friendly and welcoming, and I spent a lot of time investigating.

During my visit, I learned about the workings of this Victorian coffin furniture company thanks to the Birmingham Conservation Trust and their volunteers. The volunteers and contractors restored the site in 2013 and it’s been open to the public for over 10 years. The restored site is now preserved for future generations.

It’s like visiting a time capsule – everything is left as it was when the company closed its doors in 1997. The company, established in 1882 by The Newman Brothers, was later owned by Joyce Green. Old Victorian machinery is still present on site, capturing a period of time long since passed.

Tools, machinery, and loads of stock are available to view, and the site would have been considered old-fashioned even in the nineties when it was last in operation. It’s a business that didn’t adapt to the changes of time and captures the working life of its Birmingham staff from Victorian to mid-20th century. The restoration restored many of the buildings’ original features, including the machinery in the print room.

My write-up can’t do justice to how fascinating this museum is. The stamp room and machinery are just like the workmen are on break, with everything working perfectly and tools on display. I had a working demonstration of how the machines functioned and I was given an insight into how coffin furniture was designed and created. The warehouse that housed the furniture stock included catalogues and many different stock items on display and stored. Ordered items were then readied for dispatch and sent to the post room via lift. While you can’t touch the items, some workbenches hold display items that volunteers talk about. Upon entering the office, while old-fashioned by today’s standards, it would certainly have been modern for its time the mid-nineteenth century. The shroud room was also of interest, where fabric furnishings were created.

While I was looking forward to my visit, I didn’t expect it to be as interesting as it was. I spent between 2.5 and 3 hours on site, as there was just so much to see. I probably only expected to be there for about 90 minutes and I took lots of photos of the setting and signage.

The gallery of pictures below shows pictures of the “Stamp Room”, courtyard, stock warehouse, shroud room, and office that I captured. A nice touch is that the volunteers are very informative and keen to share their knowledge. They’re all very welcoming and generous with their time. Most rooms are also brought to life with stories about the staff who worked for “Newman Brothers’ Coffin Works.”

There’s so much to see that you can’t take it all in. I definitely will need to visit again, as I know my wife would enjoy this experience too. The site has excellent supporting facilities, including a coffee shop with cakes and snacks, and a gift shop with some unique mementos and art pieces. For those with children, QR codes are also available to scan and learn more as you venture around.

I have to highly recommend this museum as very professionally run and I cannot wait to return. Thank you to the team of staff and volunteers who made my time visiting so enjoyable.