JW Evans – The Silver Factory
Established in 1881, J W Evans is one of the most complete surviving historic factories in the Jewellery Quarter. Behind the terraced house frontage, the workshops retain their original drop stamps and fly presses, and are packed with thousands of dies for the manufacture of silverware as well as the whole of the working equipment, stock and records of the business. To walk into the factory today is to step into a lost industrial world.
English Heritage stepped in to rescue the factory in March 2008, after all other efforts to secure its future had failed. Phase 1 of the project, which commenced on site in April 2009, is tackling the repair of the building exterior, including full re-roofing. Once further phases of the project are complete, public access to the factory will be possible. The Phase 1 project is being funded by English Heritage, with assistance from Birmingham City Council.
History and Significance
Nos. 54-57 Albion Street were initially built as a row of four terrace houses in 1836, with open yards to the rear. In a development pattern typical of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, the rear yards were built over with workshops during the late 19th century. Jenkin Evans set up business here at No 54 in 1881 as a die-sinker, designing and cutting patterns from steel blocks for the manufacture of jewellery and silverware. A talented artist, Jenkin also proved to be a highly successful businessman, who in due course bought out his original partners and purchased the whole of Nos. 54-57.
Jenkin and his family initially lived on the premises at Albion Street, but were able to move out to the suburbs in 1901. He passed on the business, now mainly producing stampings and pressings for silverware, to his two sons. His grandson Tony Evans started work at the family firm in 1955 and retired in 2008. In its heyday, the firm employed up to 60 people, but the market for silverware declined in the late 20th century, and after 2005 only occasional production runs were undertaken, though the machinery was kept in operation.
The unique character of J W Evans was recognised during English Heritage’s survey of the buildings of the Jewellery Quarter in 1998-2000, which concluded that it was ‘probably the best-preserved example of a manufactory based in what were initially domestic premises in the internationally important Jewellery Quarter.’ The buildings in themselves are not unusual, but the whole entity, densely packed with its machinery, steel dies, tools and business archive is an exceptionally complete survival. The Evans building is listed Grade II*.
The Rescue Project
After a number of other initiatives to save the factory failed, English Heritage stepped in and purchased the property from Tony Evans in March 2008. The buildings are in extremely poor condition throughout, so the first priority is to repair the external envelope, with complete re-roofing and major structural repairs. To preserve the extraordinary atmosphere of J W Evans, the contents are being retained untouched in situ during the repair works, instead of being removed – a radical approach, never before undertaken in this country. The Phase 1 contract commenced on site in April 2008 and is due for completion in January 2009.
Research and feasibility studies are underway to progress Phase 2 of the project, which aims to establish a sustainable future for the building and its contents, with visitor access. It is hoped that English Heritage will hand over the repaired property to another body, such as a trust, rather than continue to manage the site. Parts of No 56 and 57, which were never a core part of the Evans business, may be refurbished and let, to provide an income stream to offset running costs. There has been strong media interest in the rescue project, and places on various public tours have all been fully booked.
For more information about JW Evans click here.
