Newman Brothers atthe Coffin Works

Alfred and Edwin Newman founded their brass foundry in 1882 and moved the business to Fleet Street in the Jewellery Quarter in 1894, where it manufactured coffin fittings until closing in 1998. The factory supplied coffin furniture for the funerals of Winston Churchill, George V, George VI and Princess Diana. When Newman Brothers stopped trading, the building was left largely untouched, its shelves and workbenches still holding handles, breastplates and screws. Birmingham Conservation Trust spent fifteen years raising funds for restoration before reopening the Grade II* listed factory as a museum in 2014. Visitors can book a guided tour or explore at their own pace with a booklet and mobile tour, though the venue's lift is currently out of service. Self-guided entry runs Friday to Sunday afternoons.