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J. Ashford & Son building

The former Ashford & Sons factory in Birmingham, England is a Grade II* listed building in Arts & Crafts style.[1]

The factory, at 16-18 Great Hampton Street in the city's Jewellery Quarter, in the Hockley district, was designed by local architect Arthur McKewan and completed in 1912.[1]

It was given Grade II* listed status in 1982, protecting it from unauthorised development or deletion.[1][2] The list entry describes it as:[2]

A particularly sensitive formal elevation to a jewellery works, containing Birmingham Arts and Crafts with Edwardian Baroque details all executed to a very high standard.

In June 2016, plans to convert the then-empty building into 64 one-bedroom, 77 two-bedroom and six three-bedroom residential apartments were announced.[1] As of 2022, the converted apartments have been operated as a build-to-let development by Grainger plc.[3]

Ashford & Sons

John Ashford was a gilt toy maker ("toy" meaning small items like buckles and buttons, not children's playthings) in Birmingham from 1842.[1] In 1905 he sold the business to Joseph Aitken.[1] The firm, which made enamelled objects and men's jewellery, closed in 1980, but its name is still shown, carved in Portland stone on the building's frontage.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Jones, Tamlyn (6 June 2016). "Conversion plan for old Ashfords factory in Jewellery Quarter". Birmingham Post. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  2. ^ a b Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1075540)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  3. ^ Beech, Adam (18 November 2024). "Grainger completes second Birmingham development - forms part of £105m investment". Retrieved 13 March 2025.