Last week, a group of staff and volunteers from the Framework Knitters Museum enjoyed a
reciprocal visit to The Coffin Works in Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter.
The visit forms part of our commitment to providing opportunities for volunteers to explore other museums, share ideas, and learn from the experiences of fellow heritage organisations.
On arrival, we received a wonderfully warm welcome from the Coffin Works team before embarking on a guided tour of this fascinating museum. Housed within the former Newman Brothers factory, the museum preserves the story of a business that once produced some of the world’s finest coffin furniture, including the handles, nameplates and fittings used in funerals around the globe.
Our volunteers were fascinated by the factory’s original machinery, workshops and surviving collections, all of which provide a remarkable insight into Birmingham’s industrial heritage and the skilled craftspeople who worked there.
Of particular interest to our volunteers was the sewing room, where beautiful shrouds and coffin linings were once produced. We were even fortunate enough to see the special edition Black Sabbath shroud, which is currently in its final weeks of display at the museum.
More than anything, however, we enjoyed hearing about the people behind Newman Brothers. Throughout the visit, we were introduced to the stories of the workers who shaped the factory’s history, from its earliest days through to its final years of production. Their memories, personalities and experiences brought the building to life and transformed what was already an impressive collection into an absolute treasure trove of information and real life stories.
As well as learning about the history of the site, the visit provided an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas with another independent museum. From volunteer engagement and interpretation to collections care and visitor experience, there was much to discuss and plenty of inspiration to bring back to Nottingham.
The day also offered a valuable chance for our volunteers to spend time together away from the museum, strengthening friendships and sharing experiences. These social opportunities are an important part of volunteering and help to build the supportive community that exists at the Framework Knitters Musuem.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Claire, Megan, Cornelius, Beth and all of the team at The Coffin Works for their hospitality and generosity throughout the day. Their enthusiasm and passion for the museum shone through and made the visit a memorable one for everyone involved.
We are now looking forward to welcoming Coffin Works staff and volunteers to the Framework Knitters Museum in the future, continuing what we hope will be a long and rewarding relationship between our two museums.
Reciprocal visits such as these remind us that museums of all sizes face similar challenges and opportunities, and that there is enormous value in sharing knowledge, experiences and ideas across the heritage sector.
Thank you once again to The Coffin Works for a wonderful day.
Inspired to visit for yourself?
The Coffin Works is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10:45am and offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into Birmingham’s industrial heritage, brought to life through its original machinery, collections and the stories of the people who worked there.
For more information, visit: https://coffinworks.org/
