The Coffin Works Archive brings together the diverse parts of the Newman Brothers’ Collection, which until now have remained unconnected. Although by no means comprehensive, this archive features a selection of the key objects in the collection and brings them together on one platform for the first time, to finally allow them to begin ‘communicating’ with each other. The archive is a work in progress and will continue to grow as more information is recorded and more objects are documented.
Welcome to the Coffin Works Archive
The Coffin Works Archive brings together the diverse parts of the Newman Brothers’ Collection, which until now have remained unconnected. Although by no means comprehensive, this archive features a selection of the key objects in the collection and brings them together on one platform for the first time, to finally allow them to begin ‘communicating’ with each other. The archive is a work in progress and will continue to grow as more information is recorded and more objects are documented.
Esmée Fairbairn
This project wouldn’t have been possible without the Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund, run by the Museums Association. A grant of £56,700 was awarded in August 2015 and has allowed us to build this resource and ensure it continues to grow.
Museums Association
The Collections Fund, run by the Museums Association gives £1m per year to develop collections use and focuses on time-limited collections work outside the scope of an organisation’s core resources.
Birmingham Conservation Trust
BCT, which runs and owns The Coffin Works, is the city’s leading building preservation trust. The charity exists to preserve and enhance Birmingham’s architectural heritage and to promote an enjoyment and understanding of the city’s historic buildings.
Collection
Our current online collection is a great place to learn about Newman Brothers and the coffin furniture industry over the last 100 years.
Themes
Using our themes (links below) you can navigate your way through our collection with related objects and stories.
Learn more about our wonderful collection through our Themes…
Commerce
Discover who Newman Brothers sold to both nationally and internationally, along with the key historical figures associated with the company, and its top clients.
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Death
Learn how changing attitudes towards death and mourning had an impact on the coffin furniture fashions of the day.
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Industry & Manufacturing
Learn why Birmingham was at the heart of the coffin furniture trade, and how Newman Brothers embraced the highs and survived the lows of the industry.
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People
Learn about the roles at the factory and how the high Victorian child mortality rate played a key part in the social obsession with the funeral.
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The Victorians
Newman Brothers was a Victorian company with a reputation for quality, selling to the country’s most elite funeral furnishers, including the royal undertakers.
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Women
Find out about the key characters who made a difference, and discover how pay, pension rights, and tea breaks had an impact on the workforce.
Learn MoreGateway Objects | To get you started
The Coffin Works Museum secured the prestigious award for ‘Small Visitor Attraction of the Year’ in the West Midlands Tourism Awards, in partnership with Visit England. The category commends small...
A couple of weeks ago, I published a blog about our recent exciting research findings at Newman Brothers. Thanks to the 1921 census, we now have a host of new…
For International Women’s Day we’re looking back at our most recent research on the 1921 census and our theme is Working Women. Of the 32 employees at Newman Brothers in…
Our clocking-in machine or ‘time recorder’ has been central to welcoming visitors since the Coffin Works opened in 2014. Visitors take their admissions tickets and ‘clock in’ for a tour,…
