Fellows & Sons - History

History

The company's origin can be traced back to the collapse of an order for bicycles in 1876. When William Henry Fellows, who was based in Digbeth, was left with the unwanted order he decided to sell the bicycles by auction. The family, who were also pawnbrokers, used auctions to sell uncollected pledges. William Henry Fellows was followed by his son Francis Henry Fellows – who was known as ‘Frank H’ – in Loveday Street.

It was during the 1920s that the business grew, with Frank H selling items belonging to refugees escaping from the ravages of the Russian revolution.

Frank H was in turn followed into the business by his two sons William and Albert Fellows, who ran the business from Greenfield Crescent in Edgbaston, Birmingham.

The brothers also saw a wide variety of goods from refugees from the Nazi persecution who were able to smuggle out some of their worldly wealth. Sales in this era also included lost property from the Royal Mail.

William and Albert were followed into the business by Antony Fellows, the son of Albert, who based the company in Hagley Road, Birmingham. Fellows & Sons moved in 1990 to Augusta House in the Jewellery Quarter, the firm's current home. His daughter Jayne Fellows has taken over the running of the business with her husband Stephen Whittaker, who is the managing partner.

The couple have seen the company grow from five staff to twenty. The company now holds over 50 sales per year, more than half of which are for jewellery. This growth has been helped by the firm specialising in other niche markets such as watches, costume jewellery, toys, silver and furniture.

In 2007, Fellows expanded the company once more by opening an office in Mayfair, London, targeting new business in London and the south east.