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Last and Gregory Jewellers.

D

DAJ

knowlegable brummie
I would be interested to know if anyone has any knowledge of the above company, which, according to census details, was in existence at least by 1921. A Google search reveals nothing, but there was a Gregory Jewellers, so I am assuming that Last and Gregory joined forces in the Jewellery Quarter at 25 Hylton Street.

Thanks.
 
Last & Gregory first appears in the directories at 26 Hylton St between the 1915 and 1921 editions (the latter could refer to 1920 depending on when survey was taken). In 1915 number 25 Hylton St was occupied by James Swann, manufacturing silversmith, and the firm is not listed elsewhere. Neither is any Jewellery firm named Last. But in 1915 there was a firm W.A.Gregory & Co, dealers in jewellers requisites at 49 Vyse St, which had disappeared by 1921. 49 Vyse St is on the corner of Hylton St. W.A.Gregory were at number 49 from the 1912 edition, In the e1910 edition they have disappeared , but there is a William A.Gregory, merchant listed at 50 Church St. William has a telegraph address "Gregorian", whereas W.A.Gregory & Co has a telegraph address "Gregorian Birmingham".
 
Thanks mikejee. The 'Last' part of the company is a mystery. I have a particular interest as the Last family name is linked to my family, and I am not aware of any Jewellery Quarter link. It's also unusual for there to be no historical information relating to a company.
 
This sounds like the same James Gregory. It's from "The Traditional Fisherman's Forum" at https://www.traditionalfisherman.com/viewtopic.php?t=40462

James Gregory of Birmingham:

Victorian jeweller and bait-maker extraordinaire James Gregory operated from the jewellery district of Birmingham, from a number of different locations.

Gregory's shop at 39 Vyse Street is still a jewellers. The firm of Victoria James is located there. He later effected a move to 27 Vittoria Street. This has since been demolished and office buildings now stand in its place. Another shop was opened at 21 Hylton Street - again, gone, but this is the approximate location. By this time the business of James Gregory & Son was being run by the son, William - who was evicted from the Hylton Street shop after six months for failing to pay the rent. The following year the business was financially underwater, and the bait business was sold off to cover the debts.

Anyone with even a passing interest in Gregory's baits will enjoy my article in the current issue of Classic Angling (#148 - June 2024) which includes an image of the man, the details of his career outside of jewellery and bait-making, and the previously untold story of his volatile and traumatic family life.
 
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