Riley's Pianos

[Vivienne14]

This postcard of Riley's Pianos on Constitution Hill suggests there was not only a piano/harmonium shop but also a Hall. I presume Riley's Hall must have been over the shop. I had a look on Streetview to see if the building is still there and, joy of joys YES! How chuffed I was to see it's still there and not in too bad nick either. Seems that quite a few Victorian buildings have survived along Constitution Hill/Great Hampton Street, although many frontages have suffered over time. Good to see many of the original decorative features of the Riley's building have survived.Viv.

 

[Vivienne14]

Riley's once had premises in Corporation Street too.

 

[pjmburns]

Earliest reference I've foind so far is 1874

 

[pjmburns]

 

[superdad3]

Henry Riley & Son:

Founded in the Victorian period and continued until the mid 1930s. The building on Constitutional Hill is said to have been built by Rileys and was their headquarters.






I can't trace a link between Henry Riley and W.S. Riley but both were operating at the same time. Were they related? WSR had show rooms at 100/102 Corporation Street and also premises in Ryder Street with a works in Dalton Street.

This is a phot of their Corporation Street showroom.



Believe it or not, Kellys lists in the 1860s yet another Riley - Joseph Riley, musical instrument manufacturer, at 20c Constitutional Hill.

Were they all related?or just co-incidence?

 

[Vivienne14]

It might be coincidence as this 1909 advert for Henry Riley stresses 'No other address' . Interesting that Henry started c
showing his premises address as 'Riley's Corner ' and pointing out it was 'The Old Birmingham House'. Perhaps he was trying hard to distinguish his business in Constitutuion Hill.
Source: British Newspaper Archive

 

[pjmburns]

I think Joseph was the father of Henry and grandfather of the Joseph whose obituary is in post #4.
The first Joseph is listed as a "music seller" on 1861 census.