Friday Photo: Pelican Works
Photo Credit: http://www.silvercollection.it/electroplatesilverWZdue.html
Today’s Friday photo is the Pelican Works (T, Wilkinson & Sons) on Great Hampton Street. The business was originally founded in Sheffield in 1832 by Thomas Wilkinson and was later carried on by his two sons William and George Wilkinson. The Pelican Works in Birmingham was built C 1860-70 in the palazzo style and is two storey with red bricks and stucco dressings. The most prominent feature of the building is the statue of a Pelican with outstretched wings, which was the companies logo. The company specialized in electroplating, notably the manufacturing of electroplated cutlery. This is an example of their hallmark.
Copies of their designs are also stored in the National Archive at Kew (Pelican Works). The business declined in the 1930’s and they moved to smaller premises and the building was later used as a brass foundry.
Thomas Wilkinson was my great great grand father. We do have items about the Pelican Work in family records. We hope that the building can be restored to its former glory. With great interest. Sally Hammerton nee Wilkinson.