CHARLES HART (WEST COUNTRY JEWELLERS) LTD

CHARLES HART .....JEWELLERS..............

This little business grew from a small workshop in Birmingham at the start of the 19th century, with the present owners ancestor George Hart. He worked for a watchmaker in the Aston part of the city and then after some years he started his own business.

He had three sons one was called Charles, he moved from Birmingham to Wiltshire with his wife Jane, and took over a small jewellery shop in Bradford on Avon. The original jewellery shop had been started in 1820, and Charles had a small shop in Paul Street Frome from around 1900. In 1920 he purchased Ballard & Sons in Bath Street . He lived over the shop with his wife and three sons.

The business then expanded, and his sons ran the new shops, one in Bruton, and one in Castle Cary, George Hart (the present owner's grandfather) opened a shop in Princes Street, Yeovil.

The 2nd World War put paid to many small businesses, and only Frome & Yeovil shops remained, but another shop, in Melksham had been added in the mid 30's. George expanded to Weston Super Mare, but on his death in 1962, his sons, Michael and Philip (the present owners father) had to pay death duties, and this led to the closure of the Weston shop. Michael left the business in Yeovil, and this was closed down, whilst Philip kept the expansion theme going by opening Chippenham, and Warminster (where the present owner, Christopher, first worked in 1968). We sadly have to announce that Philip passed away suddenly on March 1st 2007.

We are proud to announce that Alex Hart has now joined the business. At 31 years old, Alex has already obtained several jewellery qualifications and has worked at Goldsmiths Jewellers in Bath. He becomes the ninth generation of Harts since 1820 and will bring a new and fresh approach to this, one of Britains longest established family jewellers.

SHOP OPENING TIMES MONDAY-SATURDAY 9am-5.00pm