JEWELLERY SALE: H. L. Brown signals end of sparkling 165 years in Sheffield

H.L. Brown's city centre jewellery store in Barker's Pool, at the junction with Leopold Street, Sheffield. | H.L. Brown

placeholder image — H.L. Brown's city centre jewellery store in Barker's Pool, at the junction with Leopold Street, Sheffield. | H.L. Brown

Every day at precisely one o’clock, it still happens.

A siren rings out across Sheffield city centre, as it has done since 1877. Shoppers check their watches. Workers break for lunch. Conversations pause.

It began in the Victorian era, when businesses relied on public time signals to set clocks accurately, and in Sheffield it always been the job of beloved jewellers H. L. Brown.

Precision timekeeping is part of the DNA of one of the city’s oldest companies, founded in Sheffield in 1861.

The one o'clock time signal at H.L. Brown jewellers in Barker's Pool, Sheffield | Library

Now it’s time to ring in a new era.

H. L. Brown has announced the change of ownership of its Barker’s Pool showroom. It is thanking customers for more than 165 years of support with a major jewellery sale, running until the end of June.

Luxury watches, fine jewellery, diamonds and gifts are included in the sale before the store becomes part of the Loupe luxury jewellery and watch portfolio, backed by the Beaverbrooks Group.

H.L. Brown change of ownership sale runs until June 30, 2026. | Local

H. L. Brown will continue to trade from its Doncaster store, at 18 St Sepulchre Gate, at the entrance of the Frenchgate Centre, as well as online and through sister brands Barbara Cattle in York and James Usher in Lincoln.

Customers in Sheffield can get 20 to 40 per cent off jewellery and watches, with the exception of Rolex and Georg Jensen.

Managing director James Frampton today explained the decision to leave Sheffield city centre. He said: “We are wishing to focus on our own brands, rather than being a showcase for international brands.”

Mr Frampton thanked Sheffield customers for their continued support and said of the jewellery sale: “It is a last opportunity to acquire items of quality at H. L. Brown in Sheffield. Unsold items will be transferred to Doncaster, York and Lincoln.”

H.L. Brown Managing Director James Frampton | Local

He added: “We hope we have provided items of quality which have lasted across generations and continue to be enjoyed for many years hence.”

Mr Frampton described the move as emotional for both him and members of staff but said the priority was securing the future of the business and its people.

“It is an emotional moment for me and for many of the staff,” he said. “The important thing is the future of the people employed in the businesses, rather than sentimentality.”

He says the Sheffield store will be in good hands, adding: “Loupe is a family business with a very good reputation in the jewellery and watch industry. It is a well-run business with strong relationships with many jewellery and watch brands.”

And what about Sheffield’s famous one o’clock signal?

Sheffielders may hope the traditional and distinctive lunchtime blast remains part of city life.

For now, the siren still sounds every day at 1pm from Barker’s Pool.

H.L. Brown’s on Angel Street, Sheffield, before it was destroyed in the Blitz - insert firm's founder Harris Leon Brown with his wife, and great-grandson Michael Frampton, who ran the company for many years | Library

“It is quite disconcerting if one is directly outside the building at 1pm and unaware of the tradition,” said Mr Frampton.

Originally, the signal received a timing pulse direct from Greenwich before later being linked to Rugby. Today, an electronic clock simply activates the siren.

Mr Frampton said the signal was introduced by founder Harris Brown to demonstrate that the business was at the cutting edge of technology.

A receipt from H.L. Brown in July 1923 | H.L. Brown

“The signal is an interesting part of our history but shouldn’t be overstated,” he said. “Its origins lay in wanting to show H. L. Brown was ahead of the competition in technology. As technology moves on, new traditions will take hold.”

Loupe plans to carry out a full refurbishment of the premises before reopening later this summer, subject to final plans.

Founder Harris Leon Brown and his family | H.L. Brown

A premium luxury concept, it has rapidly developed a reputation for elevated jewellery and Swiss watch experiences, blending contemporary retailing with traditional family-business values.

Existing showroom staff are expected to remain part of the Barker’s Pool business, ensuring familiar faces continue to welcome customers through the doors.

The story of H. L. Brown began with Polish immigrant Harris Leon Brown — originally Braun before anglicising the family name. Aged just 19, he arrived in Sheffield in 1861 after fleeing Poland via Hamburg following an uprising against Russian authorities.

An illustration of H.L. Brown's shop at 71 Market Place, Sheffield, from around 1888 | H.L. Brown

Settling in Sheffield through family connections, he began repairing watches and clocks in the Lower Don Valley before opening the first H. L. Brown shop on Gower Street in 1867.

The business later moved to Angel Street, then Market Place, before being forced to relocate after its premises were destroyed during the Sheffield Blitz.

It subsequently traded from Fargate before arriving at Barker’s Pool in 1986.

The company remained in family hands throughout. Leadership passed from Harris Brown to his son Bernard, before Colonel Denis Brown joined the business in 1923.

H.L. Brown's old store at the corner of Leopold Street and Fargate in Sheffield city centre in 1940 | H.L. Brown

Michael Frampton became managing director in 1972, with his son James Frampton — the founder’s great-great-grandson — taking over in 2001.

Over 165 years the company has survived two world wars, the Sheffield Blitz, armed robberies, the Covid pandemic and the ever-changing fortunes of the British high street.

H.L. Brown's former managing director Michael Frampton. | H.L. Brown

In that time, it has built a reputation for luxury watches, fine jewellery, bespoke craftsmanship and exceptional customer service.

James added. “We have been privileged to be part of special occasions in Sheffielders’ lives and look forward to being able to do so in the future from Doncaster, York (Barbara Cattle) and Lincoln (James Usher), and online.”

The H. L. Brown name is leaving Sheffield city centre after all those years - but its enduring legacy will be its craftsmanship, customer care and that famous one o’clock signal.

CONTACT:

H.L Brown - Sheffield

Address: 2 Barker’s Pool, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1 1LZ

Tel: 0114 272 4388

Rolex Enquiries: 0114 478 7417 or 07752 888 801

E-mail: [email protected]

H.L. Brown – Doncaster

Address: 18 St. Sepulchre Gate, Frenchgate Centre, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN1 1TB

Tel: 01302 342589

E-mail: [email protected]

Barbara Cattle - York

Address: 45 Stonegate, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 8AW