Family Tree - Maybe It's In The Genes?!

Some stories begin long before we realise it. Mine started in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, decades before I ever stepped into a workshop.

I grew up in a creative home, my mum encouraging art in every form, and my dad nurturing my practical side as a design engineer. I always knew I wanted to make things, but it wasn’t until university that I discovered the mixed‑media techniques that eventually shaped the silhouette jewellery I create today.

What I didn’t know then was that my connection to this craft ran much deeper than a university degree.

An Unexpected Discovery

Years after setting up my workshop in the Jewellery Quarter, my granddad told me something that stopped me in my tracks: he had once worked on the very street where my studio now stands. During his time as an engineer, he frequently visited historic jewellers like Smith & Pepper, which is now the Jewellery Quarter Museum.

But the story didn’t end there.

As we explored our family tree together, we uncovered a history we never knew existed. My great‑great-grandfather, Francis John Hanley, was a jeweller in Birmingham. His father was too. And in 1861, at just eleven years old, my great‑great‑great-grandfather, John Hanley, was already working as a jeweller’s apprentice alongside his brother Luke.

Their address? 22 Warstone Lane—the exact same street I walk down every single day.

Continuing the Legacy

To discover a whole line of jewellers stretching back generations, all living and working in the very place I now call home, is hard to describe. It brings a profound sense of pride, connection, and gratitude. It makes you realize that perhaps some passions really do run in the blood.

Today, when I walk through the historic streets of the Jewellery Quarter, I often think about the hands that came before me. The long hours, the meticulous craftsmanship, the quiet dedication. I feel deeply honoured to continue a story that began over 160 years ago, creating pieces that help others celebrate the people, places, and memories they treasure most.

Maybe it’s in the genes. Or maybe it’s simply where I was always meant to be.

Explore Our Journey

Discover the deeper inspiration behind our collections in our Sentimental Jewellery Stories blog, or browse meaningful, heirloom-quality pieces handcrafted right here in Birmingham within our complete memory jewellery collection.