Historic Family-run Bury St Edmunds Jewellers to Close After 150 years

04 Dec 2024

Successful Sneezums Jewellers and Photographic Retailers, established by the Sneezum family in Ipswich in 1874, shut its high street doors for the final time on 28th September, after 150 years of trading.

Situated on the Cornhill and in Central Walk, Bury St Edmunds, Sneezums announced in June the forthcoming closure of the high street store. The decision came as partners Elizabeth Sneezum and Yvonne Scotford-Sneezum prepared to retire. The business closed the store on 28th September 2024 with the online business continuing to operate up until December.

Current fourth-generation Sneezum owners Elizabeth and Yvonne said,

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the closure of our family business. Unfortunately, we do not have anyone in the family to continue our legacy. Our decision was not made lightly, and after much consideration and reflection, we have decided to retire to spend precious quality time with our families and pursue other interests.”

The Sneezums business is steeped in rich history. Originally established in 1874 on Fore Street in Ipswich by Elizabeth and Yvonne’s great-grandfather, Henry Sneezum, the business began as a jeweller, pawnbroker, and clothier.

In the early 1900s, under the second-generation owners Henry and Ray Sneezum, 14-20 Fore Street became H&R Sneezum and expanded its services to encompass gold and silver refining, bullion dealing and gunsmithing in addition to selling a diverse array of goods, including jewellery, photographic equipment, fireworks, tools, clothing and sports and musical equipment. During the war years and the gold rush, the business smelted gold and sent daily deliveries of the smelt to London by train.

The business expanded over the coming years to a total of ten shops located in Ipswich, Rayleigh, Thetford and Bury St Edmunds, involving third-generation family partners Neville, Derrick, and Aubrey, who was Elizabeth and Yvonne’s father.

The Walter Sneezum shop at 5 St John’s Street Bury St Edmunds, originally owned by Walter Sneezum from around 1890, was taken over by second-generation owner Henry Sneezum (grandfather to Elizabeth and Yvonne) and Richard and Ray Sneezum, Henry’s brothers, in 1946.

The Sneezums business on the Cornhill in Bury St Edmunds was purchased in 1951. It was originally traded as W J Cook & Son, a picture frame maker, and a china, glass, and fancy goods merchant. The business grew during the 1950s to become a photographic retailer.

The building on Cornhill was redeveloped in the mid to late 1960s and was reopened in 1971 by Clive Dunn from Dad’s Army. On reopening in 1971 on the Cornhill, Sneezums expanded by selling jewellery, watches, gifts, binoculars, telescopes, televisions, hi-fi, telephones and even a record department. In 2008, Sneezums closed for several weeks, undergoing a major refurbishment.

In June, Elizabeth and Yvonne expressed their gratitude, stating,

“For generations, we have had the privilege of being at the heart of the Bury St Edmund’s community, where generations of local families have shopped with our family business over the years. Over the 150 years of trading, our business has evolved to be more than a commercial venture; it has become a cornerstone of our family’s heritage and a cherished part of our lives. Our dedicated staff and customers have played a pivotal role in our journey. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to our exceptionally loyal staff, many of whom have dedicated over 20 years to Sneezums and some who have spent their entire working lives with us, including our longest-serving current member with 48 years and over the course of history, our longest serving staff member was with Sneezums for 63 years, both starting with us straight from school and spending their entire careers at Sneezums. At the time of the high street store closure, with seven current valued members on our team, we were eternally grateful for their unwavering loyalty. Alongside the loyalty and dedication of our customers, this has been instrumental in allowing Sneezums to thrive for 150 years over four generations.” Sneezums has remained dedicated to the one core value of ‘family comes first’, including their staff.

Elizabeth and Yvonne added,

“It will be a very sad and emotional day when we finally bid farewell to our family business. We take pride in knowing we are one of the oldest remaining independent family businesses in Bury St Edmunds and we will always treasure the countless memories that have enriched our journey.”

Since 28th September, whilst almost all their stock has now been sold, Sneezums have been offering occasional ‘Open Days’ to clear their final fixtures and fittings, which still include beautiful Pollards of London mahogany showcases dating back to the early 1900s. The last few open days are scheduled for December and are advertised on their website.

Sneezums closure marks the end of an era but also celebrates the legacy of a trusted local business that will forever be remembered as part of the fabric of the community.

View Sneezums

Source: Sneezums