David Birtwhistle and Michael Westby had been in architectural practice together for eight years when they established ‘framed’ as a contemporary Fine Art gallery in 1979.  Their wives, Linda and Bridget, soon joined them, forming their own company ‘Bee Folios’ which specialised in bespoke framing and original (hand-produced) prints. 

Framed continued to be a great success until Michael and Bridget retired to Devon in 2000.  By this time, Linda had been publishing David’s watercolours as reproduction prints and greetings cards for a decade as ‘Birties of Worcester’.  The gallery soon re-opened as ‘Birties’ and continues to thrive.

The building was nearly derelict when we came along, although after 550 years a little wear and tear is to be expected.  46 Friar Street is part of two buildings with a dividing alleyway which was roofed over in the 17th Century.  The oak frame, with jetty overhanging the street and closely-spaced timbers, is typical of the mid 15th Century.  The floor joists in the front shop are shaped and worked for display, whilst in the private family quarters at the rear the oak is rough and unwrought.  The chimney and fireplace feature an over-large, reused, chamfered sandstone lintel.

Traces of history permeate the building.  Perhaps the most alarming are the scorch marks from burning tapers which can be seen on the face of many of the timbers, especially the great tie beam which faces you when you ascend to the first floor.  The finger-run ceiling cornices on this floor are most likely a later addition, presumed to date from the 17th Century.

Worcester was one of the largest clothing manufacturing towns in the country during the reign of Henry VIII.  In the early 17th Century John Green, a wealthy clothier, lived in the building and was taxed £25 for his two hearths.  However, two centuries later the Starkey family were in residence, running a cobblers workshop which filled up the floor voids with leather parings and off-cuts.  Still present is the hearth where Dud Dudley may have conducted his experiments; he was the first person to smelt iron, using coke not charcoal, helping to initiate the Industrial Revolution. 

One of the most exciting events in the life of the building would have taken place during the Battle of Worcester in September 1651.  Somewhere very nearby a spy was caught just before the battle, and following the Royalist defeat Charles II escaped along Friar Street en route to Boscobel Oak and France.  We don’t think he paused for a long look in our windows as he made his way up the street, but many of our visitors do come to look at the building as well as the work on display!