Blackburn jeweller marks 35 years with fifth-generation family firm

Managing director Phil Ainsworth is marking 35 years with Ainsworth Jewellers, the family business that has traded on Blackburn’s Darwen Street since 1870.

The store, founded by Joseph Ainsworth more than 150 years ago, has remained under family ownership for five generations. Ainsworth, the founder’s great-great-grandson, joined the business in 1990 aged 24.

During his tenure, he has overseen the expansion and modernisation of the store while maintaining its long-standing reputation for trust, expertise and customer service. Developments have included the introduction of private consultation areas for bespoke engagement and wedding jewellery, and the launch of Wedding Friends, a collective of local suppliers for couples planning their weddings.

The jeweller also opened a small museum and diamond exhibition at the Blackburn premises to display historic pieces and memorabilia from the firm’s archives, including an FA Cup winners’ medal and a 1930s sixpence traditionally given to newlyweds for luck.

In recent years, Ainsworth has extended the business’s reach with an appointment-only store in London’s Jewellery Quarter, supported by partnerships with suppliers and designers.

Reflecting on the anniversary, Ainsworth said: “It’s an honour to celebrate 35 years in a business that has been part of my family for five generations. Our history is something we’re incredibly proud of, but our focus has always been on moving forward, adapting and ensuring our customers receive the very best.”

Ainsworth Jewellers is a member of the National Association of Goldsmiths and The Company of Master Jewellers.