Robert Blacklock was working on the Tyne as a shipwright when he decided to open his first shop. A jewellers and pawnbrokers at Bedford Street, Sunderland in 1832. Not long after opening his shop Robert's son William joined the now flourishing business.

As Sunderland was a busy shipping port with a growing shipbuilding industry Blacklocks soon became well known in the area. In the later part of the 19th century Roberts grandson Ralph Hope Blacklock also joined the family business. The business continued to grow and flourish. At the beginning of the 20th century, William Blacklock decided to move the business to Bridge Street.

That was when Ralph Hope Blacklock took over the running of the business. Ralph would continue to run Blacklocks until the late 1920's when he became ill. After having been diagnosed with tuberculosis, Ralph had to retire early and he moved to Switzerland to recover. His son Kenneth who was still at school took over the business.

It was not until after the second world war that Blacklocks started to specialise in high quality jewellery. In the 1960's the retail trade in the Bridge Street area of the town began to decline, so in 1962 Kenneth moved the family business to Waterloo Place. The move proved to be a great success.

In 1973 at an auction a buyer for the company bought an Arab Ceremonial Dagger with a gold handle and set with precious gems for £1000. The dagger was displayed in the shop window for £1250, but even with all the interest from press and public alike the dagger did not sell.

Deciding to get at least some of their money back Blacklocks sent the dagger to be melted down. Days later they received a cheque for £3000. No one had realised but apparently the belt that came with the dagger had been made from 18ct gold wire.

As well as high quality jewellery, Blacklocks also had a back shop in Union Street which was used as a pawnbrokers and for selling second hand jewellery. By 1981 the Blacklocks had opened a new shop in Durham. The last known owner Ralph Blacklock the great great grandson of Robert first joined the business in 1966 after working as a gem dealer and studying gemmology.

Unfortunately the Blacklock tradition came to an end in Sunderland at the end of 2002, when another jewellers took over the Waterloo Place premises.


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