Edwards Chartered Accountants was founded towards the end of Queen Victoria’s reign by Walter John Edwards, and our first office was opened on Edmund Street in Birmingham.

Soon after, a sub office was opened by Walter on Bridge Street in Walsall, which was later taken over by Rowland Beckett in partnership with George Newton in the 1930’s. George was a very dedicated accountant, and worked with the firm well into his 90’s.

We also opened another sub office in Imperial Gardens in Cheltenham, managed by Charlie Parker, to facilitate the audit of The Cheltenham & Gloucester Building Society and many other clients in Cheltenham and the Cotswolds. However, this branch was closed in the early 1970’s following the death of Charlie.

Growth over the years meant the firm was large enough to remain open, despite many articled clerks joining the forces throughout the Second World War. Some of these returned to continue training after the war ended, including Cyril Hughes and Cedric Wells, who later become partners of the firm.

As the Birmingham office was destroyed during the air strikes, the firm decided to expand in Walsall and moved into larger offices in Lloyds Bank Chambers.