About Cousins Canterbury
Our knowledge of traditional jewellery-making techniques informs the way we design and create contemporary jewellery. We take pride in sourcing and creating distinctive pieces, made to be worn, enjoyed and treasured for years to come. Our work reflects a lasting commitment to quality, craftsmanship and individuality, and has been exhibited internationally.
In the beginning c.1910
The original shuttered shop was founded by John Martin, and beneath the timbered elevations of the old Sun Hotel the Cousins shop frontage remains as it was in his time.
Early Cousins of the 1950s and 1960s
The business passed into the ownership of Stanley Sladden, who had been a jeweller in Canterbury since 1911, and after the second world war Stanley's daughters took on staffing the shop.
Thomas Cousins was working in 22 Palace Street, an antiques shop with his brother Fred Cousins. Fortuitously, Syvia Sladden met Fred Cousins, and soon Thomas and Betty were also courting.
The baton for the shop as it now is, was taken up by Thomas Cousins who married Betty Sladden in 1952 and they ran and grew the enterprise together until 1985.
In that year befell a tragedy, when during an armed robbery Thomas Cousins was killed while bravely defending his family and business.
Betty Cousins
Betty Cousins worked in the shop from 1947; a stalwart in Canterbury and well-loved by all who met her, a jewel of a lady herself.
When Covid hit the UK, Betty isolated in her beautiful home and garden with Jonathan, and decided to retire from public life. She enjoyed music and classical concerts, and loved to hear the best wishes from customers who visited the shop.
Dementia was diagnosed in 2021 though her kind and sweet temperament remained, and Betty sadly passed away on Friday 28th March 2025, peacefully at home.
Nigel Cousins
Nigel left university in 1975, having studied Modern Languages. He was the first of his siblings to start working in the shop full-time.
"My father told me I needed a job and until I found one, I was to come to work with him. I am still here over fifty years later and I am very lucky to be able to say that I have enjoyed my work. It has been fascinating to see how the world and Canterbury has changed over the past six decades. Thankfully, not too much has changed and our loyal customers and beautiful jewellery have endured."
Jonathan Cousins
Jonathan left school at sixteen and joined Thomas and Betty in the shop from the summer of 1974.
"I remember the preparations for H.R.H. Her Majesty the Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1975, and the special pieces of silver that our father had made to mark the occasion."
"Nigel and I also remember working through the summer of 1976; it was so unbearably hot we took turns to stand with our backs against the safe to try to keep cool.
Now, fifty years later I am happy to still be working by my brother's side, and that we now have air conditioning."
Araminta Chapman
Araminta represents the fourth generation of the Cousins family. She joined the business part-time at 16, working alongside her A Levels and business degree, and quickly discovered her passion for jewellery design and for meeting our wonderful customers.
“I remember my first day in the shop; I was so excited to get stuck in, start designing my own jewellery and meet all our wonderful customers.”
After five years working in London, Araminta returns to the family business with broadened experience, fresh perspectives and an even deeper appreciation of fine jewellery.
Trained by her uncles, Nigel and Jonathan, Araminta has developed her own creative perspective while learning from their many years of experience. Today, she brings fresh ideas and a love of design to the family business, helping to carry the Cousins tradition into its next generation.
The Showroom
The showroom is managed by brothers Nigel and Jonathan Cousins. Araminta Chapman, the granddaughter of Thomas and Betty, represents the fourth generation of the family to work in the business. Sister-in-law Rachel Cousins joined the business in 1999 as our capable administrator, as well as having full artistic licence over the window displays. Rachel is a regular award winner of the Canterbury Christmas Window competitions.
Valuations for Insurance or Probate.
For insurance or probate purposes, it is very important that you obtain a jewellery valuation from a professional valuer registered with either the Institute of Registered Valuers or the Jewellery Valuers Association.
Both the insurance industry and HMRC (for probate, or Inheritance Tax Assessment valuations) expect just as high professional standards from jewellery valuers as they do from building surveyors, structural engineers or accountants. That's why we recommend Julian for all your jewellery valuation needs.
Julian is a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths.
Compiling 100 years of memories
We are in the process of compiling a collection of memories of visits to our shop over the years, including all your special purchases.
We would be most delighted to hear from any clients who would like to relay and share their personal story of their visit, whether last week, or fifty years ago.
If you have the story of an early purchase made by your parents or grandparents we would be particularly pleased to hear from you too.
It will be very nice to renew some old associations and friendships again and to hear from some past clients and their families. Hopefully, we might see a photo or two of a Cousins treasure from a previous generation.
Please use the link below to send your story through our contact us form. Let us know if you would not like this added to our public archive of images. Of course, names and personal information would all be hidden.
