Brook Wilkinson worked in Northowram until 1859 when the family moved to 4, George Street, Bradford and Brook became a pawnbroker, eventually moving to better premises at 13, Guys Cliffe.

It was a thriving business in a growing town built on the textile industry. The very rapid growth of the town meant that houses were built in a higgledy - piggledy fashion, without sewers or drains, and overcrowding was common. However, this was a boom time for pawnbrokers. There were about 4,500 pawnbroking establishments mainly based in industrial working class areas at this time.

The successful nature of the Wilkinson’s business is indicated by the fact that both parents and six of their sons worked in the business. Frederick and Francis were in allied trades as a stuff warehouseman and a merchant’s clerk.

For many people in the 19th and early 20th century a trip to the pawnbroker was a regular occurrence – pledging a suit or a clock for a small amount to tide the family over to payday when the item could be redeemed.

Most customers came in only when they needed short-term finance. A number, however, were regular customers “going to visit uncle” once or twice a week pledging small items of clothing or bedding. Most pawnbrokers were open until mid-night on Saturdays taking in all manner of pledges that were generally put in store rooms above the premises where the family slept to protect the goods.

In 1877, at the time of his only daughter’s marriage to James Derbyshire, Brook and Ann had a general domestic servant, Mary Bell, to help in the house.

Brook remained a pawnbroker for the rest of his life. He had trained his sons in the trade.