Francis Skidmore was born in 1817 in Birmingham, the son of a jeweller. The family moved to Coventry shortly afterwards and Skidmore was apprenticed to his father, learning the skills of metalworking and jewel setting. In 1845 Skidmore registered as a silversmith and by about 1850, based in West Orchard, he was also producing large-scale work in iron and brass.

One of his first Coventry commissions was to light St Michael's Church, Coventry, in 1851. He later made an eagle lectern and a colourful metalwork pulpit for the same church. At Holy Trinity in Coventry, Skidmore's brass light-stands, altar rail, ironwork and carved wooden pews can still be seen.

Skidmore's Art Manufacturers Company, Alma Street

In 1859 Skidmore moved to larger premises in Alma Street, Hillfields, setting up "Skidmore's Art Manufacturers" in 1861. By 1865, the Alma Street premises boasted an extensive showroom, 2 drawing offices, pattern shops, a 14-horse power engine, a boiler room, a large workshop equipped with lathes and a steam hammer, as well as separate rooms for enamelling, stamping and electrotyping.