41. Martin-Baker Ejection Seats

Martin-Baker supplies ejection seats for 93 air forces worldwide. The Martin-Baker company is the only company to offer a fully integrated escape system which meets the latest pilot operational capability and safety standards. Martin-Baker seats have been fitted into over 80 fixed-wing and rotary types with the most recent being the JSF F-35 programme.

Since the first live ejection test in 1946, 7,344 lives have been saved by Martin-Baker ejection seats. The company's headquarters are in Higher Denham, Buckinghamshire, England. The factory is one of the most advanced of its kind in the world where precision engineering is absolutely key. Any mistake and the seat will be ineffective and with fighter jets becoming more and more sophisticated, the engineering behind the seats must always be ahead.

40. Moon Throws

Located in Yorkshire, traditional home of the English cloth mills, the company is unique in being a fully vertical mill, with dyeing, blending, carding, spinning, weaving and finishing processes all taking place on one site.

Throughout the world the name "Moon" has become synonymous with design and innovation.  For many years our ranges have continued to offer the assurance of luxurious quality and unique understanding of the ever changing needs of our customers.

Natural fibres predominate in our collection – wool, cashmere, silk, linen and others.   Where beneficial to the properties of the cloth, man-made fibres may be introduced.  Combining tradition and progress we produce  cloth of the highest quality.

State of the art manufacturing allied to a highly skilled workforce enable a wide diversity of fabrics to be manufactured at competitive price levels – a prerequisite to success in today’s market place.

39. Norris Bedding

Norris Bedding have been making mattresses using traditional methods since 1945, when they started trading as R. J. Norris, a small family firm. At that time materials were hard to come by so expertise in upholstery and refurbishing mattresses was essential.

From handmade divans to hand teased loose filling mattresses, every part of their beds is made by hand in London. Each bed is individually made to order, using no machinery. The end result is one of the best made beds that money can buy. Every part of the construction is done by hand by craftsman showing that quality and craftsmanship really do go hand in hand.

38. Canvas Wash Bag

Tusting is a family firm based in the heart of the English countryside, with its roots deep in the English leather and shoe trade. The fifth generation of the family is now at the helm, following a long line of Tustings who have been tanning, grading and trading the world’s finest leathers for over 130 years.

They now make a range of bags and leather goods from their workshop which lies close to the original tannery founded in 1875. It is home to a new generation of highly skilled craftsmen making bags for their own range as well as on behalf of others.

This wash bag is made from canvas with a waterproof nylon inner. The look fantastic and are brilliantly made.

37. Leather Games Set

Daines and Hathaway is still amongst the most prestigious traditional leather goods makers, producing products which continue to be quintessentially English in style. All of their products are made in England, combining the experience of the true craftsman, with the most beautiful leathers and superior quality fittings to create truly exquisite pieces to be cherished for years to come.

This leather covered games compendium is a particular favorite and is a good example of the quality on offer from British craftsmen.

36. Bellyboards

You would be forgiven for thinking that there are two types of surfing, standing up on fibreglass ‘surfboards’ or lying down on foam ‘bodyboards.’ However one innovative company in Devon has kick-started a revival in the original wooden bellyboards. For long before people stood up on ‘Malibu’ surf boards in Britain in the 1960’s, they surfed the Atlantic rollers lying down on thin flat wooden boards. The board design was based on the ancient Hawaiin Paipo boards (Paipo meaning short or small board). In Hawaii people learnt the art of riding prone on these short wooden boards before they attempted to stand up on the longer ‘alaia’ boards.

In Britain this type of surfboard was first used as early as the 1800’s, although it was not until after the First World War when veterans returned home in the early 1920’s that the sport of ‘surf riding’ on bellyboards started to become widespread.

The Original Surfboard Company hand craft their bellyboards in Britain from birch plywood. They individually cut and steam bend each board to give it a unique curve and nose. The boards are then either yacht varnished by hand or given a spray painted finish. The Original Surfboard Company are on a mission to preserve and revive traditional British made wooden surf boards and the art of surf riding. Hats off to them.

35. Wicker coffins

The commercial willow industry in Britain suffered catastrophically after the introduction of plastic alternatives in the 1950’s. However recently a strong recovery has been made as eco-conscious consumers flock back to this most traditional and green of sectors.  Willow is made into many products, including wicker baskets, hampers, furniture, artists charcoal and even coffins. The heart of British willow production is the Somerset Levels, whose rich wetlands provide the perfect conditions for rapid growth. A Somerset ‘withie’, the wicker variant of willow can reach over 8 feet in height in a well watered season.

The art of willow production has not particularly changed for hundreds of years, save for some mechanisation in the harvest. In England the largest commercial producer is PH Coate & Son who have been using the same techniques since 1819.

At P.H. Coate new willow beds are planted in the spring using pieces of willow from the previous crop. The new bed is mature after three years and with careful management can last up to 30 years. The crop is harvested each winter time after the leaves have died and fallen.  These leaves provide nutrients for the following years, eliminating the need for artificial fertilisers. Machines cut the willow and strip the bark. The withie rods are then dried, cut to the appropriate length and handmade into a plethora of wicker products.

34. Little Mester Pocket Knives

No more words needed from me today. Watch the fascinating video below to see a real craftsman in action. Trevor Ablett, 67, and showing no signs of retiring soon, is one of the dwindling number of original 'Little Mesters'; self-employed Sheffield craftsmen who were once the backbone of that city's world-beating cutlery industry. Trevor's speciality is pocket knives, for which there is currently a six month backlog.

33. Luxury motorboats

As an island nation Britain has long been known for its maritime prowess.  While sadly much of the larger shipbuilding industry has dissolved Britain is still renowned for its luxury yacht and motorboat builders. One such builder is Princess Yachts of Plymouth. They started life as Marine Projects (Plymouth) Ltd to fit out and charter the ‘Project 31’, the first boat to be built at the Company’s original factory at Newport Street, Plymouth. The success and sale of that one boat led to further orders and a continuous design and production effort. The current range is of sporting and flybridge motorboats between 44 and 95 feet in length, painted with Princess’s signature blue. By 2008 the company employed 2000 people at its 1 million sq ft factory in the Plymouth docks and the success and prestige of the brand resulted in it being bought by the global luxury goods company LVMH.

32. Ties

As Oscar Wilde once said, “A well-tied tie is the first serious step in life.”  Nowhere is this maxim understood more than at the workshop of Drakes of London, nestled in the back lanes of Clerkenwell.  Drakes was founded in 1977 by Michael Drake, whose original collection comprised of men’s scarves. He quickly branched out into printed silk handkerchiefs and handmade ties and today Drakes is the largest independent producer of handmade ties in England. The original vision of the company was to retain design and manufacture of products in England but be truly international in terms of sales, with collections designed for a range of luxury shops from the most conservative to the most fashionable worldwide. Mr Drake makes ties but also dispenses his own distinct philosophy on gentlemen’s style. On ties Mr Drake says, “The tie is important not only because it's so much the focus of attention, but because it's more symbolic than utilitarian. The best ties are handmade, never stitched by machine.” He also believes that blue is the most useful shade of tie colour for gentlemen and therefore seventy percent of the ties at Drakes are different shades of the colour.

31. Whistling in the wind?

Acme Whistles is the world’s most prolific inventor and manufacturer of whistles. From humble beginnings in the Jewellery Quarter of Birmingham, Acme have innovated continually to hold their market leading position against less proficient imitators. The current management are firm exponent of the benefits of retaining manufacturing in Britain.

The company was founded by Joseph Hudson, a farm worker from Derbyshire, who moved to Birmingham during the Industrial Revolution and trained as a toolmaker. He converted the wash house at the side of his end-of-terrace, ‘back to back,’ house in St Marks Street into a workshop where he made many things to help increase his family’s income. His early products were snuff boxes, cork screws and whistles.

His whistle business was very small until in 1883 The London Metropolitan Police advertised for an idea to replace the policeman’s rattle (a cumbersome means of communication for the bobby on his beat’). Joseph invented a novel whistle for the purpose. It could be held in the mouth leaving the hands free a clear advantage over the rattle.

The police tested his whistle on Clapham Common and were delighted when it was clearly heard just over a mile (1.6Km) distance. They awarded a contract to kit out the whole force with Joseph’s whistles. Over the next 135 years Acme developed and patented over 40 different whistle designs. A few of their most famous are The Metropolitan Police Whistle, The Acme Thunderer, The Tornado and The Silent Dog Whistle.

Today, Acme’s modern whistles are used all over the world by sporting bodies, safety organisations and security groups including the NFL and NATO. Acme sell over 5 million whistles per year to 119 countries. They have manufactured over a billion whistles altogether from their Birmingham premises.

30. Penrith Fudge

The Toffee Shop opened in Penrith, Cumbria, just after the First World War by the Furnass family. It has remained under the ownership of three different families and is today owned by Neil and Pat Boustead.

Once inside the shop, you can't miss the rich sweet aroma of melting butter and boiling sugar from the toffee shop kitchen.

The same recipe has been used for over 90 years and has never been changed.

Fudge is made from butter, sugar and milk to a simple recipe and in small batches, so that it cooks evenly and thoroughly. There are always plenty of people to fuss over the 8 brass pans - stirring it when it needs stirring, and checking that it never boils over or catches in the pan. Once cooked, the fudge is poured into cooling trays and then cut by hand into slabs. As their name would suggest, they also make toffee although we will leave that for another time.

If you are passing Penrith - just off the M6 in Cumbria - be sure to drop in on this family business. The shop is a great survivor in an ever changing town and shows that the production of consistent quality is a simple and effective formula for success.

29. Cadman

Cadman furniture is based in Wales and has been designing and making bespoke furniture. They have built a reputation as accomplished designer makers and now receive many challenging commissions from home and abroad. Each piece is 'functional art' where sculpture meets practicality and function.

The founders aim to make unique items each time which will be a fantastic addition to your home whilst being an art form. Many of the items are made to order in close collaboration with the customer. They design each piece and then every bit of furniture is made from scratch in Wales. From selecting the specific timber at the sawmill through to the finished product, they put an immense amount of time, skill and precision that goes into everything that they do. Although a very small business, this is a fine example of the quality and craftsmanship on offer across Great Britain.

28. Caurnie Soap

Caurnie Soap has been serving the Scottish natural skin care market since 1922. They specialise in handcrafted cold process vegan soaps and cleansing products. Their unique nettle shampoo and nettle moisturiser products are especially sought out by many Eczema and Psoriasis sufferers after being bought at Scottish farmers markets or Country living shows.

Caurnie natural soaps are maturable which results in them being longlasting. You will notice they do not go musshy at the end of their lives. Each bar is handmade in blocks in Scotland. They still use the original wooden press to draw the soap blocks, a labourious task that takes many man hours and effort! The result is large blocks of soap that they cut into cheese-like pieces.

27. Emma Franklin Jewellery

Emma designs and hand-makes each individual piece, using traditional techniques at her Clerkenwell studio. One of her signature items is a pair of pheasant and shotgun cufflinks. Each set is made to order with discreet initials engraved by request. The cufflinks are solid cast gold which she then solders to a chain joining the two shapes.

Having studied at Central St Martins School of Art & Design, Emma has worked in the heart of the jewellery capital in London for a number of years. She works from her own studio which offers an inspirational workplace for Emma to design and make her stunning pieces of handmade jewellery.

Stockist: http://www.applebyparva.com/

26. Trent Engines

Before Rolls Royce was privatised, it accounted for only 8% of the global passenger aircraft market. Now, the family of Trent engines power over 50% of the world's modern wide-bodied aircraft. Rolls decided that they needed an engine family which would share similar fundementals which could be scaled to suit different sizes of aircraft. Because of the huge cost of developing each engine, by having a platform from which each engine would be derived, they had the technology in place to compete in the ever expanding commercial airline market. the series became known as Trent and continues to form the basis of the Rolls Royce offering to the sector.

Originally chosen by Cathay Pacific in 1995, the Trent series has gone on to power over half of wide bodied aircraft owned by airlines across the world. Based in Derby, Trent is a world leader in engine manufacture and is considered the pre-emminent engine maker for the airline industry. The engineers are leaders in their field and Britain is considered to be one of the most advanced aviation centres in the world.

25. Caviar Spoon

Since yesterday's post was about vodka, I am keeping the theme going today with another not so British sounding item - a caviar spoon. This is made from Ox horn in Lancashire.

Each bit of horn is taken from an animal that  has already died - never as a direct result of the industry - and is cut down to form a workable raw material. The horn is heated which makes it malleable although not over heated which would cause it to distort and set becoming brittle.

The horn worker then uses a mould to press the spoon into shape before cutting the excess and then sanding to create the smooth surface and edges of the spoon. The spoon is taken through a number of stages of sanding until finally being polished to create a shining, gloss-like surface which is ideal to complement delicacies such as caviar.

24. Vodka

Perhaps not normally associated with Britain but a British vodka brand was last year voted the worlds best by an independent panel of judges. Beating of competition from Russian and Polish vodka as well as the more established brands, Chase vodka was awarded the accolade in San Francisco.

And to make it that much more amazing, Chase is made on a farm in Herefordshire - from potatoes.

The spuds are all grown in the farm's own fields, before being added to water, fermented, and then distilled and bottled. It all takes place on site. This is the success story of a potato farmer who, having sold his crisp business was looking for something else that his potatos could be used for.

Rather than look for a distributor that would buy his potatoes at rock bottom prices to be sold in supermarkets, the founder set about creating his own brand. Despite no experience of distilling and taking on a sector that is well known to be dominated by global powerhouses, the vodka has been a huge success and can now be purchased through a number of retailers across the UK.

23. Submarines

Irrespective of the debate surrounding Trident and other nuclear related industries, you have to respect the enormous expertise in this sector. BAE Systems manufacture submarines from their base in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. The site was originally part of Vickers who were absorbed by BAE via a complicated set of mergers and acquisitions in the defence industry in 1999.

The yard at Barrow is one of the few in the world with the capability to build nuclear grade submarines and is one of the foremost submarine specialist ship yards in the world. Under Vickers management, the yard was responsible for the Trident submarine manufacture which has remained a leader in nuclear deterrent for over 20 years.

The yard is still producing submarines and remains one of the ship building industry's crown jewels. Despite the political debate surrounding nuclear, it's reputation and expertise is a proud reminder of what the best of British manufacturing can achieve.

22. Scissors

Top quality scissors are difficult to come by with the mass of cheap imports flooding the market. However, there are a couple of companies in Sheffield that still make scissors by hand resulting in the best quality scissor offering a clean shear rather than rough cut often associated with those old school scissors that never quite did the job as accurately as you wanted.

Making a pair of scissors is no easy process. The scissors start off as individual blank blades which are smithed (straightened), assembled, and then tempered in furnaces of different heats. The first furnace is white hot at about 900ºc. The second is kept at a golden-coloured 'straw heat,' 840ºc, which levels out the temperature. This process hardens the blade but not the handles of the scissors which remain relatively malleable so they can be adjusted at the end. The scissors are quenched in a bath of oil and water for five to 10 minutes. Water alone hardens the blades too quickly and makes them brittle but oil absorbs the heat slowly and gently, lubricating the metal. After quenching the scissors are tempered in another furnace at 120ºc.

The handles are smoothed and polished, a process known as bow-dressing. Finally the scissor blades are ground and sharpened, glazed, plated, buffed, polished and packaged for selling; Made in Sheffield scissors, part of the city's heritage.

21. Haddonstone

Haddonstone, is a leading manufacturer of cast stone building materials and garden ornaments. They have a global presence with warehousing and offices in the United States and have clients across the world as far away as Dubai and South Korea. Their manufacturing base is in Northamptonshire, England. 

They make a vast array of cast stone garden ornaments, garden furniture, garden fountains, fireplaces,  bird baths, planters, balustrading, porticos, window heads and cills, sundials and paving to name a few. If it is ornamental stone that you are after, Haddonstone is likely to be able to help and it is all made here in Britain.

20. Barbour

Although some of their products are now made abroad, Barbour continues to manufacture its core waxed-cotton garments in a factory in South Shields, Tyne and Wear. A fourth-generation family-owned British brand, Barbour has surprised many by becoming popular with the festival crowd and termed 'cool'. Barbour's are now commonplace with the East London fashion conscious crowds.

Barbour now has 11 of its own retail shops in the UK, and a presence in 40 countries worldwide including Germany, Holland, Austria, France, the United States, Italy, Spain, Argentina, New Zealand and Japan.

If you are buying a Barbour, ensure you seek out the limited lines that are still made in England - they do exist!

19. Faux Book Pen Holder

Made by hand in England, this range of home accessories is based around historic leather bound books inspired by Britain’s long literary history. Casted directly from moulds of genuine antique books, each item is then painstakingly hand painted and gilded by the team of master craftsmen before being inspected to ensure the unique appearance of the original leather bound book has been retained. This is a timelessly classic British product in both inspiration, manufacture and appearance.

 

This is a pen holder which forms part of a range of accessories. The company also offer a service where they will fit out entire rooms or part of rooms. If you have a library with secret door, this could be just the ticket. All made in Cirencester, England, this is a handmade range from a small business that is exporting all over the world.

18. Armac Brass

Armac produces brass fittings for a number of purposes, mostly to do with the kitchen, bathroom and furniture markets including furniture locks, handles and door furniture. Their traditional antique style has been complemented by more contemporary fittings meaning that they can offer a wide range of products for modern kitchens through to traditional reproduction antique makers.

Armac was formed in 1929 and was run by one of the co-founders from 1929 until his retirement in 1988, aged 83. The 2nd generation duly followed taking the helm until 1996 with his two sons taking over as joint managing directors. The firm remains very much a family affair with the fourth generation having joined the sales team.

 

Situated in the heart of Birmingham, Armac has expanded over the years to include distribution as well as manufacturing and has stockists throughout the world.

17. Clarke Cables

Manufacturers of all types of cable from spiral telephone cable to kettle leads, Clarke Cable are a leader in their field. Again, an industry that might have been lost to cheaper labour markets, Clarke are an example of what can be achieved with a focus on consistent quality and what British production brings to that.

Based in Cheshire, the company specialise in being able to offer bespoke solutions especially for the home interiors market. The short lead times derived from having domestic production mean that stock can be kept small whilst delivering exactly what customers require.

A small entry today but a nonetheless important industry that is thriving in Britain.

16. Barbed Wire

Whether you are at a football match, playing tennis, driving, farming, protesting, working or many other activities, you will come across fencing. Betafence is one of the largest manufacturers of fencing in the world. They have manufacturing all over the world including 2 factories in Britain. Amongst the items made in Britain is barbed wire - one of the most common types of fencing seen across the UK.

With a history stretching back 125 years, sales of 500 million euros and employing 200 people across the world, Betafence are the leading fence supplier. Their two factories in Britain - in Sheffield and Wigan - show the confidence that they have in British manufacturing and the quality that it offers. Not a product that generates huge interest but something used everyday and at the heart of another great British industry - farming.

15. Naim Audio

Based in Salisbury, Wiltshire, Naim Audio is one of the most commercially successful British audio companies today. Still privately, its success comes from having a world-wide legion of faithful supporters built through simply refusing to deliver ‘me too’ style products. Each of its new products delivers appreciable performance benefits and Naim resolutely avoids blindly following fashion.

For example, it was 10 years after Compact Disc was launched before Naim introduced its first CD player. Now its top model is widely regarded as being the finest CD player in the world. The company does not look upon its equipment as mere products but rather as conduits through which individuals can connect with their music collections.

Naim have a legendary customer service department which aims to repair any Naim product that has been made over the past 40 years. With the factory and office remaining together in Salisbury, they retain stock of key components and have the manufacturing know how on site. Fantastic sound quality together with great British craftsmanship.

14. Shaving Brushes

Established in 1777, G B Kent & Sons Ltd, manufacturers of brushes is one of the oldest established companies in Great Britain. Recognised by the granting of Royal Warrants for nine reigns the Kent family continued to run the company for six generations until 1932 when the last of the three Kent brothers passed away. Since that time the company has been under the creative and dynamic direction of the Cosby family.

The company headquarters moved from London to their existing factory in Apsley, Hertfordshire on the 6th February 1984, and remains there to this day. The company continues to retain the craftsmanship and unprecedented quality that is Kent's reputation. Even in today's fast moving, mass-produced assembly, Kent are proud to still be manufacturing many of their original brushes by hand.

Nevertheless, Kent Brushes is committed to developing and enhancing its products with every step they take. Kent harness the latest hi-tech manufacturing processes, whilst building on the time-honoured traditional methods to create the world's finest example of each and every brush that leaves their factory

13. Abbeyhorn

Abbeyhorn is a testament to long lasting, traditional, skilled British craftsmanship. With a rich heritage tracing their roots through 5 families and 250 years in England, Abbeyhorn continue to produce some of the finest natural horn products in the world.

Each piece is manufactured by skilled craftsmen in Lancashire, England using traditional methods that have remained largely unchanged for over 250 years. The result is a beautifully textured, unique piece of craftsmanship that is both functional and captivating.

The manufacture begins with heating the horn to compress it which, once cooled, is flat and ready to work with. The skilled carving can then begin. The required shape is cut out and is taken through a series of sanding and polishing rounds which remove the blemishes and builds up the layers of colour. Each piece is then highly polished using both a hard and soft polish resulting in the gloss-like finish.

 

12. Brompton Bicycle

All Bromptons are designed and built in West London, England. Brompton is one of only two major frame manufacturers still based in the UK. The company has come a long way since its initial production facility in a railway arch, and the current site occupies 22,000 ft2. Born in the founders' bedroom overlooking the Brompton Oratory, Brompton Bicycles was born. A very British history!

Tracing its history to 1975, Brompton have had a difficult time bringing the concept of the folding bicycle to the market. Many hurdles have been met and eventually passed and the company is now, finally, going from strength to strength. It was down to the perseverance of the founder along with some loyal customers who kept the company moving forward.

The past 5 years have been hugely successful and the emergence of the London bicycle scene has increased demand for their unique product. Quality control became an issue for the company at times but having ironed out the issues and taken production back to their own factory in West London, Brompton has a bright future.

11. Lava Lamps

A much loved product of the 1960's which is still hugely popular across the world, the Lava Lamp was designed and continues to be made in Poole, Dorset. Edward Craven-Walker first saw the beginnings of the idea that became the Lava-lamp in a pub in the Dorset. It was an egg timer designed by Mr. Dunnet in which a blob of liquid rose when the egg was ready. Mr. Walker then spent years developing a formula for a lamp based on this principal.

Originally called the Astro Lamp, a Mexican distributer coined the title Lava Lamp which is the name that the lamp has come to be known. Having come up with the name, it is often thought that the lamp hails from Mexico. It is in fact British, designed here and made in Dorset. Mathmos, the company behind the lamp is still based in Poole whilst also having a shop and office in Hoxton, London.

10. John Smedley

John Smedley are known for high quality knitwear with a history that stretches back over 225 years to 1784. Established by John Smedley and Peter Nightingale in Lea Mills, Derbyshire, the company continues to be based in the same location all these years later. The first mill was built only 13 years after the first water powered spinning mill had been thought up and was a real first for the industry. John Smedley continues to be a large part of the local community, an important employer and has built its proud name to be associated with some of the finest garments in the world.

With various new ranges, including a link up with Agent Provocateur, John Smedley have marched full steam into the fashion arena. They are now well known for the quality of the materials and the garments that they produce and are a central pillar in the UK fashion industry.

their flagship store on Brook Street, just of London's Bond Street is designed with their roots in mind. Derbyshire and the their origins are explored and celebrated ensuring that John Smedley are always true to their original values. Technology at John Smedley has advanced hugely over the years hence, despite their heritage, they are a very modern manufacturer.

9. Makita

Not something that is usually associated with being quintessentially British but Japanese tool makers, Makita are sold on the quality of British manufacturing. Their factory in Telford is one of the biggest of its kind in the world and is responsible for producing some of the company's most popular models. The cordless range is almost exclusively made in Britain.

Makita traces its roots back to 1915 from a small repair shop in Nagoya, Japan. Over the years, it has grown into a global name with manufacturing and distribution all over the world. The company established a presence in England in 1972 and has gone from strength to strength.

So although this is a very Japanese brand, many of its products are made in these shores and are established leaders in their field. Next time you are looking for the best quality power tools, look beyond the names assumed to be British and support British manufacturing and craftsmanship with a Makita drill. Each item that has been made in the UK is marked with a Union flag on their website.

8. Burleigh

Burleigh has a rich heritage of design and craftmanship. Generation after generation have produced beautiful earthenware from the same Victorian factory in Middleport. From the pottery centre of Stoke on Trent, England, Burleigh are the only manufacturer still using their traditional hand decoration method. Each piece is decorated using under glaze transfers - once a common method of decoration but so highly skilled and labour intensive that it is rarely seen today.

Since 1889, Burleigh have stayed true to their roots and continue to produce breakfast, tea and dinner sets; jugs, mugs, cups and saucers, bowls, plates, platters, kitchenware and bathroom ware. Many of these are produced using their archive moulds.

The clay that is used for each piece is made by Burleigh from raw ingredients, ensuring they have total control over the fine quality of theirearthenware products. The process is much the same as when they started and the same 19th century machinery is still in use.

7. Conway Stewart Fountain Pen

Conway Stewart are the pre-eminent manufacturer of luxury pens in the UK . They started making pens in 1905 with one aim: to produce objects of elegance and timeless beauty, yet functional writing instruments.

Handcrafted by master pen makers, favoured by the Royal family, given to presidents, used by prime ministers, Governments and celebrities, Conway Stewart retains its title as Britain’s finest pen. A Conway Stewart will provide a life time of fine writing pleasure, prestige and heritage.

Each pen is individually turned, assembled and polished in England from the finest materials available by some of the world’s most skilled craftsman. Conway Stewart pens are still made in Devon.

6. Pewter Tankard

Pewter was introduced to Britain by the Romans in the 1^st century AD and by medieval times every town had its own pewter shop and craftsman, the ‘hammerer’.  By the 16^th century London was the world centre for the pewter trade and Sheffield is now considered the home of Pewter in England.

Pewter is an alloy of tin and with new advances in metallurgy is now all lead free. As a result it has a highly polished finish making it an excellent, practical alternative to silver. Production is a highly skilled process which includes mixing the alloy, rolling, bending, soldering, spinning, casting and polishing each item.

The tankard is then spun on a lathe where craftsmen form the flared rim and base as well as shaping the body and adding pattern detail. Finally, a succession of abrasives and brushes are used to bring out the high shine, similar to silver.

5. Pantherella Socks

So you can buy many different types of socks made all over the world but very few could better the quality and heritage of Pantherella. Tracing their history back to 1937, the founder bucked the trend for plain, bulky and bland socks in favour of a thinner, more design led sock. The idea that men might wear thinner, more comfortable socks was, at that time, doubted by many in 1937 but has become the norm with Pantherella continuing to lead the sock world with their innovative approach to design and comfort.

Buoyed by their success in convincing men to move to lighter weight socks, Patherella ceased producing women's socks (their main market up until that point) in 1952. It was not until 2005 that they relaunched a women's range, by then celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Pantherella brand and the established leader in sock manufacture.

 

Pantherella are famous for their hand linked seam meaning that there is no ridge under the toe. This is impossible to recreate by machine and sets Pantherella socks apart from mass produced alternatives. They are hard wearing, long lasting and comfortable with a loyal following. Pantherealla socks continue to be made in Leicestershire under ownership of the Hall sock making family. Pantherella make socks for a wide range of own brand high end suppliers as well as continuing to build their own brand name.