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.

4. Dartington Crystal

Dartington was founded by the Dartington Hall Trust which was a charity started to assist the economic regeneration of rural areas through business, education and the arts. Concerned that there were a lack of opportunities in North Devon which would result in a population downturn, the charity identified the creation of a glass making industry as the answer to the areas problems. Hence, in 1967, a group of Swedish glass makers were brought in to help start a very different glass company. Working with the finest natural materials, these craftsmen soon became known for creating beautiful glassware that would be used and appreciated.

Dartington is known for its contemporary, clean designs which result in a range of elegant glassware which was intended to be practical yet beautiful. Their range includes all shapes of drinking glasses, decanters, vases through to ornate glass sculptures.  Dartington Crystal glass is the only crystal brand still producing in the UK and happens to be one of the most well respected glass manufacturers in the world.

A management buy out in 2006 has safeguarded the future of the factory and the business now also owns a number of other glass businesses in the UK. They are the most significant employer in Torrington, Devon and their reputation as one of the finest glass manufacturers in the world is going from strength to strength.

3. The British Mini

A true British classic recognised the world over; the quintessentially British Mini. Despite many changes of ownership and fortune, the Mini continues to be made in the UK with parts that are 60% sourced from the UK. This makes it one of the most British of all cars assembled in Britain.

Launched in 1959 as the British answer to the hugely popular VW Beetle, the Mini has earned a cult following over the years. Legend has it that it was designed on the back of a napkin with the sole design brief being that the passenger and luggage space should account for 80% of the car - a huge amount given the space needed for the engine and gearbox and a hence a design triumph.

Having been part of British Leyland and then Rover/BMW, the Mini name was retained by BMW when they sold Rover. With Rover having gone into receivership and ultimately sold to China, the Mini stands alone as one of the true greats of the British automobile industry.

The original was built in Longbridge, Birmingham and Cowley, Oxford with panels pressed in Swindon, Wiltshire. The new Mini, launched in 2001 is now built in Cowley. BMW have launched a range of additions to the classic range as well as an all new model in 2006. Manufacture continues in Oxford.

2. Northampton Shoes

One of the industries that is most associated with England is shoes. Northampton has been the centre of British shoe making for over 100 years and continues to define quality, durability, prestige and sophistication. Using time honoured practices that remain largely unchanged, the craftsmen and women in Northampton can be rightly proud at maintaining Britain at the heart of quality boot making against stiff competition from Italy, Spain, Eastern Europe and of course, the Far East.

Crockett & Jones is one such example. They have been making traditional English shoes since 1879. Each shoe goes through over 200 different highly skilled operations and takes 8 weeks to manufacture. Although a pair seems expensive, they will last far longer than cheaper shoes and they get more and more comfortable by the day.

The shoes come in a range of traditional styles that are rarely out of fashion. The best advice is to buy 2 pairs and rotate them so that each pair is only worn every other day. This allows the leather time to settle and dry after use ensuring that the leather remains in perfect condition. Rotating shoes is believed to almost triple the lifetime of the shoe and hence is a worthy investment.

1. Leather Wallet

Green Billfold Wallet

So the first of 365 amazing things still made in Britain. We have found these amazing leather wallets from Ettinger. The best leather is often assumed to be Italian or Spanish but these wallets are carried by the prince of Wales and are made in Walsall, England.

Walsall is home of leathermaking in England and no doubt we will see some other leather products on this blog. Each wallet is handstitched using the best cuts of the leather hide and are the sort of thing you only buy once as it will last a lifetime.

The Japanese are known for their attention to detail and the fact that Ettinger have opened a shop in Japan shows how good their products are. So if you are looking for a wallet, look no further than Ettinger and be proud to know that it has been made by skilled craftsmen in our very own Walsall.



Royal Purple Billfold Wallet



365 Products that are made in UK

Join us in celebrating the diverse craftsmanship that is found across Britain. We are constantly told that nothing is made in the UK anymore, it is impossible to find manufacturers or that there is no alternative but to move production abroad.

Well we think that is defeatist. We are constantly amazed by what is still produced in small corners across Britain and we therefore set out to celebrate what is great about Britain. We will post the details of something that is made in UK everyday for a year and show that Britain still has tremendous skill, craftsmanship, innovation and heritage.

So from Rolls Royce jet engines to a craftsman in a corner of Britain, this blog seeks to support, celebrate and preserve the best products that are made on these shores. If you have any ideas or products that you think are worthy of inclusion, please submit them to max.dambrumenil@njtinto.com

Here's to celebrating Britain.