British Made Tools – British Made DIY, Trade, Agricultural and Garden Tools and Equipment – British Made Engineering Tools and Equipment – Building Work – Scientific Equipment
British Made Tape Measures and Rulers
Fisco – http://www.fisco.co.uk – make tape measures in Essex in England. They make tape measures (the kind used by builders and in DIY), spirit levels, laser measures, long tape measures and surveyor’s tape measures, set squares, wooden rulers (bench rules, surveyor’s rods), steel rulers, and chalk line reels. I am not sure if everything they sell is made in England, so best to check before buying. Their products are available in Jewson, on the net, etc. Fisco are not British owned, rather they are part of the Hultafors Group AB which is in turn a business area wholly owned by Swedish Investment AB Latour. I have a Fisco Pro-Flex and it is a really good tape measure at a reasonable price. I also have a Fisco Un-Vision tape measure. I note their tape measures, whilst still made in England, are now marked Hultafors Fisco rather than just Fisco.
Fisco Pro-Flex tape measure. Made in England.
Big T tape measure by Fisco. Made in England
A vintage Fisco Uni-Vision 3m 10ft tape measure. Made in England. Photograph by author.
Rabone Chesterman (a company resulting from the 1963 merger of Rabone of Birmingham and Chesterman of Sheffield), maker of spirit levels and rules, of Whitmore St, Birmingham, were sold to Stanley in 1989. Rabone had previously acquired Dean Tape measures, the main British maker of non-metallic tape measures for the haberdashery trade, in 1986. In 1989, Stanley Tools purchased the assets of Rabone Chesterman from Bardsey PLC. Since then, the name and the name Dean have disappeared from their product lines.
Vintage Rabone Chesterman Handiflex 3.5meter/12′ Tape Measure. Metric and Imperial. Made in England.
VINTAGE STEEL RULE IMPERIAL/ METRIC 6″ MADE IN ENGLAND.
I also found made in England tape measures branded Lion Heart on e-bay.
Does anyone know of other companies making tape measures in the UK? What about sewing / tailor’s measuring tapes (Dean as far as I know no longer exist)?
Vintage Tape Measure with brass ends by Dean. Made in England.
Woodworking tools, engineering tools, DIY tools, trade tools and equipment, glues, and other Tools
For British made garden string and twine please click here.
Thor Hammer manufactures soft hammers and mallets. All their products are made in England – http://www.thorhammer.com
King Dick Tools (Abingdon Engineering, Abingdon King Dick) – The company have confirmed to me (in February 2013) that the majority of the King Dick range of products is made at their factory in Birmingham. These include all wrenches; ring, combination, sloggers, podgers etc, and socketry. Some items though, such as their pliers and screwdrivers, are made for them in Europe. Links to King Dicks suppliers can be found on their website – http://www.kingdicktools.co.uk
VINTAGE KING DICK 4 INCH ADJUSTABLE SPANNER, marked on one side KING DICK and on the reverse BRITISH CHROME STEEL MADE. King Dick still make the majority of their tools in the UK, but no longer seem to make adjustable spanners like this one.
Vintage King Dick pliers. Made in England. Photograph by author.
elemen’tary design has a product that it is hard to find made in England these days – a screwdriver with interchangeable bits – it comes in two sizes; standard length and dumpy and is made from a sold beech handle and brass ferrule in England. They also do sash window restoration and the making of new single or double glazed sash windows. Available from their website and from a company called Nook (who have a small made in England section on their website selling things such as made in England scissors, bottle openers, candles, travel card holders, salad servers, and orange peelers) – http://elementarydesign.co.uk
Elementary Design Screwdriver No.1 with interchangable bits. Made in England.
Linic Plastic Ltd design and make DIY tools, fixings and a huge variety of other injection moulded products. Own brand or branded; off-the-shelf or bespoke. This moulding company have been making their products for over 30 years in Leicestershire, England and because they manufacture in the UK they state that their delivery times and quality are great and their prices very competitive. They make building tools (such as plastering hawks), craft and hobby items (such as work holders and door wedges), cramps, decorating tools (such as scrapers), gardening tools (such as hand trowels and forks), saws and hack saws, knives (of the Stanley knife sort), mitres, tiling tools, wall plugs (rawlplugs), jewellery tools, model building tools, and woodworking tools (including hand drills, oilstone boxes, bradawls, callipers, etc). Linic tools are easily available on eBay, (including in the Proops Brothers ltd eBay store; they are owned by Linic), and at Amazon (again including in the Proops Brothers Ltd store). Proops Brothers Ltd is is the retail arm of Linic Plastics Leicestershire, supplying a vast range of tools for craft & hobby, DIY, model making, jewellery, metal and wood working. Linic Plastics Ltd, is based on the same site and manufactures many of the tools that they sell. Some of the items they sell are foreign made. British made items are labelled as such. There’s a short article about Linic on the British Family website – http://www.linic.co.uk – http://www.proopsbrothers.com
Monument Tools plumbing roofing and drainage tools sell some tools that are made in Britain. Founded in 1932, many of their own brand tools are British made and they will also make own brand tools for others. British made tools are labelled as such on their website. Monument also sell many foreign made tools – http://www.monumenttools.com
Founded in 1921 Thomas Meldrum Limited of Sheffield are now known world wide for the “Melco” range of tools and equipment, particularly their car and motorcycle tools, but they also make construction tools. According to an email from the company (on 6/7/14), 99% of their products are still made in Sheffield, England – http://www.thomasmeldrumltd.co.uk
Sheffield Spirit Levels, previously known as Plastic Level Products, are British made. It says on their website “All our levels come with the stamp of quality you’ve come to expect from products that are designed and hand-manufactured in Sheffield” and “All the materials and components involved in the creation of our products are sourced from Sheffield and its environs” and “all our products are hand made in Sheffield”. Products are available from their website – https://www.sheffieldspiritlevels.co.uk
Sheffield Spirit Levels Rotating Torpedo Level. RTL205 (£4.99). British Made.
Footprint Tools of Sheffield continue to manufacture some of their products in England (and to source some other British made products). Made in Britain products are clearly labelled on their website – builders tools (brick bolsters, cold chisels, builders line and pins, etc.), decorators tools (“Stanley” knife blades, carpet fitters bolsters), and woodworking tools (gauges, carpenters sliding bevels, carpenters squares).
The company originally closed in May 2009 following financial difficulties after the move from their old site in Hollis Croft to a new factory site in Owlerton, Sheffield known as Admiral Works, as reported in the Star. However, Footprint recommenced limited production with limited employees at its new Sedgley Road site in Owlerton, Sheffield under the name Footprint Sheffield, the former holding company of Footprint Tools in October 2009, as reported in DIY Week. The restructuring is also explained on another Footprint website at http://www.fpt.co.uk/index_home.htm. Today production continues, with many of their products still being made in the UK. Stockists are not listed on their website but they encourage people to write to ask for stockists details and you can find Footprint Tools on the net, for example on eBay and Amazon. Check that the product you want says it is British made.
My old Footprint Tools Handrill (inside its box).
Thomas Flinn and Co – http://www.flinn-garlick-saws.co.uk – Thomas Flinn and Co make a whole range of quality saws in Sheffield, England. Thomas Flinn and Co brands include PAX, Lynx (The Garlick Saw Company) and more recently, the Dorchester and Parkstone brands which originate from Roberts & Lee Saws. They say that they are “proud to be standing as the UK’s only remaining traditional saw manufacturer”. They also sell a variety of other tools most, if not all, of which are Sheffield made tools.
UK Blade (previously Speed Saws) / “TALON” have been manufacturing Hacksaw Blades and Frames for 30+ years. Some of their products are labelled on their website as made in the UK, including a junior hacksaw frame and some junior hacksaw blades. On their website it says “Our blades are made in the UK” but it is ONLY their Junior hacksaw frames and blades that are made in the UK. Nothing else. The rest is imported. The blog section on their site is rather out of date – http://www.ukblade.co.uk/home
Norbar Torque Tools are still made at their factory in Banbury it seems. They say on their website “Norbar products are manufactured in our factory in Banbury, England”. They do have facilities in China, Australia and the USA they do not say their tools are made in those locations – http://www.norbar.com/en-gb/
Clico (Sheffield) Tooling Ltd make cutting tools in the Aerospace, Window Frame and Woodworking Industries as well as a range of hand woodworking tools. Their website suggests everything is made in Sheffield, but it would be wise to check before purchasing.
BSA Machine Tools have been designing and manufacturing CNC Machine Tools at its plant in the UK since the 1970s. They also sell foreign made tooling – http://www.bsamachinetools.co.uk
Robert Sorby make woodworking tools, woodturning tools and woodcarving tools. All Robert Sorby products are made in Sheffield, England.
Robert Sorby is part of the Spear and Jackson Group (Neill Tools Limited). Spear and Jackson and Neill Tools were always made in England, but most Spear and Jackson products are now produced in Asia. The Spear & Jackson brand is owned by Hong Kong-based United Pacific Industries. Spear and Jackson brands include Neill Tools, Spear and Jackson, Bowers (metrology; see below), Robert Sorby (woodworking tools; see above), Moore and Wright, Eclipse, WHS (trowels; used by archaeologists) and Tyzack (plastering tools).
A vintage Spear & Jackson made in Sheffield, England handsaw. Photograph by author 4 October 2018
“Spiralux” was originally a trademark of the tool-making firm of Hollands & Blair, with addresses in Croydon and Thornton Heath in the Greater London area. It also manufactured bathroom scales and both actual typewriters (trademarked as “Krypton” and “Lilliput”) and toy typewriters. At some point, they were absorbed by Neill Tools, now Spear & Jackson, which continued to use the Spiralux name as part of its “Eclipse” brand of riveting tools for a while although the brand name now appears dormant. As of early 2018 you can still find a few Spiralux tools for sale online so I assume Spear and Jackson (see above) closed down the factory fairly recently.
A vintage Spiralux T30 Torx Screwdriver Made in England new condition on eBay in March 2018
Starrett (saw blades and precision tools) is a very international company that just happens to have factories in the UK. You can sometimes see on the photos that it either says UK made, or American made or nothing (China) or you can ask where a particular product is made. http://www.starrett.co.uk
Bowers Metrology – http://www.bowersmetrology.com – is also part of the Spear and Jackson Group. They supply metrology instruments. Bowers Metrology possibly have factories in the UK (hard to tell – their website is pure gobbledygook!) and some of their products may be made in the UK, but please check before purchase. The Group includes Moore & Wright (precision measuring equipment, made in the UK and China; check what you are buying is made in the UK), Baty International (makers of precision measuring equipment; still manufactured in Sussex, England; also own John Bull and British Indicators) and CV Instruments (portable and bench hardness testers; not made in the UK).
Ashley Iles make woodworking tools, woodturning tools and chisels in Lincolnshire, England. Their website suggests everything is made in the UK, but it would be wise to check before purchasing.
For over 100 years Frank Shaw (Bayonet) of Redditch in the UK has been supplying the finest quality hardware products to both the trade and DIY’ers. Marketed under the brand names Bayonet, Challenge, Solstuds and brand “X” – plate stands, plate hangers, picture hooks, picture hanging accessories, pins, cable clips, drawing pins, panel pins, tacks, carpet tacks, upholstery nails, nails, etc. All still made in England. http://www.frankshaw.co.uk
Challenge 20mm (3/4″) Bright Steel Panel Pins – 1 x 50g. Made in England. Photograph by author. Front view.
Challenge 20mm (3/4″) Bright Steel Panel Pins – 1 x 50g. Made in England. Photograph by author. Rear label and bar code view. 22/1/17
My Stanley Knife is made in England, but sadly the company have informed me that their knives are now made in the USA. You can though still get British made blades that fit Stanley knives, for example these ones on e-bay and Stanley themselves still make some knife blades in England.
American company Stanley Tools (The Stanley Works; now Stanley Black & Decker) still have a factory in Hellaby, Rotherham, near Sheffield I think (they used to have 3 factories in Sheffield). I am not sure which Stanley products are made in Sheffield (possibly tape measures, knife blades, rulers, chisels?), but you may be lucky and find some made in England Stanley products. One of my readers, Michael, spotted Stanley chisels with made in England on them in Screwfix in June 2014. An article in the Stanley blog from April 2012 refers to the Hellaby production facility. I saw a job advertised at the factory in May 2014. In a Toolstop article from 2013 they talk about Stanley bringing manufacturing of some products back from Asia to the UK. It would be great if Stanley are continuing to bring production back to the UK, but I do not know if they are. In the Forum on the Stanley UK site in 2012 they talk about the number of blades that their Hellaby plant turns out each week as being a mahoosive 3,500,000. I was able to find a Stanley Magnum screwdriver set online in March 2018 which is clearly labelled “Made in the UK with global materials” which seems to be saying these screwdrivers were made in the UK using imported raw materials.
Stanley Black and Decker also own Britool (now re-branded as Britool Expert or just Expert), who used to manufacture their tools in England, but it is not clear from their website whether Britool manufacture any tools in the UK anymore. Founded in 1908 or possibly 1915, the British Tool and Engineering Company, better known by their trademark ‘Britool”, were a prolific maker of tools in the 20th century, making wrenches, sockets, spanners and so on. Britool were taken over by Facom in 1991 and in 2006 Britool and the Facom Group were taken over by Stanley, who merged with Black and Decker in 2010 to become Stanley Black and Decker.
Stanley 1991 TRIMMING KNIFE BLADE. Made in England (on the Stanley website 13.6.14).
STANLEY RABONE RUSTLESS STEEL RULE – METRIC/ENGLISH, 2 SIDES. Made in England (on the Stanley website 13.6.14).
A used Britool RJM23 23mm Combination Spanner – Made In England. Unsure of its age.
2 vintage made in England Stanley Knives. Photograph by author 27 May 2017.
John Garrington and Sons (Garringtons) were another big toolmaker in the 20th century, making tools and other forged product, but sadly closed down in the 1980s.
VINTAGE GARRINGTONS Made in England JACKDAW 6 INCH ADJUSTABLE SPANNER (view 1)
VINTAGE GARRINGTONS Made in England JACKDAW 6 INCH ADJUSTABLE SPANNER (view 2)
Harold Moore, based in Sheffield, manufacture and supply of injection moulded plastic shovels, scoops, scrapers and other tools that are used in food, cleaning, equestrian, marine, building and other industries, as well as cutlery handles, and snow shifting tools. They say on their website “To retain control of our stringent standards and quality, we continue to manufacture all our products at our UK factory.” Based on this statement it would appear everything they sell is UK made, although as always I advise checking. Country of origin is not given on the products themselves. Multiple quantities only but their products are available on the net, for example at the Hack ‘n’ Tack shop online – http://www.haroldmoore.co.uk
Maun Industries is the largest UK volume manufacturer of pliers. In addition, the company produces specialist crimpers, nippers, cable cutters, stationers punches and sealing and identification tools, covering diverse applications such as ear tags for the identification of livestock and parallel action pliers for sealing electricity meters. My Maun Industries Stationers Punch 200mm (8in) clearly says made in England on it. Whether they are still manufacturing in England or not I don’t know, but I wrote to them to ask them on 4/1/15 and they have not responded. Their new website (as of March 2016) does mention a “39,000 sq ft factory, warehouse and offices in Hamilton Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield” which they moved to in 2004, but no specific country of origin information is given and I can’t be sure the factory is still operational – http://www.maun-industries.co.uk
Maun Industries Stationers Punch 200mm (8in). Made in England
Milliput two-part epoxy putty, which is used in modelling, DIY and industry, is made in Wales – http://www.milliput.com
Sugru is a self-setting rubber for fixing, modifying and improving things. I am told that it is pricier than milliput but it more flexible and that it is made in the UK – http://sugru.com
Pritt Stick is German owned (Henkel) but Pritt Stick paper glue is manufactured in the UK (as well as the elsewhere in the world). The UK made Pritt Sticks say made in the UK on them and it seems to be the smaller sticks that are made in the UK.
Blue-Tack originated in the UK, although it is now part of a company called Bostik whose origins are in the USA and who themselves are now part of the French company Total. They still have production facilities in the UK (and all over the world) and make, amongst other adhesives and similar products, and Blue-Tack in the UK. Bostik make adhesives for industrial manufacturing, construction and the consumer market. Bostick prodcuts sold in UK are usually also made here. Check the packing for country of origin – http://www.bostik.co.uk
WD-40 is made in the UK (careful, the little bottles sold at the pound shop are imported). WD-40 UK is a wholly-owned subsidiary of WD-40 in the USA and is manufactured in various locations across the globe, including it seems the UK. WD-40 also owns 3 in One oil and 1001 Carpet Cleaner, but I am not sure where these are made currently. There is scant information about product manufacture and country of origin on the WD-40 websites. Please buy British manufactured oil – http://www.wd40.co.uk
Everbuild Building Products are the UK’s largest manufacturer of sealants, adhesives and building chemicals. Operating from a manufacturing facility in Leeds, over 70% of Everbuild’s entire range is manufactured in house in the UK. Everbuild was the UK’s largest independent manufacturer of Sealants, Adhesives and Construction Chemicals, but is now a subsidiary of Swiss company Sika. At the present time production facilities are being maintained in the UK – http://www.everbuild.co.uk
Winn & Coales (Denso) Ltd waterproofing and sealing products, including their Sylglas waterproofing tapes are mainly manufactured in the UK – http://www.denso.net – http://www.sylglas.com
Advance Tapes UK are manufacturers of adhesive tapes for use in the home, and in the entertainment industry, and building, construction, agriculture, nuclear and industrial markets. They make Cloth tapes, Duct tapes, Gaffer tapes, PVC tapes, Polythene tapes, Foil tapes and Double Sided tapes. No solid information is given about country of origin on their website. They appear to have factories in the UK and France and possibly some of their products are British made. For example of eBay a seller says their 45mm x 50m Strong Black Waterproof Cloth Gaffa Tape is made in England, but the product itself is not actually labelled as made in the UK – https://www.advancetapes.com
Adhere Industrial Tapes Limited, founded in 1989, currently manufacture their single and double sided foam tapes in the UK. Their website has a “Made in Britain” logo and they say their products are “Created in our 16,000ft manufacturing facility in Colchester, Essex”. In 2018 they were taken over by the German tremco illbruck Group, who are in turn owned by USA company RPM International Inc. At this time, June 2018, their UK factory remains open – http://www.adhere.co.uk
UK Adhesives Ltd are a British based manufacturer and supplier of high quality adhesives, Super Glues and Sealants. All of their produces are manufactured in the UK. When I tweeted them about their production they responded “Yes we are proud to say all of our produces are manufactured in the UK!”, although they do not specify this on their website. UK Adhesives manufacture Adhesives, Sealants, Super Glues and Putty for industries worldwide, including automotive, marine, truck, rail, agriculture, and general manufacture engineering, plus retail markets. Products are available via their wesbsite and elsewhere – http://www.uk-adhesives.co.uk
BeeGee Brushes offer an extensive range of glue brushes, wallpaper brushes and paint brushes.
For British other made paints, painting equipment, paint and wallpaper brushes and wallpapers, please click on the link in this sentence.
Wilko (Wilkinson) sell a good number of quality British made items including various motor oils, car wash liquids, car cleaning sponges, 3-in1 type oil, power steering fluid, brake fluid, bicycle cleaners and oils (lubes), bicycle tyre sealant, various paints, dustpan and brushes, plastic containers, washing-up bowls, sink drainers, rubbish bins, mops, DIY fillers, paint roller sets, hand cream, hand cleaning gel, toner, garden bird peanuts, etc. Many of their own brand products are made in the UK. Check the packaging in-store – https://www.wilko.com
Wilko mop heads. Made in the UK. On display in Wilko Staines-upon-Thames 26 August 2018. Phootograph by author.
Wilko heavy duty dust pan and brush set. Produced in the UK. On display in Wilko Staines-upon-Thames. Photograph by author 26 August 2018.
Wilko hole in one deep gap filler (grey) and Wilko once and for all all purpose filler (grey). Both made in the UK. Front view. Photograph by author 26 August 2018.
Wilko hole in one deep gap filler (grey) and Wilko once and for all all purpose filler. (grey) Both made in the UK. Rear labelling view. Photograph by author 26 August 2018.
Wilko DIY pick your mix small loose screw bag produced in the UK. Photograph by author 2 September 2018.
Wilko DIY pick your mix small loose screw bag produced in the UK. Photograph by author 2 September 2018. Rear of packaging label view.
Wilko ready to use sugar Soap, produced in the UK. Photograph by author 28 July 2019.
Wilko ready to use sugar Soap, produced in the UK. Photograph by author 28 July 2019. Rear label view.
PC Cox Ltd are a manufacturer of manual, battery and air powered hand-held caulking guns. They have 2 factories in the UK (supplying the UK and global markets) and 1 factory in the USA (supplying the US market) – http://www.pccox.co.uk/en/
Some ANTEX soldering irons are made in Devon, England. They do not mention this on their website, but if you look closely on the photos, it says MADE IN ENGLAND. As always, check before buying that the particular model you want is made in England. I think only the ones with thin yellow handles are made in england. It only says those words on the yellow handle ones – http://www.antex.co.uk
Lawson Fuses manufacture their products in the UK – low voltage fuses, semiconductor protection fuses, and fuse holders – http://www.lawsonfuses.eu
Montrose Rope and Sail Company Ltd, founded in 1789, make tarpaulin covers and under their Montrose Bag Company name, bags. Their industrial covers and tarpaulins, domestic covers and tarpaulins, oil and gas covers, and specialised covers are made in Scotland. Products include agricultural covers, vehicle covers, industrial curtains, lorry curtains, machine covers, market stall covers, shop canopies, silo covers, trailer covers, work store covers, trailer covers, yurts, speaker covers, boat covers, boot liners, awnings, trampoline covers, oil and gas industry covers, caravan awnings, tractor cover, etc all of which appear to be British made. The Montrose Bag Company make rucksacks, holdalls, travel bags, tote bags, motorcycle wheel bags, messenger bags, tablet pouches, game bags, tool pouches, grab bags, etc in durable PVC and they all appear to be British made. Trade or retail. Their bags can be purchased from their website or are available to buy from their reception in Montrose in Scotland. They will also personalise bags with a badge of your choice and will make bespoke bags.
For Ironwork, door and window furniture, architectural ironmongery, fireplaces and fireplace accessories, doors and windows please click on the link in this sentence.
Origin manufacture bi-fold doors in the UK.
Ampair / Boost Energy manufacture wind turbines, single-to-three phase converters, etc. in the UK – http://www.ampair.com – http://www.boost-energy.com
“Rutland Windchargers are designed, developed and manufactured in the UK by Marlec“. They are also distributers for solar panels but I do not think these are made in the UK – http://www.marlec.co.uk
Interpower manufacturer Industrial, Backup, Marine and Bespoke Generators in England (using British and European made components) – http://www.interpower.co.uk
NORD Drivesystems of Germany drive assemblies used in industry have a gearbox assembly plant in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England as well as factories in Italy and Germany and assembly plants in China, France, Austria, Russia, India, the Czech Republic, Canada, Australia and the USA – https://www.nord.com
Thame Workholding is a UK manufacturer of standard and special work holding solutions (machine jaws), as well as being an importer – http://www.thameworkholding.com
WDS are the UK’s Largest Manufacturer and Distributor of Standard Parts and Machine Accessories for the aerospace, automotive, manufacturing, engineering, food processing, printing and packaging machinery industries – stainless steel hinges, castors & wheels, gas struts, etc. No minimum order quality. They have a factory in Leeds, England and are members of the Made in Britain logo campaign but I am not sure what proportion of their products are British made so please ask where something is made before buying – http://www.wdsltd.co.uk
Sparc Systems make checkweighers, X-ray, label inspection, and bespoke weighing systems for the food industry. They have a factory in Malvern – https://sparc-systems.com
RDM Test Equipment is a British manufacturer and distributor testing solutions in the packaging and materials testing industry. They import too but “the RDM brand of Test Equipment is manufactured in the UK” – http://www.rdmtest.com
William Cook is a large UK-based engineering company. It started as a steel casting manufacturer and steel castings still form the basis of many of William Cook’s products. They have four factories in the UK in Sheffield, Leeds and Weardale and appear to produce most of their products in the UK. They say in their website “William Cook prefers to design and manufacture its products in-house. This retains control, and reduces reliance on sub-contractors. To assist this, William Cook has substantial design and R&D resources to support its factories, which themselves include large and modern machine shops and testing establishments”. They produce cast steel products used for example in the rail industry, defence, energy, construction and freight – http://www.william-cook.co.uk
Amtek Plastics are a Devon based Plastic Injection Moulding specialist who manufacture some of their products in the UK – http://www.amtekplastics.co.uk
FloPlast Ltd of Sittingbourne Gutterbrush is made in the UK. No information about country of origin is given on their website so I don’t know if any of their other products are British made or not – https://floplast.co.uk
FloPlast Ltd Gutterbrush, made in the UK. Photograph by author. On display in Wickes, Staines-upon-Thames 25 August 2019 (1)
FloPlast Ltd Gutterbrush, made in the UK. Photograph by author. On display in Wickes, Staines-upon-Thames 25 August 2019 (2)
Plastech Tooling & Moulding Ltd have a factory in the UK and use another in China. Toolmaking and injection moulding and plastic products. Their tooling is manufactured at Plastech China. Some of their products may be made in England. Airfix Quickbuild kits are made at the Plastech factory in Sussex now – http://www.plastch.com
Martins Rubber are a rubber manufacturer who specialise in the production and supply of elastomeric products including seals, gaskets and bespoke rubber mouldings for aerospace, defence, motorsport, energy, manufacturing and engineering industries. Their website carries the “Made in Britain” marque – http://www.martins-rubber.co.uk
MK Electric still make their sockets in the UK, at at its Southend site in Essex . Their other products are foreign made. The company became a subsidiary of Honeywell in 2005 when its parent company Novar plc was acquired. Country of origin is not given against individual products on their website, so you will need to check where a particular product was made before purchase. Honeywell, a US company, as well as owning MK Electric and Duraplug, also own Gent of Leicester. Honeywell make some of their home thermostats for heating systems in the UK. I don’t know if they make anything else in the UK. Resideo are the manufacturers of Honeywell Home products – http://www.mkelectric.com
Bromleighs, we are a British manufacturer of sockets and switches, and suppliers of lighting, hardware and furnishings which are presumably foreign made. They say on their website “We are committed to manufacturing and supplying only the very best products using British materials and components throughout our collections.” No country of origin information is given against individual products on their website so you will need to ask if something is British made before buying. Their British made items appear to be made in Bodmin, Cornwall – http://www.bromleighs.com/store/
Focus SB are a UK-based electrical accessories manufacturer supplying designer and high quality switch and socket plates for high-end residential, luxury hotels and commercial interiors. They say on their website that they are “Proud to be manufacturing in Britain”. Their website carries the Made in Britain marque – http://www.focus-sb.co.uk/en/
RH Nuttall Limited (previously known as W Parkins), founded in 1860, is a specialist manufacturer and supplier of a wide range of non-metallic washers, gaskets, strips, sheeting, seals, insulation and other non-metallic strips and sheets. All of their products are manufactured at their factory in Birmingham, England – http://www.rhnuttall.co.uk
Bison Products Ltd, part of a the Norlec Group, primarily serve the tool and equipment market with rail, access, cooling, manual handling and floor preparation products. They say on their website “…Bison Products benefits from one of the UK’s leading manufacturing facilities, based in Leyland, Lancashire” and “All our products are manufactured and supported in the UK”. Plus their website carries the words “Made in the UK” at the top right of each page. For example they make the Bluemax 950 Fan and the Bluemax 650 Fan in England, which are large volume mobile air movers; plus the SandGlider sanding machine, the X-Step powered lifting platform, the Trakrat Railway Dolly, and the RedRad Infrared heater – http://www.bisonproductsltd.com
“Activair high volume fans are manufactured in the UK”, “Activair portable extraction fans are manufactured in the UK”, “Activair portable purging fans are manufactured in the UK”, “Activair electric ventilation fans are manufactured in the UK”, “Activair wall mounted extractor fans are manufactured in the UK”, “Activair mobile spot coolers are manufactured in the UK”, “Activair commercial spot coolers are manufactured in the UK”. All of their other products, including all of their heaters, ceiling fans and pedestal fans, appear to be foreign made. Activair fans are for commercial premises. Activair belongs to W. Tombling Ltd which was founded in 1927- http://www.tombling.com
Airedale air conditioning systems are British made, at their factory near Leeds. Airedale use the Made in Britain marque. Airedale manufacture data centre cooling, process cooling, commercial air conditioning, laboratory/healthcare cooling and clean rooms – https://airedale.com
Broughton Electro Air Products Ltd Mighty Cool range of industrial portable air conditioning units are “made in England” according to their website. I don’t know if any of their other products are made in England – https://www.broughtoneap.co.uk
Spur Shelving manufactures wall mounted and freestanding shelving for warehouses, commercial premises, and homes. All their shelving is made in Britain.
Bartuf Systems retail display units are made in Yorkshire, England.
Craven & Co. Ltd manufacture of storage and handling equipment for the catering and medical industry – for catering environments, equipment such as point of sale display units, catering and wire shelving and equipment, catering trolleys, commercial catering sinks and lockers; for healthcare their products include medical trolleys, medical shelving systems, ward services, linen racks, surgical storage and trolleys, sterile shelving, instrument trolleys and theatre equipment. They say on their website “We are proud of our British heritage and the majority of our products, including our stainless steel shelving, are manufactured in our Knaresborough factory in North Yorkshire”. They say over 90% of their products are British made, but you’ll need to enquire about particular products as country of origin information for individual products is not given on their website – http://www.craven-solutions.com
Doncaster Cables general wiring cables and flexible cords are all manufactured in the UK.
http://www.doncastercables.co.uk
Apex Wiring Solutions make cable, cable assemblies and accessories for power distortion and it says on their website “Innovative UK Manufactured Products” – http://apexwiringsolutions.co.uk
Permanoid Ltd. is a UK cable manufacturer, specialising in Tri-Rated cables, Instrumentation cable, Armoured Control cables and Audio, with a factory in Manchester, England. As always, check if the particular product you want is made in the UK.
Betts Tools offer a good range of tools (spirit levels, chisels, trowels, wrecking bars, drills, saws, screwdrivers, tape measures, etc.) and from their website it appears they are all made in England. Their stated policy is to buy British wherever possible and they appear to manufacture themselves. I wrote to them about country of origin, but they have not responded. It says “made in Sheffield” on the front page of their website, but if you are interested in their tools, please contact them to check which ones are UK made – http://rshgroup.org/
RS Components still seem to produce at least a few of their products in the UK, although no general information about country of origin is given on their website. For example in March 2018 the RS Pro 7 Pieces Engineers Nut Spinner Nut Driver Set online which is clearly labelled on their website as “Made in the UK”. RS Components are also the maker of the Raspberry Pi computer which is made for them by Sony, Quite how you identify which of their products are UK made I have no idea but I suppose just look at the labels on physical products; searching their website does not yield any useful filtering – https://uk.rs-online.com
Smith Francis Tools manufacture specialist hand tools in the UK. Founded in 1934, under their Priory brand they make scaffolding tools, punches, cutters, wrenches, nail pullers, scribers, hand vices, sockets, etc – http://www.smithfrancistools.co.uk
LFI (Ladder and Fencing Industries) manufacture all types of ladders in the UK – http://www.britishladders.co.uk
Established in 1947, Lyte Ladders and Towers are a manufacturer and supplier of British made ladders and towers for trade & industrial use. The majority of their products are manufactured in the UK, in Swansea, Wales. The first successful ascent to the summit of Mount Everest in May 1953, was completed By Sir Edmund Hilary and Tenzing Norgay and a Lyte ladder was apparently used to negotiate crevasses they encountered – http://www.lyteladders.co.uk
The rather clever Monkey Tower (“scaffolding in 5 minutes”) trailer mounted scaffold tower / scissor lift alternative is made in the UK.
Hulley Heritage wooden ladders are made in England – https://timberstepladders.co.uk/
Have a look on Google for other British made ladders. Other British manufacturers of ladders include Youngman, Titan Ladders and Pinnacle Ladders.
“Bison are a supplier and manufacturer of Ladders and Accessories, Cycle, and Security Products based in the UK.” They say on their website “All of our products are designed & manufactured in the UK”. They also stock products from other manufacturers and these are mostly foreign made. They also stock Youngman ladders. They are a manufacturer of metal tubing products based in Staffordshire and their own products include our cycle racks, tubing, and ladder accessories. British made items include high security hasps, telescopic and fold down security posts – these were the only items I could see on their website that were labelled as British made – but it would be worth asking about any product because they say all their products are manufactured in the UK (all their own brand products?) – http://www.bisonproducts.co.uk
Leading Edge (a brand of Tool Safety Solutions Ltd.) provides working at height training and safety equipment, and tool systems. Leading Edge equipment is all designed and manufactured by Leading Edge at their UK factory in Gosport. They make harnesses, lanyards, rescue kit, anchorage and connectors, inertia reels, restraint kit, ladder safety kit, tool tethers, tool belts, tool bags, etc. which are available from their website and various stockists.
http://shop.leadingedgesafety.co.uk
http://www.toollanyardsbagsandbelts.com
C & J Hampton Ltd (Record Tools), famous for their tools like their blue coloured made in England vices, (and Marples Tools who they acquired in 1963 and Ridgway Tools who they acquired in 1972) became part of American company American Tool / IRWIN Tool in 1998 (who themselves are now part of Newell Rubbermaid). Record / Marples woodworking tools were made in Sheffield, but are now made in the far east, but on their website some of the pictures of vices have made in England on them! They are not made in England anymore. The factory in Sheffield has long since closed.
Record Plain Screw Woodworking Vice. Made in England. On the Irwin website 13.6.14. Owners of RECORD, Irwin, do NOT manufacture in the UK despite this picture.
RECORD Chain Pipe Vice. Made in England. On the Irwin website 13.6.14. Owners of Record, Irwin, do NOT manufacture in the UK despite this picture.
Crown Hand Tools make woodturning, woodworking and woodcarving tools, handsaws, decorators tools, bradawls and so on. They say on their website “Proudly Manufactured in Sheffield England”. Trade only and their tools are not easy to find and buy, but do appear to still be made in England – http://www.crownhandtools.ltd.uk
The Bott Group manufacture and supply workshop equipment, in-vehicle equipment and workplace storage. They have production facilities in Germany, the United Kingdom and Hungary. You’ll need to ask whether what you require will be manufactured and fitted in the UK as it is not clear from their website what happens where. Bott are a German owned company – http://www.bottltd.co.uk
Talco Tool Storage Ltd are a British owned company making tool boxes, tool chests, roller cabinets and tool cabinets, for workshops and individuals, in the Midlands. They say on their website that “All Talco Tool Storage products are made using British steel” – http://talcotoolstorage.com
Talco Electricians Hand Carry Tool Box. British made.
Roebuck tool boxes used to be made in the UK. The name seems to belong to a company called Brammer plc but there is no suggestion of UK manufacturing on their websites. Roebuck tools give little or no information about where their products are made or who owns their company on their website.
A vintage Roebuck Made in Britain metal tool box. Photograph by author 2 April 2018.
Connell of Sheffield are manufacturers of bespoke and off-the-shelf tool pouches and suchlike made from leather and nylon. Their website has a ‘designed and made in Britain’ logo and a ‘made in Sheffield’ logo at the top of the pages and they say “We are proud to support British industry by purchasing our leather and suede from British tanneries who are acknowledged experts in their field.” Leather aprons, tool holders, belt pouches, tool belts, tool rolls, tool bags, etc and most if not all products appear to be made in Britain and listed as such on their website against individual products – http://www.connellofsheffield.com
Salop Design and Engineering are a metal pressings and assemblies manufacturer, for sectors including Automotive, Domestic Appliances (White goods), Construction (Yellow goods), Household fittings, Ministry of Defence (MOD), and Camping and Leisure. They say on their website “Salop Design and Engineering Ltd is a privately owned company, based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. All of its manufacturing activities are produced out of its modern, purpose built factory situated on the outskirts of Shrewsbury”. They also have their own distribution fleet – http://www.salopdesign.co.uk
Threeway Pressings Limited, founded in 1995, are a Midlands manufacturer of pressed components,plastic injection mouldings and Garden products. They make metal and spring pressings, electrical components, locks and handles, automotive parts, coins and gaming tokens, brackets, lighting and heating components, wheelbarrows, garden tools, and more. Many of their products are made in the UK. Paterson photographic equipment – darkroom equipment, Benbo Tripods and continuous lighting units – are made in the UK. On their website they say “All of the darkroom plastics are manufactured in Paterson’s own factory in the UK” (their range includes film developing tanks, measuring graduates, enlarger accessories, film and print washing equipment and 35mm and roll film enlargers – Paterson film developing tanks are probably the most popular film developing tank worldwide), and “Paterson has re-entered the Studio Lighting market with a comprehensive range of Continuous Lighting units manufactured in our own UK factory” and “These Tripods are UK Manufactured on our factory site in the West Midlands (Tipton) meaning we can get our products to you quickly!” Paterson belong to Threeway Manufacturing (TWP Group/Threeway Pressings). TWP say on their website “We at THE TWP GROUP believe strongly in keeping manufacturing in the UK wherever possible and continue to invest in our workforce and facilities to ensure a bright future.” TWP Manufacturing make presswork and injection moulding. As well as Paterson, TWP own brands include Spyrabase spiral ground anchors which are made in Tipton in the West Midlands according to their video and used in a variety of garden , DIY and commercial applications; and Bullbarrow wheelbarrows whose wheelbarrows and garden scoots are made in the UK (their non-wheelbarrow products, such as garden tools are probably foreign made). They say on their website “The innovative range of more than 50 varieties of wheelbarrows are all manufactured in our UK based premises, enabling us to provide unrivalled bespoke products to match our customers needs” and “All our scoots are made and manufactured in our factory based in the West Midlands, Meaning that we ensure high quality and reliable products.”
http://www.patersonphotographic.com
http://www.threewaypressings.co.uk
http://www.threewaypressings.co.uk
Frank Dudley Ltd, one of my twitter followers, are a manufacturing company, based in the midlands, who specialise in metal pressings and welded assembly. They were established in 1948 and have a 57,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Birmingham providing metal pressings and welded assemblies to sectors such as automotive, commercial vehicles and white goods. I don’t know if they also import too so you should check before ordering – http://www.frankdudley.com
Power Jacks is a British design and manufacturing company, based in Aberdeenshire Scotland, specialising in electro-mechanical lifting and positioning solutions, including screw jacks, electric linear actuators, bevel gearboxes, planetary roller screws, load monitoring and jacking systems. They use the Made in Britain marque – https://www.powerjacks.com
Portakabin portable buildings (modular buildings) are still be made in the UK. On their website it says “Designed and manufactured at the 250,000m2 Portakabin production facility in York, Portakabin buildings fulfil the demands of an increasing range of applications, from office space, childcare facilities and classrooms to health centres, hospitals, call centres and toilets and showers. Sometimes referred to as portacabins or terrapins Portakabin is actually a trade name. The other well known temporary buildings company Terrapin of Milton Keynes went bankrupt in 2012. The most familiar modern type of portable buildings are designed so that one can be carried to or from site on a large lorry and slung on and off by a crane. Portakabin also make the well known brand of portable temporary or permanent toilets, Portaloo. Portakabin buildings need planning permission – http://www.portakabin.co.uk
UK Kiosks portable modular kiosks buildings are “made in the UK” – https://www.ukkiosks.com
KoverTek manufacture in the UK UPVC self assessmby door canopies, paints, coatings, adhesives, roof tiles, roof coatings, wood varnish, sealers, etc. Some of their products are available from their website; others are presumably available elsewhere – https://www.kovertek.com
Smileswoodcraft Ltd of Swindon make in Swindon in the UK wooden garden log stores and coal bunkers, general garden furniture, Arches, Pergolas, bath panels, benches, tables, garage doors, planters, compost bins, gates, fencing, decking, sheds, summer houses, boot racks, shoe racks, radiator covers, porches, door canopies, etc. Everything they sell appears to be made by them in Swindon. Products are available from their website – https://smileswoodcraft.co.uk
For British made radiators please see my section on small electrical items – click the link.
Gardening and Agricultural Tools and Equipment and garden products
I found a some British made garden incinerators, for example the one pictured below, at http://www.garden-incinerator.co.uk and I also found others on eBay, Amazon and at other web shops.
Mini Garden 15 Litre Galvanised Metal Incinerator. Made in Britain.
The Great British Cover Company, on eBay, sell British made snooker and pool table covers, garden parasol covers, garden oven covers, stacking chair covers, motorhome hitch covers, grow bags, garden bench covers, rotary line covers, hanging flower bags, outdoor furniture covers, vacuum tool storage bags, laundry bags, wellington boot bags, garden waste bags, utensil storage bags, BBQ covers, shopping bags, tarpaulins, etc. Not all the items they sell are UK made though – https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/redfoil-2/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=
The Great British Cover Company Extra Large Garden Waste Bag. Made In thre UK. Photograph by author 30 May 2018. Measures 57 x 57 x 56 high
The Great British Cover Company Extra Large Garden Waste Bag. Made In thre UK. Photograph by author 30 May 2018. Made in the UK label detail.
ALM Manufacturing, established in 1972, is a business specialising in the production of consumable parts for almost every available make and model of Grass Trimmer, Lawnmower and Chainsaw. They say on their website “We have world-class plastic injection manufacturing facilities and production skills and we make every effort to manufacture products here in the UK wherever possible. Approximately 76%* of the products we supply are wholly manufactured and packaged by us within the UK.” Parts that are manufactured in the UK are clearly labeled as such on their website and on the products themselves. Products are available from garden centres and the like – http://www.almmanufacturing.com
ALM Manufacturing display unit in Flitvale Garden Centre in Flitwick on 20/1/17. Photograph by author.
Midland Holloware Limited are manufacturers and suppliers of galvanized steel hollowware products. Their product range includes galvanised steel dustbins, garden incinerators, and many general hardware products such as galvanised steel buckets, coal hods, coal bunkers, sack trucks, tar cans, wheelbarrows, metal mop squeeze buckets, composters, paint cans, etc. Established in 1990, they have a factory in Lye, West Midlands. Country of origin is not given against individual products on their website, so you’ll need to ask if something you are interested in is British made before buying but on their website they do say “our goods are British made” – http://www.midlandholloware.co.uk
Bulldog Tools – http://www.bulldogtools.co.uk – Bulldog Tools have been making spades, shovels, forks, rakes, cutting tools and the like for gardening, farming and construction in Wigen since 1780. Most of their products are (sort of) made in the UK. The wood handles are made using wood from the USA or Germany. There is a list of stockists on the Bulldog Tools website. On their website Bulldog still say “we are the only manufacturer still making garden tools in the UK, and we are proud of the fact that all our forged garden tools are made in the UK. At our forge in Wigan we also make farming and construction tools and we offer a wide range of tools for each market, including forks, spades, rakes and hoes” but in fact sadly in 2014 all the forges and related equipment was moved to the far east and around half the workforce was made redundant. The metal heads are now shipped to Wigan from India where the handles are added. Unite described their members as ‘shocked’ at Rollin Bulldog’s decision to move production to India. On their website they now say “Our forged heads are manufactured using Bulldog’s original forging machinery at our Indian facility. Upon completion, the heads are sent back to Clarington Forge, Wigan where we craft the wooden handles from raw material using the same process we have done for generations.” Basically then Bulldog tools are now only assembled in the UK – http://www.bulldogtools.co.uk
Fyna-Lite are stable tool specialists. Their range of products is extensive and includes stable forks, manure forks, rakes, shovels and field tools. On their website they say “manufactured in the UK since 1985” and they have a little “Made in England” logo on their website too. They have a “factory in Alcester manufacturing its exclusive and large range of British made and designed equestrian stable tools and equipment” – http://www.fynalite.co.uk
Orchid Myst ready-to-use nutrient solution for orchids is made in the UK by Austalian company Growth Technology. Some of their other products might be made in the UK too but I am not sure which ones – https://www.growthtechnology.com/product/orchid-myst/
Orchid Myst ready-to-use nutrient solution for orchids is made in the UK by Austalian company Growth Technology. Photographed by author at Longacres Garden Centre in Charlton near Shepperton
Haws Watering Cans – Haws Watering Cans is a trading name belonging to Haws Elliott Ltd which is a subsidiary company of Eclipse Sprayers Ltd (since 1982). Haws Watering Cans have been manufactured in England since 1886. According to their website “most cans are ‘Made in England'” and because all their products are not made in England you should check the place of manufacture before buying. Unfortunately country of origin is not stated on all Haws watering cans. They also sell a range of made in England gardening leatherware. Stockists are listed on their website. Eclipse Sprayers produces a specialist range of products for the building preservation and pest control industry, again “manufactured here in our Birmingham factory” according to their website. Eclipse Sprayers also make Fine as Rain watering can roses and accessories which are again “manufactured in Birmingham, UK and can be fitted to any brand of watering can” – http://www.haws.co.uk – http://eclipsesprayers.co.uk
Haws watering cans on display in Selections in Leighton Buzzard 11 May 2017. The top label says “Manufacturing fine watering cans in the UK since 1886” on it. Photograph by author.
Haws plastic 0.7L handy indoor watering cans, made in England. On display in Longacres Garden Centre, Charlton. Photograph by author 17 June 2019.
You should be able to find British made water butts and compost bins. I found water butts and compost bins on e-bay.
“Bullbarrow Products are the market leader in the manufacture and supply of wheelbarrows for the gardening, hardware and building industries. Bullbarrow wheelbarrows whose wheelbarrows and garden scoots are made in the UK (their non-wheelbarrow products, such as garden tools are probably foreign made) say on their website “The innovative range of more than 50 varieties of wheelbarrows are all manufactured in our UK based premises, enabling us to provide unrivalled bespoke products to match our customers needs” and “All our scoots are made and manufactured in our factory based in the West Midlands, Meaning that we ensure high quality and reliable products.” They are part of TWP (see above).
R. Sankey made both water butts and compost bins, as well as watering cans, water butt connection kits and plastic plant pots (including manufacture of own brand products for others) and said on their website (which is now gone) that they try to make all their products in the UK. You’ll need to check whether the product you want is actually made in the UK. They were part of the Finnish Fishers company until 2013 when they were taken over by Strata Products Limited. Strata were taken over by plastics company the RPC Group in 2015. Now marketed under the Strata name in addition to the Sankey garden products name. Strata also sell plastic baby bath time products and home and office plastic products such as tubs and baskets, plastic storage boxes and buckets. No country of origin information is given against individual products on their website and some products may be foreign made, so please check before buying. They have a factory in Nottinghamshire. Strata have acquired various other manufacturers over the years – Panda Plastics Limited (1996), the ‘Ward’ brand (2001), and in 2013 Sankey. I did find some Strata Ward Enterprises products online in March 2018 such as a small garden storage box and you can buy Ward and Sankey watering cans and so on. No indication is given on their website as to which of their products are UK made. Trade only and no information is given on their website as to where you can buy their products. In 2015 Strata became part of the RPC Group who, through various acquisitions, have manufacturing facilities worldwide, including in the UK. RPC Group plc is a packaging and plastics business based in the United Kingdom for industry such as food, non-food, personal care, beverage, healthcare, and technical components. Trade only, they do not say which products are made in the UK on their website but they do have a number of UK manufacturing sites and some products are still made in the UK by Strata / Ward, including the watering can and storage box pictured below. Best to ask Strata directly if a product is UK made – for example I asked them “Can you tell me if your Garden Sieve is made in the UK please?” to which they quickly responded “Yes this item is made in our Factory in Pinxton Nottinghamshire” – great stuff.
http://www.strataproducts.co.uk/en/
A Ward from Strata green plastic watering can6.5 litre. Made in the UK. Photograph by author 3 April 2018.
A Ward from Strata green plastic watering can6.5 litre. Made in the UK. Underside label view. Photograph by author 3 April 2018.
A Ward Garden Sorage Box 300 Litre plastic box. Made in the UK. Photograph by author 5 April 2018. Closed view.
A Ward Garden Sorage Box 300 Litre plastic box. Made in the UK. Photograph by author 5 April 2018. Open view.
A Ward Garden Sorage Box 300 Litre plastic box. Made in the UK. Photograph by author 5 April 2018. Made in the UK label packaging view.
Strata Products green Garden Sieve. Made in the UK. Photograph by author 2 June 2018. Top view.
Strata Products green plastic Garden Sieve. Made in the UK. Photograph by author 2 June 2018. Made in the UK label detail.
Strata Products green Garden Sieve. Made in the UK. Photograph by author 2 June 2018. Underside view.
Asgard provide a range of British made virtually theft-proof all metal bike storage sheds made from heavy gauge steel with a range of approved locking mechanisms, and fitted with an integral metal floor – designed to deter criminals and keep your bikes safe. They also make secure garden sheds, motorcycle storage sheds and storage sheds for schools and other institutions – http://www.asgardsss.co.uk
wudl (formerly dwelle) make micro-buildings or “sheds for living” that can be adapted to suit a wide variety of uses and requirements. “The buildings are designed and manufactured in Manchester” according to their website – https://wudl.co.uk
Stewart Garden, originally established in 1945, have a factory in Banbury, Oxfordshire. Stewart Garden produces grow your own products, watering, pots, propagators and garden accessories and sundries and their products are available in garden centres and the like. They import foreign made products too, but their plant pots and the like all appear to be made in England and the products which are UK made are clearly labelled as such. Sadly no country of origin information is given against individual products on their website – http://www.stewart-garden.co.uk
Steward plant pots. Manufactured in the UK. Photographed by author at Flitvale Garden Centre.
Stewart Garden 30cm square tray in dark green. Made in UK. Base view. Photograph by author.
Stewart Garden 30cm square tray in dark green. Made in UK. Top view. Photograph by author.
Stewart Garden plastic 60cm (2-Lt) plant pot. Made in UK. Photograph by author 23 March 2018.
Stewart Garden plastic 60cm (2-Lt) plant pot. Made in UK. Photograph by author 23 March 2018. View 2.
Stewart Garden plastic 60cm (2-Lt) plant pot. Made in UK. Photograph by author 23 March 2018. Base view.
Stewart 1.0L Made in the UK plastic kitchen measuring jug. Front view. The Stewart label is at the top. Photograph by author 28 May 2018. I’m not sure if Stewart still make jugs like this one.
Stewart 1.0L Made in the UK plastic measuring jug. Bottom view. The Stewart label is at the top. Photograph by author 28 May 2018
Ailsa Wood Products was established in 1980 manufacturing quality garden products using oak from recycled whisky barrels. They also manufacture a range of planters and tubs. They are part of Rainbridge Timber Ltd and also supply fence panels, matching gates and trellis. They say on their website “We are proud to say that all our products are hand-manufactured using traditional cooperage skills by our craftsmen on our site at Old Dailly, South Ayrshire, Scotland.” Products are available in good garden centres. Rainbridge Timber are a company in Alfreton, Derbyshire supplying timber, pallet, case, crate and fence panels. They say on their website that “Timber is predominantly softwood and sourced either UK home grown or from Scandinavia, and the Baltics / other European sources.” They have their own yard, sawing, manufacturing and timber treatment facility and their manufacturing facility produces over 5,000 pallets, closeboard and waneyedge fence panels per week and they will also make non-standard bespoke pallets, cases and crates.
https://www.ailsawoodproducts.com
Ailsa Wood Products PT4 recycled whisky barrel planter. Made in Britain. Photographed by author at the Flitvale Garden Centre, Flitwick, Bedfordshire.
Haddonstone cast stone (or artificial stone) garden ornaments and building materials for build, restoration, garden, landscape, memorial, and fireplaces are made in the UK and the USA by Haddonstone. In the UK they have a factory at Brixworth in Northamptonshire. On their website they say “Each design is hand made by Haddonstone in the UK or US…” and “British made – every design is hand made in Northamptonshire”. No country of origin information is given against individual products on their website and whilst I assume products for the British market are those sold in the UK and that everything is made in the UK, it would be wise to check before buying – http://www.haddonstone.com
The Handmade Garden Shed Company exclusive hand-crafted sheds are made in Devon, England according to their Twitter stream – http://www.handmadegardenshed.co.uk
Gap Garden Products garden structures and equipment- “All Gap Garden Products are made in their factory in Kettering using the best quality materials.” Not all individual products on their website show country of origin, so I advice checking where something is made before buying. Products include metal garden arches, garden tunnels, gazebos, garden towers, planters, garden furniture, boot scrapers, boot racks, garden incinerators, weathervanes, bird feeder hooks, etc. They are also the makers of products marketed under the brand name Poppyforge – http://www.gapgardenproducts.com
Seedball sell wildflower seed balls in a protective ball that you just scatter. They aim to make a simple way to create beautiful wildflower gardens. They come in nice little tins. They are “made in London, UK (even the tin!)”. They also say on their website “All seed is responsibly sourced in the UK from Flora Locale accredited suppliers, we only ever use peat-free compost and our steel tins are manufactured in London (with the help of a solar farm on the factory roof)” and “Our seed balls are made with love by Project Maya in London and help to fund conservation” – http://www.seedball.co.uk
AAVPD Limited, a plastic fabrication company in Bridport, Dorset, make the plastic garden wine holders pictured below in England. I don’t know what else they might make in England, as they currently (as of May 2017) have no working website. I saw these wine glass holders in the National Trust shop on Dunstable Downs.
AAVPD Ltd made in England hands free garden or beach wine glass holders. Photograph by author.
There are gift shops who sell a good range of British made gifts (alongside Chinese made tat), such as some of the museum gift shops such as The London Transport Museum shop, and the National Trust shops. The National Trust shops sell for example the weeding tool pictured below and the wine glass holder pictured above which are British made.
Speed Weeder, Made in the UK, in the National Trust shop at the White Cliffs of Dover, 3 Ocober 2018. Photograph by author.
Rainbow Trugs make Flexible colourful containers – made in Britain – Rainbow Trugs themselves and the Rainbow Trugs lid are made in Britain. Some of the other items on their website are made abroad though. Look for the Union Flag next to the item’s picture I assume to see what is British made. British made items include Rainbow Trugs, pot stands, Rainbow Trug Riddle, Rainbow Trug lid, Easi Skip Feeders, 3 gallon buckets, Rhino feed buckets, Rainbow feeders and tidy trays – http://www.rainbowtrugs.com
For more British made plastic products please click here.
Westland Horticulture have a factory in Northern Ireland where they produce growing media such as composts (this is also the company’s Head Office location), a factory in Driffield where they produce bird feed products under brand names including Peckish, Nature’s Feast and Beckons and a factory in Alconbury where they make other products such as Marshalls vegetable seeds and Unwins flower seeds. Beckons birds seeds (“prepared with pride in Britain”), Nature’s Feast bird seed (“Our comprehensive range of award-winning bird foods are all blended and packaged in the UK’s most advanced bird seed manufacturing facilities, where quality control is of the utmost importance”) and Unwins garden seeds are produced or at least packed in the UK (very little seed is now grown in commercially Britain apparently). No product country of origin information is given on the Westland website so it is hard to tell what is made in the UK, so I suggest you look carefully at the packaging before buying. Westland Horticulture took over William Sinclair, the horticulture supplier to B&Q, Tesco, etc in 2015 and their brands such as J. Arthur Bowers, New Horizon, Growing Success and Deadfast and have since closed their remaining factories – http://www.gardenhealth.com
The Walsall Wheelbarrow Company are the only manufacturer of wheelbarrows left in Great Britain. Wheelbarrows are used in the construction industry, agriculture, for horse and animal care, gardening, DIY, etc. British Owned and British made. They manufacture the complete wheelbarrow on-site in their factory in the West Midlands. They also make sack trucks and barrow-in-a-box boxed wheelbarrows. They also sell a few other products like buckets and clothes driers but I do not think these are made in Britain. Wholesale. Available in stores and online. I found some on e-bay – http://www.thewalsallwheelbarrow.co.uk
Hill and Sons – http://www.riddles-sieves.co.uk – Hill and Sons of Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire are apparently the last remaining beech riddle and sieve manufacturers in Britain. They also have a range of garden accessories including a modern trug, dibber, pot tamper and pair of garden lines. All their products are made in Britain. As well as horticultural sieves, etc they also make a kitchen sieve. Their twitter tagline is “Last British manufacturer of beech riddles and sieves. We also manufacture trugs, dibbers, tampers and garden lines” but their last twitter update was in September 2013. Facebook says they are “permanently closed and again their last update was in 2013. This 2012 article talks about the takeover after the owner of the business retired and there’s another article here. Their website listed above no longer works and another website https://hillandsons.weebly.com/index.html is uninformative. An all metal sieves is known in England as a “Riddle”. As of 19 May 2018 I can’t find any Hill and Sons garden sieves for sale online. Sadly it seems Hill and Sons have now closed down.
“Garland are manufacturers of innovative, plastic garden products – all designed and manufactured in the UK at our Kingswinford factory using recycled polymer wherever possible” according to their website. They also sell a range of non plastic garden products and I presume these are imported. Garland Products is the company’s garden product division. The company also operates an industrial moulding division, operating as Glendenning Plastics Ltd. They offer a wide range of products such garden sieves, watering cans, water butts, boot tidies, paint trays, propagation trays, and much more. Unfortunately no country of origin information is given against individual products on their website, so you’ll need to ask before buying – https://www.garlandproducts.com
Whitefurze say on their About page “All our products are manufactured at our facility in Nuneaton”. The Whitefurze product range includes food storage, general storage, housewares and gardening storage containers. For example, their F0310 0.4 L Beaker and Lid is made in the UK, as are their food storers (tupperware). The company was founded in 1978. All their products are made in Nuneaton Coventry, by a company called Langstone Plastics. Their extensive range includes kitchen bins, waste paper baskets, laundry baskets, laundry bins, clothes hangers, step stools, dish drainers, draining mats, sink tidies, kitchen roll holders, vegetable racks, colanders, trays, buckets, bowls, mop buckets, plastic storage boxes, food storers, jugs, bowls, microwave food covers, funnels, ice cube trays, mixing bowls, cake boxes, garden planters, garden pots, garden accessories, watering cans, garden sieves, garden kneelers, garden leaf grabbers, garden workbench potting trays, garden grow bag trays, pet bowls, pet carriers, pet scoops, cat litter trays, etc – all made in England – http://www.whitefurze.net
I found these British made sink or bath plugs on eBay.
Made in England 1 3/4 sink or bath plug. Photograph by author 9 May 2018.
Coram Shower Enclosures are British made. They say on their website “Manufactured for British homes, designed and made in the UK”. They make and sell shower enclosures, shower screens, bath panels, shower trays, bath screens and suchlike – https://www.coram.co.uk
Byretech sell shower rails and curtains, shower seals, bathroom accessories, shower heads and hoses, shower grab rails, shower and bath overflow protectors, shower drip guards, bath full alarms, MagiPlug bath and sink overflow stopper plugs, bathroom fans, and so on. They say on their website that Byretech are “a real company with a real factory where we make and design our products, just south of Birmingham in Redditch, Worcestershire UK.” They also sell products made by others. Unfortunately no country of origin information is given against individual products on their website – https://www.byretech.com
Crown Edge aluminium lawn edging is manufactured in Britain – http://crownedge.co.uk
Windy Smithy made a small range of outdoor tools to order, as well as wood burning stoves for the outdoors, in England – http://www.windysmithy.co.uk
Windy Smithy Fire Saucer (portable fire pit). made in England.
Some Chillchaser Indoor/Outdoor infrared heaters are made in Britain – http://www.chillchaser.co.uk
Burgon and Ball – http://www.burgonandball.com – Burgon and Ball are the largest sheep shear manufacturer in the world. They also sell other agricultural and garden tools and accessories. However, most of what they sell is made in SE Asia, so check if what you are buying is actually made in England.
Hozelock – http://www.hozelock.com – Hozelock make products in the UK and in the Far East. They say they manufacture the majority (75%) of their products in the UK, but because some of their products are made abroad you need to check what you are buying is actually made in the UK. Hozelock produce products to help people water their gardens – garden watering, garden pressure sprayers, pond equipment and high pressure cleaners – garden hoses and bits for them essentially. The Hozelock Group supplies products under two brands : Hozelock – their retail gardening brand, and Tricoflex their industrial hose brand. Hozelock products that are British made clearly state so on the packaging. If the packaging does not say a Hozelock product is made in Great Britain then it is foreign made. For example the hose reel and the porous soaker hose pictured below are British made, whereas the sprinter attachment also pictured below does not say where it is made and we can therefore assume it is made in the Far East.
Hozelock 25m hose reel. Made in Great Britain European Quality. Photographed by author on display in Wickes Luton Airport Parkway.
Hozelock Porous Soaker Hose. Made in Great Britain.
A Hozelock sprinkler attachement. No country of origin labelling and presumably foreign made.
Evergreen make a 1/2″ diameter 30 metre garden hose in the UK and possibly their other hoses are made in the UK. Available in shops and online. I haven’t yet worked out who makes these but at least some Evergreen hoses appear to be made in the Uk and labelled as such.
Evergreen 50 Metre 1/2in Diameter Reinforced Professional Green Garden Hose. Made in the UK.
For Matchets (machetes) made in the UK at very reasonable prices try Ralph Martindale – http://www.ralphmartindale.co.uk – They have their own steel mill. Search online to find retailers or e-mail the company. Their’s is the genuine “Crocodile” blade and is designed to demands of rural farmers throughout the tropical regions of the world. The handles though are made using German beech wood. Ralph Martindale also make a wide range of other agricultural tools including sharpening files and saws, knives and files (including sugar cane knives, tea pruning knives, tree/cocoa pruners, copra knives and rubber tapping knives), digging and construction tools (spades, forks, shovels, pick axes, wrecking bars, cold chisels, sledge hammers, hammers, hatchets and so on), sickles, sheaths, gardening tools (rakes, shears, hand trowels, hand forks, secateurs and so on), protective clothing and sprayers. The Ralph Martindale Group of Companies also own The Chillington Tool Company who make hoes and forks sold under a variety of brand names and are available online at http://www.chillingtontoolsonline.co.uk where they also sell a variety of other gardening equipment.
Wilkinson Sword were a British company (currently American owned by Energizer Holdings), but they no longer make swords and their razors are now made abroad. Wilkinson Sword has manufactured its products in three UK locations over the years: in London, (Chelsea and Acton), Cramlington in Northumberland and Bridgend in Wales, where it made gardening tools. In 2000, the company closed its razor plant in the UK and moved production in Germany. In August 2005, Wilkinson Sword, who had been established for over two hundred years, ceased trading as sword makers. Pooley Sword, formed in November 2005, purchased from Wilkinsons their drawings, spares and much of their tooling and as far as I can tell still manufactures swords in the UK. Gardening equipment is still made under the Wilkinson Sword name by E.P. Barrus under a licensing arrangement, but is now manufactured abroad.
Gap Garden Products garden structures and equipment- “All Gap Garden Products are made in their factory in Kettering using the best quality materials.” Not all individual products on their website show country of origin, so I advice checking where something is made before buying. Products include metal garden arches, garden tunnels, gazebos, garden towers, planters, garden furniture, boot scrapers, boot racks, garden incinerators, weathervanes, bird feeder hooks, etc. They are also the makers of products marketed under the brand name Poppyforge – http://www.gapgardenproducts.com
Kingstone ornamental garden stoneware is made in England. All the Kingstone products I have seen have been British made but do check before buying as no country of origin information is given on their website. Trade only but available from good garden centres – http://www.kingstoneware.co.uk
Kingstone Candle Bird Bath. Made in England. Photographed by author 10 June 2018. Purchased from Longacres Garden Centre, Charlton Shepperton.
Hayter – http://www.hayter.co.uk – Hayter make lawnmowers and say on their website that they still manufacture many products in the UK. They make electric and petrol mowers (including sit-on mowers) and rotavators. As far as I can see their website does not specify which mowers are made in the UK, so you will have to ask.
Allett Mowers (part of the Turfmech Group) – http://www.allett.co.uk make petrol and electric lawn stand-behind mowers. There is a list of dealers on their website. They also acquired rights to former Atco and Suffolk Punch cylinder mowers that now carry the Allett brand name. As far as I can gather all their mowers are made in the UK, but please check before buying. Their petrol mowers are powered by Japanese engines.
Confusingly Qualcast now seem to own the Suffolk Punch brand name. Qualcast mowers are now made in China.
Bosch (the former owner of Qualcast and Atco) apparently makes at least some of its lawnmowers in the UK, in Stowmarket, Suffolk. You will have to check which mowers are made in the UK; possibly their Rotak range of electric mowers and their higher end petrol models. Bosch is a German company.
Flymo mowers (or at least some of them) are also made in the UK, in Newton Aycliffe. Please check that the mower you are buying is in fact made in the UK. Flymo is part of the Husqvarna Group of Sweden. According to their website “The British invention of the hovercraft, was the inspiration for Swedish lawn mower manufacturer Karl Dahlman to invent a flying lawnmower. A lawn mower floating on a cushion of air…Flymo, for short – a brilliant idea in 1964, and a brilliant idea today! It wasn’t long before the idea ‘took off’ and the company grew from strength to strength during the 1970’s, building lawnmowers in its UK factory, where they are still manufactured today.” ” In 1977, Flymo products begin to take on their distinctive orange colour, after the initial blue and white.” Also they say “All Flymo electric hover mowers are built in the UK in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham”. Flymo was founded in 1965. Country of origin is given in their 2017 Product Range brochure and from this I can see that the following Flymo products are British made – all Electric Hover Lawnmowers, all Electric Hover Collect Lawnmowers, the Ultra Glide, all Electric Wheeled Lawnmowers with Rear Rollers, and the Robotic Lawnmower – with all other Flymo products (including all Battery Wheeled Lawnmowers, Electric Wheeled Lawnmowers, grass trimmers and strimmers, hedge trimmers, garden vacuums, and electric lawnrakes) being foreign made (see brochure photos below). Flymo strimmers used to be made in the UK, but this is no longer the case – http://www.flymo.com/uk/
Flymo 2017 Product Range paper brochure (1). Photograph by author, 14 August 2017.
Flymo 2017 Product Range paper brochure (2). Photograph by author, 14 August 2017.
Flymo 2017 Product Range paper brochure (3). Photograph by author, 14 August 2017.
Flymo 2017 Product Range paper brochure (4). Photograph by author, 14 August 2017.
Flymo 2017 Product Range paper brochure (5). Photograph by author, 14 August 2017.
Flymo Easi Glide 300 lawnmower box marked Made in England. Photograph by author 5 August 2017.
Flymo Easi Glide 300 lawnmower. Made in England. Photograph by author 5 August 2017.
A vintage Made in England Flymo model MET250-4 garden stimmer. Still going strong. Photograph by author 2 June 2018. Made in England label detail.
A vintage Made in England Flymo model MET250-4 garden stimmer. Still going strong. Photograph by author 2 June 2018.
A vintage Flymo Multi Trim 250 garden grass trimmer strimmer, Made in England and still 100% working. Photograph by authro 27 June 2019. The same one as shown above, just a different view.
B&Q sell British mades garden strimmer (trimmer) blade cord – http://www.diy.com/departments/bq-trimmer-line-to-fit-electric-trimmers-t13mm/212414_BQ.prd
B&Q (B and Q) Trimmer line to fit Electric Trimmers 1.33mm x 30m for garden strimmers manufactured in the UK. Photograph by authro 26 May 2017. Also available in different sizes and for diiferent types of strimmer such as petrol graden strimmers.
The new Atco Lawnmowers (GGP UK Limited) are powered by American engines and are now made abroad I believe.
Countax make ride-on mowers in the UK, although they are owned by a US parent company.
Dennis and SISIS make lawnmowers and other ground maintenance equipment in Britain. As always, please check what you are buying is actually British made but from what I can see on their websites it looks as if some or even all their products are UK made or at least partly UK made.
Does anyone know of any British made hand (non-motorised) mowers – push reel lawn mowers – please?
http://www.fredshed.co.uk/mowers.htm – has reviews of some mowers.
British made scientific and engineering equipment
Accoson (AC Cossor & Son (Surgical) Ltd) specialise in making Sphygmomanometers for measuring blood pressure. They company was founded in 1859 and it is pleasing to see they manufacture most of not all their products in the UK still. Most products have the words made in England clearly placed on their dials, although their new non-mercury greenlight 300 does not for some reason. However, it does say on their website that “the greenlight 300 is manufactured in the UK” – http://www.accoson.com
Accoson Code 0632A Desk model sphygmomanometer. Made in England.
Keeler of Windsor manufacture ophthalmic instruments, otoscopes and other medical products in the UK. Keeler say on their website “Yes, we still manufacture and assemble our instruments in the UK” – https://www.keeler.co.uk
Gowllands Medical Devices Ltd (not to be confused with Gowlland Optical Limited who make magnifiers and inspection mirrors in the UK still) diagnostic instruments for ear, eye, nose and throat, surgical instruments and dental instruments might manufacture some of their instruments in the UK but this is not clear from their website (which as of August 2018 was not very informative). You might ask them.
Brannan are manufacturers of Thermometers, Pressure Gauges and associated products, for science, industry, meteorology, medical, geographical, office, garden and home use. They have a manufacturing facility in Cumbria, England and some (possibly most?) of their products are made in England – http://www.brannan.co.uk
Brannan Magnet Re-set Max Min Thermometer. Made in England.
Brannan White Dial Fridge Magnet Thermometer 65mm – Cricket Bear. Made in England.
Brannan 215mm White Wall Thermometer. Made in England.
TM Electronics (TME) is a UK-run designer and manufacturer of thermometers and sensors based in Worthing, West Sussex, England. The majority of their products are entirely made in their factory in Worthing, West Sussex, but you will need to ask if the particular product you want is UK made as this information is not given on their website – http://www.tmelectronics.co.uk
MSE (UK) Ltd are a British manufacturer of laboratory equipment including centrifuges, ultrasonic disintegrators, Class II safety cabinets and Class III isolators – mseuk.co.uk
Freddy Products Ltd area British manufacturer of industrial vacuums, both wet and dry, and coolant filtration machines – freddy-products.co.uk
“Bladon Jets has developed a Micro Turbine Genset (MTG) that provides power for rural and urban populations around the world, especially those where there is no or intermittent grid power available. The Bladon 12kW Microturbine Genset (MTG-12) is ideal for telecom applications requiring frequent or continuous power to mobile network towers.” I understand from Robert, one of my twitter followers, that these are made in the UK – http://www.bladonjets.com
Britwind make small windmills for small scale electricity production in Britain. They say on their website “…it’s all designed and made right here in this country – vertically integrated, fully British from start to finish” and “We’re proud to be able to make cutting edge small windmills right here in Britain…” Britwind is part of Ecotricity, who have been building big wind parks for nearly 20 years and are an electricity supplier – http://www.britwind.co.uk
Naylor Group, which dates back to 1890, is a manufacturer of building and construction products with five factories in South and West Yorkshire, Fife and the West Midlands. UK made products from the company include ducting, plastic tubes and pipes, specialist plastic products, plastic land drainage products, flexible repair couplings, grass protection products, concrete products, industrial ceramics, land drainage products, garden pots, retaining walls, brisket boards and support rails, equestrian / dog jumping poles, crop conditioners, dog agility tunnels, and suchlike – http://www.naylor.co.uk
Forterra make bricks in the UK, According to their website “We create bricks, blocks, precast concrete, paving and many other vital products at our extensive network of 18 manufacturing sites, employing approximately 1,800 people, and making us one of the leading names in British building product manufacturing.” Forterra plc was formerly Hanson’s UK building products division, founded in the early 1960s. I don’t know if all their products are made in the UK or not – http://forterra.co.uk
Forterra bricks. Made in Britain. Photograph by author 27 December 2017.
Please see my articles on pocket knives, survival knives, bushcraft knives and safety knives and my article on British made kitchen knives, cutlery, scissors and silverware. These articles also cover surgical instruments and healthcare products to some extent.
For bicycle specific tools, please see http://wp.me/s2KOue-bicycles
Does anyone know of any more UK made tools and garden tools I can add here please?
Tools made in the UK, UK made tools, UK made ladders, Lawn Mowers made in the UK, UK made lawn mowers, British Wheelbarrows, British Watering Cans, UK made Tape Measures, Made in England Tape Measures, Made in England Tools, British Garden Equipment, British Made Trade Tools, etc.
Big T tape measure by Fisco. Made in England
ukmade - UK Made Products - BRITISH MADE 
Hi Great site. I have learned a lot. I could make a few additional suggestions in different categories as, although I live in New Zealand, I’m a loyal (although more and more demoralised) supporter of UK made goods. Sadly I don’t think Fisco is UK owned (its Sweedish) although their tapes are great – I have had one for many years. There are a number of tool manufacturers such as Clico tooling, Sorby, Ashley Iles etc who are UK made and owned. Its a sadly depleted list though. I guess people just won’t pay for quality on a whole.
British companies being foreign owned or multinationals making things here is preferable to nothing being made here. I too would prefer British-owned companies without profits being symphoned abroad but unfortunately beggars can’t be choosers.
At least when something is made here it supports British jobs and workers, some of the materials will likely be from here and there’ll be a trickle down effect down the supply chain.
As daft as it sounds it trickles down to the company which runs the vending machines often, the cleaning contractors, the factory workers spending their wages in local shops, etc..
Also it’s worth bearing in mind that shareholding is truly borderless. A multinational might be based in a country but it itself won’t be truly of that country in a strict sense as it’s shares are sold to anyone who wants to buy them whether abroad or domestic.
Most British multinationals seem to be in banking, retail and other services though sadly.
So when choosing a product I’ll always try and go for “Made in Britain” over made abroad if there’s no British-owned, British-made option.
Thanks again for your comments. Keep buying British…I will too
Apparently parker https://www.parkerbrand.co.uk/about. Make some chainsaws here among other power tools? Potentially the first uk owned/designed/ manufactured power tools I’ve found if true?
Richard. Many thanks for your kind comments. I always welcome suggestions and I appreciate what you say about Fisco. Fine tapes, but the company is Swedish owned. I have added this and I have added Clico tooling, Sorby, and Ashley Iles to my article on knives (simply because I don’t know where else to feature them for the moment and they kind of fit there). You are right that people want cheap, but I also think they want quality and often do not realise what they are buying is not made in the UK. Thanks again and I hope you continue to enjoy the site.
Hi, thanks for replying. You could have a tool section. A good starting place may be http://www.flinn-garlick-saws.co.uk/ which has a number of sheffield-made tool lines.
There are a few garden tool manufacturers as well like Bulldog tools (hand forged spades etc) and Haws watering cans made in UK. There are several others too like Burgen and Ball, but most of what they sell is made in SE Asia. I think most of the Hozelock range is UK made (Birmingham). All of these companies make top notch stuff.
Hi
That’s really helpful. A tool section will appear soon! Some really good stuff here. Please continue to enjoy the site. Thanks again.
Many thanks Richard Lloyd for his help – I have now got this section on British made tools and British made garden tools.
Well done, that is great! I see you mention Spears and Jackson. Its disappointing that they are now owned by a Hong Kong company and all their traditional high quality tools have disappeared and are now made in Asia.
Countax also make ride-on mowers in the UK, but, I think are owened by a US parent company.
Hi Richard. Thank you for your comment. I am glad you are enjoying the site. I have added Countax and I agree it is a real shame about Spears and Jackson now being mostly made in Asia. Cheers again.
There are some very good companies that make good quality stuff at a low price that make in UK, like Milliput and Antex.
Im trying to find out about an English Ironmonger and toolmaker called T Moore & Co, I have a tape measure from them and they used to be at 91 kings road Chelsea, do you or any of your subscribers have any info on this company?
I’m afraid I can’t tell you anything about T Moore & Co but perhaps someone else will know something. Good luck finding out.
Hi, great website. I’ve got a few more UK tool manufacturers for you. Bott cabinets and benches http://www.bottltd.co.uk, Smith Francis tools http://www.smithfrancistools.co.uk and Talco tool boxes http://www.talcotoolstorage.com. Thanks, Andrew.
Hi Andrew. Thank you 🙂 And thanks for the links. I have added these to my tools article. Cheers.
This should probably be in the “bags” section but i came across connellofsheffield who make tool belts,tool pouches ,tool bags and many others apparently from uk sourced leather and nylon.Around £40-£50 will get you a large leather tool bag which should last an actual life time of abuse,which you never get from goods made in the far east,at least I never have.
Hi. Great looking products. Thank you for pointing them out. I have added Connell of Sheffield at http://wp.me/p2KOue-wT as you suggested it goes well here. Cheers
As far as I know, Norbar Torque Tools ( http://www.norbar.com/en-gb ) are still made at their factory in Banbury. Interesting company history – they apparently got their start making the torque wrenches that tightened the cylinder head of the Rolls Royce Merlin aero engine during the Second World War. I have one of their modern torque wrenches and it’s an excellent tool.
Hi. Many thanks for your comment. I have updated my tools section with information about Norbar.
Bosch lawnmowers – the higher end petrol models are made in the UK and it says so on the box. The electric range is mostly made in China, especially the cheaper ones that go on offer. I work at a place that sells them.
The electric models are generally what you’d expect from a German company apart from the handle shows its Chinese origins and can break, it’s a common cause for returns and they haven’t changed it yet.
I’ve never seen a petrol one back yet though and I’m not lying because they’re British-made, I literally remember seeing loads of electric ones last summer with faulty handles but can’t remember seeing a single petrol one.
You missed Sankey from your list, a plastic mouldings company. They got bought out by Fiskars (Swedish or Finnish, I forget) but then sold off to a British company so they’re British owned and still British made.
They make a lot of gardening products – water butts, watering cans, water butt connection kits and plastic plant pots (including the big store own brand stuff).
Stewart is another – they make similar stuff to Sankey and a lot of propagators, including electric ones. They’re probably the main company selling them in the UK.
With regard to garden fertilisers and chemicals there are a few.
Westland (from Northern Ireland) – they also sell identical products under large store brands.
Sinclair horticulture under the “Growing success” and numerous store brands.
I work in a big store that sells a lot of this and see suppliers on boxes and stock checking tools as well as where the trucks come from.
I can’t go into too much detail as to what the store brands as I might run into trouble of I say too much.
Not every store brand is from the same company as the named-brand stuff as people seem to think, a lot is actually sourced from factories in China with weird-sounding names but a large proportion is from the same companies and also from Britain.
With regards to compost – it arrives on the same truck from the same company, the store-brand beside the popular brands (two popular brands, one store brand) and none of those companies on the packaging having made it.. And people go for [expensive popular brand] because “it’s better” and a little part of me dies inside.
I have few old tools from moore and wright , they are wonderful.
http://ravitoolcollection.blogspot.in/?m=1
Nice tools. These days they manufacture in China as well as the UK
Hi, found your site googling ‘British made lawn mowers’.
Got the page up about Fisco tape measures but if you click on the link to say ‘lawn mowers’ or anything else you are returned to the Fisco tape measure page again.
Hi. Sorry you are having difficulties. Not sure what is happening for you. I have tried and the British made lawn mower links take me to the makers sites. Try Hayter, Allett, Bosch, Flymo, Countax, Dennis, Sisis – at least some of their mowers are UK made.
Hello. Big fan of your site, and how much you obviously care! I’ve been looking for a British-made spirit level and eventually found https://www.sheffieldspiritlevels.co.uk – previously known as Plastic Level Products. I thought this might interest you.
Nick
Hello. Thank you, that’s very kind and a great find. I have added this company to the site. Cheers.
Thank you for taking the time to show where one can buy British made products. I have just come back from a trip to a well known DIY chain where nearly everything was made in countries with poor labour standards. I do not want to support these regimes, and although it is increasingly difficult to do so, if enough people vote with their money and buy ethically we can help local businesses survive.
It is harder than ever to find anything made in the UK. If we all at least took an interest in where things are made that would help I agree
I have a old 6″ steel ruler probably from the 70s it’s metric and imperial
It’s marked B&H ltd London.
What’s the B&H stand for?
Very informative site.
Thanks
Thank you. I am glad you find the site informative. I have to admit though that I am not sure who B&H are.
Regarding King Dick tools. Given my experience of King Dick over quite a number of years as well as other brands, I think it’s likely that King Dick actually only manufacture their range of spanners, ie combination, double open end and double ended offset ring spanners, (maybe sloggers etc as well). With regard to socketry though, I think it’s very likely that the majority of what they put out is made overseas. Not only do their ratchets, accessories and sockets not state anywhere on them that they are made in England, for a long time their designs were almost identical to the long gone Gordon tool’s last range, which was made in West Germany (I have a Gordon ratchet from the 80s which has ‘made in West Germany’ stamped on it underneath the plastic hand grip. King Dick used to make their own socketry but since they went bust in the 1980s (around 1986) and were quite quickly resurrected, they don’t appear to make their own socketry anymore. They are still very high quality of course.
I recently purchased a newer type of King Dick 1/2″ ratchet, which is very good but the actual mechanism and direction lever are identical to that on a Gedore Carolous ratchet, which is made in Taiwan. The racthet frames look a lot different but on close inspection, you can see that they have the same ‘innards’. Whether King Dick make the ratchet frames themselves or not is anyone’s guess but the guts of their ratchets are most likely made in Taiwan.
King Dick’s website does seem to indicate that they make these ratchets themselves and it also implies that they make most of their own stuff but in reality I think they are not being honest about this. Their Youtube video only shows are video of spanners being made. I think they are pulling the wool over our eyes in order to get the benefit of the patriotic customer. I don’t believe that King Dick are being honest. I have asked them myself and they have claimed that they make their socketry themselves but I don’t believe this adds up. They told me that the reason that they don’t stamp ‘England’ or ‘British made’ on their sockets is because of the physical space required to do that! And yet Britool seemed to manage when they still made their tools in the UK? Also their adjustable spanners are identical in design to ones made by ‘Powerbuilt’ which King Dick is the main UK ditributor of. Interesting 🙂
Hi Mick. Interesting observations. Thank you. This is what King Dick told me in Feb 2013 “I am pleased to confirm that the majority of the King Dick range of products is made here in Birmingham at our factory. These include all wrenches; ring, combination, sloggers, podgers etc, and socketry. It is not physically possible to make all items here, so some items are made for us, such as our pliers and screwdrivers, which are made in Europe, however they are made to our strict standards and specifications.” Cheers
Hi ukmade. Interestingly, King Dick told me pretty much the same when I contacted them some years ago. If you do a google street view search for their factory;
Abingdon King Dick
Unit 11,
Roman Way,
Coleshill Industrial Estate,
Birmingham
B46 1HG
You may come to the same conclusion as I did that their factory is not physically large enough to house all the machinery necessary to produce everything they claim to. With all that being said, they are genuinely the UK’s only remaining spanner manufacturer and their spanners are fantastic quality.
I have a fairly new set of their ring spanners and they are extremely well made and finished. I also have a set of their ratchet spanners which have ‘King Dick England’ stamped on one side but a few of them have ‘Gear Plus’ stamped on the other side. ‘Gear Plus’ was a range distributed by a German company called ‘KS tools’ which I believe has all their stuff made overseas. At the time I bought them I did an image search for ‘Gear Plus’ ratchet spanners and disovering that they appeared identical, came to the conclusion that the King Dick ones were made by the same people who made the KS ones. The ratchet I purchased recently (RPSS408) also has an identical plastic handle to the Britool Hallmark ratchets which are now made in Taiwan, I think by Toptul.
I think King Dick’s problem may be more down to the attitude of the UK’s financial establishments’ unwillingness to invest in the UK’ manufacturing base in order for them to purchase the necessary machinery to increase the number of products they make themselves, than it is an unwillingness to produce more of their stuff themselves. I just don’t believe they are being entirely honest. Whch is a shame. There’s a big difference between putting a positive spin on something and being deliberately misleading.
That being said, I will still support them as a company and buy their spanners as and when I need to 🙂
PS, you have a great site. It is genuinely informative and helpful.
Thank you for the info and the update. Also I am pleased you find my site informative and helpful. Thanks again
Hi,
At the moment it’s looking like King Dick have been bought out by another company and that they are not making any tools in the UK at all now. Their Abingdon factory is now closed.
Hi again. It seems that King Dick tools have become part of the Silverline group, which to be honest doesn’t bode well for the King Dick name or the quality of tools they produce/sell. They kept that one quiet!
I think that the factory in Birmingham is definitely abandoned and that any newly made stuff bearing the King Dick name is made in the far east.
If you do a websearch for ‘King Dick taken over by Silverline’, you will find reference to them being part of the Silverline group in a notice dated 30 Apr 2018. So it seems that King Dick is no longer a British manufacturer. Another one bites the dust. It’s sad. I liked their tools.
Seeing accoson here and I think other medical equipment may be relevant. Keeler makes heaps otoscope and ophthalmic tools here and they are widely exported. I’ve come across a new Gowllands otoscope online too (but I think they desperately need to update their products).
Hi. Thank you for your comment and helpful information. I have added Keeler and Gowllands. I have come across Gowllands before but their website does not say anything about country of origin. Thanks again
Hi, I was looking at fire safety systems lately and found a good number of them still being made in UK e.g Apollo of Portsmouth, Electro-detectors of Essex, EMS of Kent. Klaxon Signals talks about UK manufacturing too. I’ve come across a Fireray smoke detector with made in UK label but their manufacturer (FFE Ltd of Hert.) does not talk much about it. Fike is an American company and it has a factory in Wales – similar for Fulleon by Eaton, also American with Walsh factory. Nittan, a Japanese company states UK manufacturing operations on their website and I’ve seen a UK-made nittan heat sensor in a shop.
Dodgy looking ones: Gent by Honeywell says “UK manufacturing heritage” but not sure how much is living now cos all complete products I saw are made in Romania but seen some parts made in UK (could be old stocks). Tyco, despite having an address in UK, has only products made in Czechia or no label at all. Some control panels and buttons under Simplex brand of Tyco has UK made labels though.
Hi – great job putting this together – do you know any UK companies that Make neddle files (im a silversmith) and want to buy British if I can – Thanks Paul http://www.beaujngles.etsy.com
Thanks for the positive comment. No I don’t know of any more at the moment sorry
An American site selling Ralph Martindale machetes claims that they are assembled in Thailand using British steel and German wood. I have been suspected this as I’ve seen RM products sold in Thailand with made in Thailand label.
This is a great resource, thank you. I have a few British manufacturers that I work alongside. I wonder whether I could throw in Heskins Ltd as a suggestion? They are a UK-based manufacturer of anti-slip and industrial floor tapes. They also manufacture custom printed tapes and offer many associated sub-contract services.
Jubilee clips (i.e. hose-securing clips) are made in the UK.
All of the manufacturers at these URLs make most or all of their prroducts in the UK:
https://www.boddingtons-electrical.com/
https://www.greanbase.co.uk/
https://www.wmjames.co.uk/
https://ritelite.co.uk/
https://www.hillbrush.com/
https://kotibrushes.co.uk/
https://www.logictoday.co.uk/
https://www.foldagri.com/
https://shop.g-gibson.com/
https://www.fisherandcompany.co.uk/
https://wildeandharte.co.uk/
https://www.haemmerlin.co.uk/
https://www.bullbarrow.co.uk/
https://www.thewalsallwheelbarrow.co.uk/
https://brooksforgings.co.uk/
https://memfast.co.uk/
https://makitauk.com/manufacturing
https://www.jewelblade.com/
https://www.rotabroach.co.uk/
https://henrytaylortools.co.uk/
https://www.armeg.com/
https://www.gripple.com/
https://www.axminstertools.com/ie/made-in-britain
https://www.redbanduk.co.uk/construction-groundwork/made-in-britain
https://www.insulatedtools.co.uk/
https://www.recordpower.co.uk/
https://roydtoolgroup.com/
https://crtoolsuk.com/
https://www.jubileeclips.co.uk/
https://www.tappex.co.uk/
https://tuffboxes.co.uk/
https://cathedralproducts.co.uk/
https://www.bladetech.co.uk/
https://www.jafcotools.com/
https://www.bailey-products.com/
http://www.crownhandtools.ltd.uk/
https://www.westsofeastdean.co.uk/
https://richardcarterltd.co.uk/
https://www.mygardenspade.com/
https://www.hayter.co.uk/