EXTRA PEACE AT CHRISTMAS

There are few things more annoying than a house guest that doesn’t quite look after your belongings as vigilantly as you do.

During the Christmas Feast, as your favourite nephew drops a large saucepan in your Shaws of Darwen sink, you can be confident that the sink should stand up to the abuse, but might want to take reassurance by protecting your sink with a Shaws of Darwen handcrafted Sink Grid.

Each Sink Grid size has been manufactured by hand, using the world's finest quality stainless steel, to match the size of your Shaws sink for durable yet elegant protection.

Make sure you enjoy Christmas without the extra worry, by clicking on the link below and placing your order before 5pm Wednesday 17th December for delivery before Christmas.

HandcraftedSink Grid

 

WEBSITE ON THE MOVE WITH SHAWS OF DARWEN

Shaws of Darwen have been in existence since 1897 and are very proud of their heritage, but they never sit back on their laurels and are always looking to modernise wherever possible and their website is no exception.

How many times have you struggled to view a website easily on your Smartphone or Tablet to hand?  Now Shaws of Darwen has made the online experience much more accessible with an exciting mobile friendly version of their website which automatically changes to suit any screen size. Images and copy can be clearly seen across the screen with indicators to all sections housed within the site.

This new mobile friendly website, with all its facets can be used in any location and on any device.  The new facility has been designed for the convenience of all of our customers, trade and consumers and will enable the browser access to the entire portfolio of Shaws kitchen sinks, photographic illustrations, accessories and graphic technical support.

David Dare, Managing Director of Shaws comments: “I know how important it is to be able to access information quickly and efficiently, which is why we have designed our website to provide this facility. I wanted to provide users easy access whilst on the move, plus having invaluable customer support at your fingertips at all times is key to success”.  Almost half our website visitors come from mobile devices and this has doubled in the last two years”, concludes Dare.

The new Shaws mobile interactive web pages are live now and allow the user to source every page of the site whilst on the move on their Smart devices.

COMMERCIAL RANGE

The Shaws of Darwen Commercial Range proved to be as popular as ever during the October Half-Term Holiday.

The hard–wearing quality and integrity of our laundry sinks, lab sinks and cleaner’s sinks appeal to many schools, colleges and university installations.

Each sink is produced in exactly the same fashion as our domestic ranges, using heavy fireclay material then cast, finished and glazed by hand. This is ideal for heavy duty usage, such as educational premises.

All Shaws of Darwen Commercial Sinks have received industry accreditations for quality and resistance against chemicals and staining, to give you the peace of mind your sink will be just the job!

To view our Commercial Sink Range, please click the link below.

http://shawsofdarwen.com/shaws-kitchen-sink-commercial.cfm

SHAWS OF DARWEN CLASSIC DOUBLE BOWL SINK

Creative design and superb craftsmanship are combined in the Shaws Classic Collection of fireclay ceramic sinks.  Produced in Darwen, Lancashire in the North of England, the sinks are of contemporary design and create a stylish collection.  The Classic Collection is a unique range of sinks manufactured to appeal to almost any style of kitchen, as the trend today is to mix both modern and traditional.  Every Shaws sink is individually handcrafted, making them ‘simply the best in the world’

With the total refurbishment of this country cottage kitchen it was a golden opportunity to bring back some of the original characteristics like the heavyweight, Classic Double Bowl sink with a central dividing wall.  The sink is available in both white and biscuit finishes and each bowl has central 3½” waste outlets for basket strainer or waste disposer plus round overflows.  With plenty of space in the new kitchen, the largest size of sink was installed under the window – the sink is available in two sizes, 800 and 1000.  It is recommended that bespoke cabinetry is installed professionally to take the weight of any Shaws sink.  

The Classic Double Bowl is the perfect choice for a busy kitchen or for those looking for a multi-purpose sink, especially in new build or refurbishment projects.  Shaws sinks have a long lasting, durable glaze which will last for years.  Visit www.shawsofdarwen.com to see the full range of sinks, complementary taps and accessories.

Note: Hand-made kitchen cabinets in our image are by Matt Dawes.  Readers can visit his website at www.shakertraditions.co.uk

 

 

NEWLY INSTALLED SHAWS SINK

We love to see images of our sinks installed in beautiful kitchens.

These pictures of a newly installed Shaws of Darwen Classic Double 1000 were sent in by Mr Caine from Skipton in North Yorkshire. The sink is complemented by a Ribble style Perrin & Rowe Nickel monobloc Mixer Tap and Rinser. As part of our photograph competition, Mr Caine will be sent a Steel Grid Accessory, which can be viewed on the Accessory page of our website, with sizes to fit most of our sink range.


If you’re as proud of your Shaws of Darwen sink as Mr Caine and you would like us to display a picture of your sink on our website, please visit our website to find out how to enter and we will send you either an Exclusive Shaws of Darwen Accessory Bundle or a Handcrafted Steel Sink Grid worth up to £160 if we use your photograph on the website.

ORIGINAL SHAWS OF DARWEN SINK MANUFACTURED IN 1903

This Shaws of Darwen sink was manufactured in 1903 and is situated in a private house in Ireland. The history of each of our sinks can easily be found by viewing the date stamp underneath, along with the name of the craftsman who made it.

If your Shaws sink is older than 1903 email us some pictures and we’ll send you a free Accessory Bundle.

THE SHAWS OF DARWEN BUTLER FAMILY

There are three sizes of handcrafted sinks in the Shaws of Darwen Classic Butler family, ranging from 600 to 1000mm. All Shaws sinks are designed, created and made in Britain and manufactured from the finest fireclay ceramic. They are designed to look and feel cool to the touch and beautiful to look at. The three heavyweight Butler sinks are of a deep Victorian style and feature a round overflow and central 3½” waste outlet suitable for basket strainer or waste disposer and are produced with a durable glaze designed for years of usage.

Shaws traditional style sinks, like the Butler, are always in vogue – they never go out of fashion and they complement all styles of kitchens, whatever the design and decor. Due to their weight it is recommended that bespoke cabinetry is in place prior to installation.

All of our sinks are available in white and biscuit colourways and are both acid and alkaline resistant. They are all hand finished and each sink is signed with the impression of its craftsman maker and delivered with a certificate of authenticity, verifying the products handmade quality.

Visit www.shawsofdarwen.com to see our full range of sinks, taps and accessories.

SHAWS CLASSIC CURVED DESIGN WATERSIDE

The British made Shaws Classic Collection is a range of sinks designed to appeal to more contemporary styles, yet true to the heritage of handcrafted fireclay. Sinks in the Classic Collection have stylish slimline side walls with no compromise to their construction quality.

Launched last year, this Classic Waterside kitchen sink is a huge, single 800mm bowl model with a stylish, yet practical curved bow-front which looks stunning in any style of kitchen and creates the perfect focal point for any elegant kitchen. The sink comes complete with central 3½” waste outlet for basket strainer or waste disposer plus the renowned Shaws logo at the back of the sink featured below the round overflow. The Waterside is an elegant alternative to the timeless classic Belfast sink.

The 800mm Classic Waterside won the Gold Award as ‘Best Product in Show’ at an industry show in New Orleans, showing that British manufacturing is the ‘best in the world’.

Waterside is a heavyweight fireclay sink – a weighty 45kg, with dimensions of 760x530x255mm and is 40mm deeper than the original 600mm original model. Due to the handcrafted nature of Shaws sinks and their weight, it is recommended that they are installed by specialist kitchen fitters to ensure they are properly supported.

All Shaws sinks are available in White and Biscuit finishes and the basket strainers come complete with ceramic indices with the Shaws logo to finish off the ‘look’. Visit www.shawsofdarwen.com to view the complete range of sinks, taps and accessories.

SHAWS APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME

Shaws of Darwen have been manufacturing fireclay sinks and terracotta architectural pieces for over 117 years, using time honoured traditional methods and materials. Each sink and terracotta piece crafted today is an individual product, bearing testament to the craftsmen who produce them.

Whilst modern technology has improved manufacturing models over the years, the principles of this hand-crafted product remains the same. Each sink is proudly stamped with the impression of its maker and bears its own distinctive badge. Traditional craftsmanship is as important now as it was in 1897.

Each year Shaws take on a number of young apprentices to join their graduation course to learn the time-honoured skills of hand-crafting their fireclay sinks for both the UK and export markets and commissioned terracotta pieces for buildings around the world.

David Dare, Managing Director of Shaws comments: “Our apprentices and trainees learn our skills slowly and it takes a very long time to become a fully capable finisher, sprayer or modeller. Our craftsmen work together to ensure precious skills are transferred to younger work members to carry on the tradition.”

“A typical 3-year apprenticeship is simply not long enough in a factory likes ours, which moves so slowly. In the past, all of the original craftsmen and apprentices who worked for Shaws were local people who lived within walking distance of the factory, which was built long before the road to it. This part of England – Darwen in Lancashire – is famous for its hard working, skilled artisans and their contribution to the industrial revolution. Skills were passed down through generations, just as they are today.”

Two of the new apprentices have parents who already work at the company and want to learn the trade and be part of Shaws who are one of the major employers in the area.

David Dare continued: “Adapting to the ever increasing styles of homes and styles over the centuries, we are very proud to have supplied the construction industry for well over a hundred years and today our commitment to providing the very best quality of product and services, remains as strong as ever.”

SHAWS OF DARWEN BOWLAND

Superb craftsmanship and inspired design are combined by Shaws of Darwen to create and produce our Original Collection of traditional and elegant fireclay ceramic sinks. Made in England, this Collection contains an array of original designs and details which are unique in fireclay ceramics.

Designed to look and feel cool to the touch and beautiful to look at, the Bowland 800 features a distinctive fluted front and is an ideal sink for spacious kitchens but if space is an issue, then the smaller Bowland 600 is for you. The traditionally styled ceramic Bowland is available in white and biscuit finishes, features include a 3-hole overflow and 3½” waste outlet suitable for basket strainer or waste disposer.

Having refined fireclay production over more than 114 years to an ‘art form’, each Shaws of Darwen sink is individually handcrafted, making them ‘simply the best in the world’. A true test of quality is to examine the finished product, admire the finish and feel the weight – no lightweight imitations from Shaws – just traditional quality with world-class manufacturing standards.

SHAWS QUALITY BRITISH PRODUCTS

Having refined fireclay production over more than 117 years to an ‘art form’, each Shaws sink is individually hand-made, making them ‘simply the best in the world’. A true test of quality is to examine the finished product, admire the finish and feel the weight – no lightweight imitations from Shaws – just traditional quality built with ‘world-class’ manufacturing standards.

The combination of handcrafted skills and modern production techniques enable Shaws to deliver a high end product at the right price. There are many Shaws sinks which have, and continue to be installed, into some of the finest houses in the land. No self-respecting stately home is without its Shaws sinks, upstairs and downstairs!

Edgworth: Place Names and Shaws of Darwen Sinks

Once again, we look at one of the area’s villages that gives its name to one of our Original Collection Heavy Duty Fireclay Sinks.

Edgworth
Edgworth is a small village near Darwen within the Blackburn borough of Lancashire and is an Anglo-Saxon word meaning ‘Village in the Hills’.

Edgworth’s most famous son was Sir Thomas Barlow who went on to become physician not only to Queen Victoria but also King Edward VII & King George 5th. The Barlow Memorial Institute was the family's gift to the people of Edgworth and continues to see increased usage.