Shaws
Shaws - Craftmanship at its finest
In 1897, Arthur Gerald Shaw became managing director of Shaws Glazed Brick Company Limited in Darwen, Lancashire. The company manufactured bricks, sinks, and other terracotta products from the rich clay deposits found at his father’s coal mine. Shaws was highly successful, and during the First World War, the company manufactured ceramic conductors and acid wear for the government.
Like many other long-established sink manufacturers, the secret to their success lies in the advances they made in technology. Arthur Shaw’s greatest advanced came in creating a system to make clayware using gas. The method was revolutionary, and in 1919, the Shaw Gas Kilns Company was founded, installing many gas-fired kilns around the world.
One unusual area in which Shaws have found fame is in the architectural industry. Shaws manufactured the sign which currently graces the Hackney Empire theatre, and have worked on the terracotta exteriors of many famous buildings including, The Coliseum Theatre in London, Harrods Department Store, and The Wrigley Building in Chicago.
Shaws master craftsmen follow a ten year graduation programme to ensure that the quality and standards of their products are always at the pinnacle of excellence. The company take great pride in their products and their staff, underneath each sink you can find the date of manufacture, and the name of the master craftsman who created it. The company are right to be proud of their heritage, as they say on their website ‘handmade in England for over 100 years’ is not a claim which can be made by most companies.
Sinks
The oldest known Shaws sink is located in the Pittock Mansion in Portland, Oregon. Manufactured in 1911, the sink still looks as good today as it did when it was first made. The company believe that there may be even older examples out there, and are currently offering a free accessory bundle to anyone who gets in touch with an older Shaws sink!
Shaws believe that form and functionality will long outlive fleeting trends in style and design. When you purchase a Shaws sink you are investing in quality and design that will last for decades to come. The company currently has four main sink collections.
Original
The original collection is designed to blend perfectly with the traditional kitchen. Manufactured from robust, heavy duty fireclay, the sinks bear the names of the surrounding towns and villages which are also home to the companies staff.
The sinks come in a variety of designs and sizes, and with single or double bowls. The Ribchester is a double-bowled sink which is available in either 800 or 1000 mm widths. The larger sink is perfect for use in a bustling family household, and the double bowl makes it a fabulous sink for multi-purpose use.
Also in this original collection is the Pennine Sink which is based on the Belfast design. It has a built in weir and a unique overflow adapter outlet which is suitable for a waste disposal unit.
Classic
The classic collection has been designed with the contemporary kitchen in mind. As you would expect, Shaws quality and attention to detail shines through in every piece. The sinks from this collection are more slim-line than those in the original collection, however, they are still manufactured to Shaws exacting standards.
Once again the range contains sinks in a variety of widths, the Shaker design being available in 800, 900 and 1000 mm.
The flagship piece of the collection is the Waterside 800. The company are so proud of the innovative design, they have named the sink after the village from which the fireclay first came, when production started back in 1897. At the 2013 international Kitchen and Bathroom Industry Show in New Orleans, the bow-fronted sink won the gold award as the best product in show. It truly is an outstanding piece of British design.
Insets and Undermounts
In recent years, the inset or undermounted sink has grown in popularity, and realising that people who want this contemporary design did not want to compromise on quality, Shaws created this stunning range.
The variety of shapes on offer are versatile enough to suit any kitchen, the Classic Brindle design is perfect for vegetable preparation, offering a full size single bowl and a smaller half bowl.
The Classic Round sink measures 460mm in diameter and in a stunning and unusual feature to add to your kitchen.
Commercial Collection
Shaws’ Commercial Collection is ideally suited to schools, hotels and laboratories. The range includes Cleaners Sinks, with high backs to prevent splash back and Shelf Sinks with preformed tap holes and soap recesses.
Taps
To complement their phenomenally successful sink collections, Shaws have had their own exclusive range of taps designed for them by Perrin & Rowe. Established in 1978, Perrin & Rowe are widely acknowledged as the Rolls Royce of kitchen tap manufacturers. By purchasing a Shaws by Perrin & Rowe tap you can be certain that you are investing in quality and design of the highest stature.
The taps are handcrafted from the finest materials and use ceramic disc valves, which should withstand 25 years of use in a domestic kitchen. The taps come in a variety of designs and you are sure to be able to find one which will suit your kitchen perfectly.
Deck Mounted Bridge Mixers
The company make two deck mounted bridge mixers, the Pendleton with a sweeping curved spout, and the Hambleton with a classic Victorian design. Both come with porcelain levers and Shaws ceramic hot and cold indices.
Monobloc Sink Mixers
Shaws monobloc sink mixers are available in four different designs, which include both lever and crosshead operation. All feature classic curved spouts, although lengths vary according to style.
Bibcock Taps
Traditional individual deck mounted bibcock taps are also available in the Calder design. Like Shaws other designs these feature the trademark Shaws ceramic hot and cold indices.
Whichever of Shaws products you decide to purchase you can be certain that you are buying a high quality product backed by over a century of craftsmanship.