We've been proudly handcrafting the world's finest sinks since 1897.
When Shaws of Darwen was founded at the end of the 19th century, we had a vision - to make the finest handcrafted fireclay sinks in the whole of England.
Our famous Butler and Belfast sinks have been in continuous production since the reign of Queen Victoria. We know of Shaws sinks that have been in daily use for more than 100 years, washing dishes and bathing babies.
It was Arthur Gerald Shaw who realised that the spoil from the local collieries contained the highest quality fireclay. With a Victorian’s instinct for thrift and opportunity, he established Shaws to transform this waste product into something valuable.
More dense than china clay, it must be fired for longer and at a higher temperature. If you get it right, the result is an immensely durable material with a deep, lustrous finish. Arthur successfully produced glazed tiles, and then progressed to sanitaryware. As a natural perfectionist, he even designed his own kilns to better control the process.
So he encouraged his craftsman to stamp their name on the base of every sink, as a guarantee of quality. Look under any Shaws sink and you will find the year of manufacturer and the name of its maker.
The methods and standards Arthur insisted upon are still employed today. We still believe they are the best way of making the finest fireclay sinks in the world.
Shaws has been producing fireclay sinks by hand in North West England since 1897. Every one of our beautiful and practical sinks has the name of the Master Craftsman who created it stamped on its base, a personal guarantee of quality.
FIND OUT MOREWe have been making traditional Butler and Belfast sinks for longer than anyone else, and our kitchen collections cover a wide range of styles. Whatever your choice, a Shaws sink is handcrafted for life.
FIND OUT MOREShaws enjoys an international reputation for quality, durability and integrity. At Shaws our promise to you is to provide the best sinks in the world, backed up with an exceptional level of customer service. That’s why all our products are not only of exceptional quality, but carry comprehensive warranties to give you total peace-of-mind.
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