BHPS - Sash Window Renovation

27/04/2026

10/03/2026

It's always a pleasure Restoring Beautiful Timber Sash Windows. Very rarely do I get the opportunity to work on Sash Windows on former Local Authority Properties. But this week I have been blessed with such an opportunity. Totnes Devon.

28/01/2026

I work in town. Small shop, family run.
You can tell me it's quiet because of the rain but the weather has been bad for months. This is what we see daily.
Currently on my lunch break but I needn't have bothered really as we've not had a customer all day. Other shops are the same. We look in, give each other a nod, knowing we're all in the same boat. A boat that is sinking.
One by one, shops are becoming vacant. We're close to it.
Please consider spending more money in shops and less online. Its hard out here.

07/01/2026

......view from the ferry que

28/11/2025

• Focus On Great UK Companies - 52 – Cosy Throws, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire (Wales)

COSY THROWS are based in the historic market town of Abergavenny, in Monmouthshire, South Wales.

Established in 2020 by Harriet Thomas – who owns and runs the company – they create luxury chunky knit throws and accessories. All of these can be dyed any colour the customer requires.

She also runs workshops for customers.

(Here arm knitting techniques are used. This means that, instead of using traditional knitting needles, you use your own arms to knit large stitches. This method is particularly suited for creating chunky knit items like throws and scarves, allowing for quicker results and a unique, textured finish. It’s an accessible craft that’s easy for beginners to learn and can be a fun, hands-on way to create cozy, handmade items.)

Cozy Throws primarily use their own sheep’s wool (and are in the process of looking to increase the size of their flock). However, local farmers also donate their sheep and alpaca fleeces.

Harriet has won many awards, including Wales Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2023. Here, judges were wowed by her commitment to supporting Welsh business and agriculture and her engagement with customers.

To find out more, check out: https://www.cosythrows.com

• ALSO CHECK OUT the following:

• Focus On Great UK Companies - The Fantastic Forty-Eight (1)
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1151655323821696&set=a.241167498203821

• Focus On Great UK Companies - 49 – Black Sheep Coffee, London (England) https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1154270436893518&set=a.241167498203821

• Focus On Great UK Companies - 50 – Wuffable, Staffordshire (England)
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1157720526548509&set=pb.100069317165379.-2207520000

• Focus On Great UK Companies - 51 – BAMFO Bed & Mattress, Burntwood, Staffordshire (England)
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1160335732953655&set=a.241167498203821

06/10/2025

Focus On Great UK Companies - 42 – Dr. Martens, Wollaston, Northamptonshire (England)

DR. MARTENS & THE LEGACY OF WOLLASTON

IN THE quiet village of Wollaston, Northamptonshire, a modest factory has been crafting boots that walk the line between utility and rebellion.

Dr. Martens, born of post-war pragmatism and later adopted by generations of British subcultures, remains one of the country’s most iconic footwear brands. The “Made in England” collection, still produced at the original Cobbs Lane factory, is a testament to enduring craftsmanship and cultural resonance.

The story begins in 1901, when the Griggs family established a boot making business in Northamptonshire, a region long associated with British shoemaking.

AIR-CUSHIONED SOLE

By the late 1950s, the Griggs company licensed a German air-cushioned sole design from Dr. Klaus Märtens, a former army doctor. The result was the 1460 boot - named for its launch date, 1 April 1960 - a durable, eight-eyelet boot with yellow stitching and a distinctive heel loop. It was designed for workers but quickly found favour with those outside the mainstream.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Dr. Martens became synonymous with British youth culture. Skinheads, punks, goths, and indie kids all claimed the boot as their own, each group reshaping its meaning. In Brixton, Peckham, and across South London, the boots were worn with pride, often scuffed and customised, a visual shorthand for defiance and identity. They appeared in music videos, on protest marches, and in the everyday lives of those who refused to be categorised.

MADE IN ENGLAND

The Wollaston factory, where these boots were first made, remains central to the brand’s heritage. While much of Dr. Martens’ production has moved overseas, the “Made in England” line is still handcrafted in Wollaston using traditional techniques. Goodyear welting, premium leathers, and skilled cobbling ensure that each pair is built to last - and to be repaired, not discarded. In an age of fast fashion, this commitment to durability and local production stands out.

It is undeniably disappointing that not all Dr. Martens are made in the UK today. The shift to overseas manufacturing reflects broader pressures on British industry, and the loss of domestic jobs and skills is keenly felt. But the Wollaston-made line offers a meaningful alternative. By choosing these boots, consumers can exercise their spending power to support British craftsmanship, ethical production, and the legacy of a brand that still carries the imprint of its birthplace.

Explore the collection at: https://www.drmartens.com/uk/en_gb/unisex/made-in-england/c/04310000

• CHECK OUT Focus On Great UK Companies - The Terrific Twelve! (A) here: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1032782799042283&set=a.241167498203821

• CHECK OUT Focus On Great UK Companies - The Terrific Twelve! (B) here: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1067169048936991&set=a.241167498203821

• CHECK OUT Focus On Great UK Companies - The Terrific Twelve! (C) https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1109459864707909&set=a.241167498203821

01/08/2025

Mig-stops fitted for a client in Dartmouth..