Darwen Terracotta and Faience Products and Solutions
When one of the UK’s oldest and most highly respected terracotta companies, Shaws of Darwen, closed its architectural division to concentrate on their fireclay sink business, the opportunity arose for former employees to set up a new business and re-employ the very skilled craftspeople.
Generations of dedicated artisans have passed on their knowledge and experience which enables us to continue providing the best quality and service to our customers. The manufacturing process has changed little over time, though we combine our skills and experience with the latest modeling, casting, drying, and kiln firing technology.
Darwen’s technical ability in the matching of detail, the blending of clays, and the molding of clay bodies are well known within the industry. We understand how fired clay improves with age, and weather to produce subtle nuances of shade and color.
Many restoration projects start with broken, eroded, or missing terracotta pieces, which require meticulous surveys of the color, finish, and detail of the original building. We pride ourselves on then recreating the construction methods often used centuries ago to match the clay pieces.
The bespoke nature of our products means that selection of shape, color, and finish is not restricted to a standard range. With proven durability, terracotta is resistant to the effects of weathering and atmospheric attack, and the ease by which it can be shaped makes terracotta one of the most versatile building materials available.
The diverse use of terracotta in our prime markets of the UK and USA is testimony to this versatility and is just as valid for today’s modern designs as it was for the classical buildings built 100 years ago.
Architectural Terracotta is a fired clay product from a prepared blend of clay. The clay body is slip-cast or hand-pressed into molds forming hollow blocks ranging from simple ashlar to highly decorative units.
It is load-bearing, durable, and fire-resistant. The through-body terracotta colors are typically earthy such as red, buff, tawny, and grey.
The application of a glaze to a terracotta block forms a hardwearing, color-fast surface of either gloss, eggshell, or matt finish. This product is known as Architectural Faience.
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