Our mission is simple: to offer a complete restoration service for the faithful manufacture of ceramics for the heritage market, and to use those same skills in the production of bespoke ceramics for the commercial interiors market.
We celebrate craftsmanship, applying traditional skills in contemporary ways, to reinvent ceramics.
Since Craven Dunnill & Co’s formation in 1872, the company has continually invested in new approaches to production by embracing new technologies. This was fundamental in the decision to develop its own purpose-built factory at Jackfield in Ironbridge Gorge, Shropshire, UK. It is part of the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site at the heart of Britain’s Industrial Revolution.
Craven Dunnill & Co. Ltd was founded by Henry Powell Dunnill in 1872 in Jackfield, Shropshire. The purpose-built tile factory was at the forefront of technology, designed by Charles Lynam, an architect from Staffordshire who specialised in the design of industrial buildings. At the dawn of the industrial revolution the Ironbridge Gorge was the Silicon Valley of its day, offering a unique variety and abundance of raw materials essential to industrial innovation and invention.
Craven Dunnill became renowned throughout the Empire, for its ceramic floor and wall tiles, in particular its encaustic floor tiles and highly decorative wall tiles. In the 1950’s Craven Dunnill & Co. moved to its current headquarters based in Bridgnorth and the original Craven Dunnill factory was acquired by the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, becoming one of their main Museum sites, situated in the world heritage site of the Ironbridge Gorge.
Manufacturing returned to the original Craven Dunnill site in 2000 where today, the company is the leading manufacturer of traditionally-styled, decorative tiles for projects all over the World.
The Craven Dunnill Jackfield production facilities are located at two specialist sites. The main factory is located on the original site that Craven Dunnill founded in 1872, at the Jackfield Tile Works in Ironbridge, Shropshire. As the oldest surviving purpose built tile factory in the world, the Jackfield factory is part of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, a World Heritage Site at the heart of Britain’s Industrial Revolution. The second factory is situated in Burslem, Stoke, right at the heart of the North Staffordshire ‘Potteries’.
The combined facilities of the two sites support the Craven Dunnill Jackfield philosophy of flexible manufacturing, and enables us to produce faithful period restoration tiles and decorative contemporary ceramic solutions.
Image © Copyright of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust.
Don’t just take our word for it! See some feedback direct from our customers:
“To properly collaborate with a manufacturer like this – it’s gold dust. Craven Dunnill Jackfield is a rare species and we need to safeguard it – there aren’t any others like it!”
Frances Priest - Artist - Designer - Maker -
"On heritage and listed stations the close collaboration that is typical of Craven Dunnill Jackfield has brought remarkable results. Few other companies could match such service and quality, manufactured with such obvious passion. Their work has become a part of the Underground’s rich and iconic history in terms of both its past and future."
Mike Ashworth, London Underground Design & Heritage Manager (2003-2017)
"The team at Craven Dunnill Jackfield immediately understood the history and the importance of the commission – it was a unique collaboration."
Clare Woods, Olympic Park, Stratford public art commission
"In our opinion, the tiles in the dining room are the real showstopper. They started life as a simple 15cm inspiration image on a moodboard, and were reproduced and scaled up to the size they are now by Craven Dunnill Jackfield – the only UK company willing to have a go."
Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group, Barbecoa
Craven Dunnill Jackfield has been honoured with numerous awards in recent years for its unique prowess in traditional, hand-made tile production, and solutions-led delivery of complex tile projects.
Best Heritage Project Harrods Food Halls, London TTA Awards 2019 Learn More
Best Commercial Small Project Barbecoa Restaurant – Jamie Oliver TTA Awards 2018 Learn More
Best Renovation Project The Garrick Club
Excellence in Manufacturing TTA Awards 2017 Learn More
Wall & Floor Tiling, Special Commendation The Houses of Parliament Tylers & Bricklayers Triennial Awards, 2017 Learn More