HAWS - Smethwick, West Midlands

The Heritage: In 1886, while growing vanilla during his British Colonial Service in Mauritius, John Haws found traditional watering cans to be cumbersome and poorly balanced. Upon returning to London, he patented a completely new, perfectly weighted design. Today, over 140 years later, Haws is the oldest watering can manufacturer in the world. Having survived two World Wars and the 1970s manufacturing recession, the company remains firmly rooted in UK engineering, operating out of a workshop in Smethwick in the West Midlands, England.

The Verdict: A Haws watering can is often described as the Rolls-Royce of gardening tools and they are the ultimate antidote to cheap, split-prone plastic garden-centre cans from the Far East. The sheer brilliance of John Haws’ original design lies in its balance: whether the can is completely full or nearly empty, it remains perfectly weighted in the hand, eliminating wrist strain. Every premium metal watering can undergoes a rigorous manufacturing process. They are hand-soldered, pressure-tested for leaks and finished with their signature brass "rose". This rose delivers a remarkably gentle, rain-like spray that prevents delicate seedlings from being washed away. Crafted from solid copper or heavy-gauge galvanized steel and other quality materials, a Haws can is a true heirloom tool designed to outlive the gardener who buys it.

Core Products: The traditional solid copper indoor watering cans (which develop a beautiful natural patina over time), the heavy-duty galvanized steel outdoor cans and their signature fine brass watering roses.

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