COPE & TIMMINS – Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, England
The Heritage: The origins of Cope & Timmins stretch all the way back to 1760, when they first began trading as brass founders in Birmingham. After evolving through centuries of UK manufacturing, from producing brass railway curtain rods in the 1890s to blackout curtain tracks during the Second World War, the company was awarded a Royal Warrant by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II in 1956. Following an administration and restructuring in 2009, the brand was rescued and eventually relocated to Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire in 2015. Today, they have returned to their artisan roots with a dedicated in-house woodworking and finishing workshop.
The Verdict: Cope & Timmins is a prime example of a historic UK brand surviving by doubling down on niche craftsmanship. Today, they specialise entirely in handcrafted, made-to-order wooden curtain poles and related fittings. Rather than mass-producing generic, extendable metal tubes, each pole is turned, finished and cut to measure in their Yorkshire workshop using sustainably sourced timber. They offer an genuinely personal service, providing unfinished wood for custom interior projects alongside an extensive range of bespoke painted finishes and classic wood stains. It is true, architectural-grade window dressing made the traditional way.
Core Products: Made-to-measure solid wooden curtain poles (in 40mm and 50mm diameters), bespoke painted poles, natural oak poles, wooden draw rods and matching wooden curtain rings, brackets and holdbacks.
