THE LEDGER: YOUR MASTER SOURCING LIST
For deep-dive journals and photographic studies of UK-made icons, visit The Edit. Here in The Ledger you’ll find our ever-expanding directory of UK makers with details on their origins, products and more.
These are short-form entries - distilled intelligence on heritage, provenance and why these brands deserve a place in your collection. As our field research continues, we’ll produce full photographic reviews in The Edit.
VOGUE (UK) – Willenhall, West Midlands
The Heritage: Established in 1990 in the heart of the West Midlands, Vogue (UK) is one of the few remaining specialists to design and manufacture towel warmers and designer radiators entirely within the UK. They maintain a large-scale production facility in Willenhall, where they combine modern CNC technology with traditional hand-finishing.
The Verdict: Vogue is the definitive choice for bespoke domestic brass and steel heating. Their sustainability credentials are built into their material choices; they offer ranges in high-grade DZR brass and stainless steel which are infinitely more durable and corrosion-resistant than the thin-walled mild steel used in generic imports. By offering a 15-year guarantee and a bespoke service that allows for the repair and replacement of specific joints or rails, they provide a lifetime heating solution that avoids the disposable cycle of the modern bathroom trade.
Core Products: Hand-crafted towel warmers and multi-rail designer radiators.
STELRAD – Mexborough, South Yorkshire
The Heritage: Founded in 1936, Stelrad has grown into the UK’s leading radiator manufacturer. While the industry has largely offshored, Stelrad maintains a massive 17-acre manufacturing and distribution hub in Mexborough, South Yorkshire, which remains the heart of their UK operations.
The Verdict: Stelrad is the industrial champion of domestic heating, recently pivoting toward Green Heating through the use of Clean Green Steel. Their 'Green Compact' range is manufactured from XCarb® recycled steel, which offers a significantly lower carbon footprint than standard virgin steel production. By manufacturing in Yorkshire, they ensure that the heavy steel units do not incur the vast environmental cost of transcontinental shipping. Furthermore, their radiators are engineered to comply with the latest BS-EN442 standards, ensuring maximum heat efficiency which reduces domestic energy consumption over the product's lifespan.
Core Products: High-efficiency panel radiators and the Green Compact range.
CASTRADS – Stockport, Greater Manchester
The Heritage: A family business founded in 2006, Castrads has successfully revived the art of the British cast iron radiator. They operate from a dedicated manufacturing hub in North Reddish, Stockport, where they design, cast and finish their units. They are, to our knowledge, the only UK business currently investing in new casting technology to advance the efficiency of cast iron heating.
The Verdict: An absolute benchmark for circular heating. Cast iron radiators are theoretically infinite-life products; they are 100% recyclable and possess high thermal mass, meaning they continue to radiate heat long after the boiler has switched off, making them ideal for modern low-temperature heat pump systems. Castrads is powered by 100% renewable electricity at their HQ, with 30% generated by on-site solar panels. Crucially, they have brought the manufacture of many internal components back to England’s industrial heartland, to ensure a transparent, low-mileage supply chain.
Core Products: Custom-built cast iron radiators (Emmeline and Mercury ranges).