Croft: Architectural Hardware and Specialist Brass Founding
“Established in 1868, Croft is a family-owned British manufacturer of luxury architectural hardware. Operating from their foundry in Willenhall - the historic heart of the UK's lock and key industry - they are one of the few remaining makers capable of managing the entire production cycle from sand-casting raw brass to the final hand-polishing and electroplating of bespoke ironmongery.”
1. The Heritage
Croft has been operated by the same family for five generations, maintaining a continuous manufacturing presence in the West Midlands for over 150 years.
While much of the region's industrial base moved toward assembly-only models, Croft retained its foundry roots, specialising in high-end, solid brass and bronze fittings.
This long-term commitment has made them a primary resource for heritage restorations and high-specification architectural projects globally.
2. The Location
The company is based in Willenhall, West Midlands, a region synonymous with UK metalworking since the Industrial Revolution. Their facility is a vertically integrated factory, housing a traditional sand-casting foundry alongside modern CNC machining workshops. By keeping all processes on a single site, they ensure full provenance and quality oversight for every component that leaves the workshop.
3. The Difference
Traditional Sand-Casting: They utilise the labour-intensive sand-casting method, where molten metal is poured into handcrafted moulds. This produces a density and "weight" in the finished product that cannot be matched by modern die-casting.
Extensive Finish Portfolio: Croft offer over 25 distinct finishes, including 'Living Finishes' that age naturally with use, and specialised electroplating such as Pearl Nickel and Real Gold.
Bespoke Design Capability: Their in-house pattern-making team can recreate historical hardware from original samples or produce entirely new designs for contemporary architectural requirements.
Material Integrity: All products are manufactured from solid, high-grade brass or bronze, ensuring that hardware is structurally capable of a lifetime of heavy-duty use in both residential and commercial settings.
4. The Hero Products
Decorative Door Furniture: A vast range of solid-cast knobs, levers, and escutcheons, available in various period styles from Victorian reeded designs to Art Deco-inspired geometrics.
Window & Cabinet Fittings: High-specification fasteners and handles designed for heritage sash windows and luxury cabinetry, all manufactured to match the primary door hardware finishes.
Heritage Accessories: A collection of traditional household items including solid brass letter plates, doorbell pushes, and functional candle snuffers and trimmers, all produced using the same foundry techniques as their architectural range.
5. The Essentials
Accreditations: Made in Britain member; Family-owned since 1868.
Product Index: Hinges, Door Knobs, Lever Handles, Pull Handles, Bolts, Latches, Escutcheons, Window Fasteners, Sash Lifts, Candle Snuffers, Cabinet Hardware, Finger Plates.
