Original BTC: Vertical Manufacturing and British Lighting Design
“Founded in 1990 by Peter Bowles, Original BTC is a family-owned lighting manufacturer based in Witney. By acquiring and reviving historic British factories - including a Stoke-on-Trent pottery and a Birmingham metalworks - the company has secured a fully integrated UK supply chain. Every light is an exercise in domestic provenance, utilizing mouth-blown glass, hand-cast bone china and English-processed metals.”
1. The Heritage
Founder Peter Bowles was a pioneer in using fine bone china for contemporary lighting, drawing inspiration from his family’s background in retail and manufacturing.
Original BTC has grown from a single design - the Hector lamp - into an international group that includes the heritage marine brand Davey Lighting and the LED specialist Beadlight.
The company remains family-run, with Peter’s children now leading the operations from their Oxfordshire headquarters.
2. The Location
The heart of the company is in Witney, Oxfordshire, where final assembly and quality control take place however, their "Made in Britain" claim is backed by a network of six specialised UK factories, including a dedicated bone china pottery in Stoke-on-Trent, a glassworks (English Antique Glass) and a metal-working facility in Birmingham.
3. The Difference
Vertical Integration: Unlike brands that outsource components, Original BTC owns the factories that produce their shades and metalwork, ensuring total control over material quality.
Material Translucency: Their signature bone china is cast and fired in Stoke-on-Trent, a process that creates a unique, warm glow that synthetic materials cannot replicate.
Artisanal Glassblowing: By acquiring the UK's last flat glass manufacturer, they preserved the skill of mouth-blown glass for their pendant and well-glass ranges.
Design Longevity: Products are engineered for repairability, with spare parts and replacement cotton-braided cables available to ensure a lifetime of domestic use.
4. The Hero Products
The Hector Dome Table Lamp: The quintessential British desk lamp. It features a movable bone china shade and the brand's signature cotton-braided cable, providing a functional yet soft aesthetic for home offices.
The Titan Size 1 Pendant: An industrial-inspired aluminium pendant available in a vast array of vibrant and heritage colors. Originally used in factories, it is now a staple of contemporary UK kitchen design.
The Fin Pendant: A hand-cast bone china pendant with a distinctively pleated shade. When illuminated, the intricate texture of the china is revealed, creating a dramatic focal point for dining rooms.
5. The Essentials
Accreditations: Queen’s Award for Enterprise; Member of the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID).
Product Index: Pendant Lights, Wall Lights, Table Lamps, Floor Lamps, Bathroom Lighting (IP44), Outdoor Lighting, Chandeliers, Bone China Shades, Industrial Metal Pendants.
