"Get your tan from standing in the English rain" moaned John Lennon. After having survived a horrible season of snow and more snow I can attest that too much bad weather will bring you down! On my first trip to London, it seemed determined to rain every day. Instead of a useless souvenir of Big Ben, a trip to England might just be the time to pick up an umbrella to last a lifetime. Two of the premier British umbrella makers are Fox Umbrellas and James Smith & Sons. Thomas Fox opened the shop in 1868. Mr. Fox sold it 12 years later to Samuel Dixon. The original shop was located in Fore Street, which after WWII bombing became London Wall. It is currently located about an hour outside of London in Croydon Surrey.
While this is an eminently English firm, they began exporting their umbrella’s overseas during the 1930’s. World War II brought many new materials, most notably nylon. Fox umbrella’s was the first to introduce the new material for umbrellas, replacing the traditional silk. Umbrella’s range in cost at Fox anywhere from £56.00 to £1,202.00.
Fox Umbrellas Ltd 240a Wickham Road Shirley Croydon
Surrey
http://www.foxumbrellas.com/
James Smith and Sons was founded in 1830 and the original shop was located at Foubert Place in London. It’s current location, where they moved in 1857, in New Oxford Street is well worth the visit if you have the time. James Smith had eight sons and one daughter. He moved to Tasmania with two sons and left the other six to run the business. The shop on New Oxford Street is a wonderful example of an authentic Victorian Shop Front. It has remained largely unaltered for 14o years. Umbrellas range from £50 to £345. Of course, if you are feeling a bit mean (British for cheap), you can always nip out to Boots and pick up an umbrella for £8.00!
James Smith & Sons Ltd
Hazelwood House
53 New Oxford Street
London
http://www.james-smith.co.uk/
