PRODUCT DESCRIPTION :

Lovely example of a British made Belfast / Butler sink manufactured by Twyfords of Cheshire, England.
Salvaged from an early 1920's House in South East London this sink is heavy, solid and durable.
Handmade, stonefired, enamelled porcelain this is going to be a standout feature in any kitchen, scullery or desired location.
 
 
 
SIZE : 615mm x 465mm wide  x 260mm high
 
CONDITION : Very good, minor marks and chip consistent with age. Chip edging at side bottom edge, not seen when in place.
 
SOME INTERESTING INFO :
 
Thomas Twyford and his son Thomas William Twyford established what is now known as Twyford Bathrooms in 1849 in Bath Street, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent. The worldwide demands for new sanitaryware soon required the building of an all new factory in 1887 at Cliffe Vale, Stoke-on-Trent. This was the first purpose built bathrooms factory in the world.
In 1999, Twyford Bathrooms were made holders of the Royal Warrant of Appointment to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
 
Why is a Belfast sink called a Belfast sink?
Quite simply, as you may have guessed, the answer to this question is that Belfast sinks were originally designed in Belfast.
They gained prominence in the eighteenth century and were an adaptation of the butler’s sink, which, as the name suggests, was primarily used by butlers; they were tasked with cleaning larger items, and a deep sink was required to do so efficiently.
The key difference between Belfast butler sinks and others - commonly referred to as London sinks - was the introduction of an overflow weir (left-hand side of the above picture), which, it’s often said, was conceived said to prevent overspill, allowing water to drain away without the risk of flooding.
However, we believe that ‘overflow’ is a slight misnomer, as it’s quite clear that the relatively small opening wouldn’t efficiently drain water away in the event of somebody forgetting to turn the tap off. The main purpose of the overflow weir is actually to let air into the drain when the sink is full, preventing a vacuum-effect that can result in slow draining.
In days gone by, London sinks were shallower than Belfast sinks, the popular theory being that fresh water supplies were scarce in London, so excess water was actively discouraged, whereas Belfast had a more plentiful flow.
However, some believe the real reason for the differentiation in size can be attributed to the sinks having different roles; London-style sinks were used in the scullery (washing dishes), and Belfast sinks were used in the butler’s pantry (the equivalent of a modern day utility room, where larger items were washed).