When you think of a mattress what do you think of?
Well, for me, I have to admit I hadn’t really thought about mattresses full stop, never mind taking the time to really think hard about them.
Recently I took a jaunt up the A1 to Yorkshire, or as my Yorkshire husband would say ‘Gods County’, all in the name of mattresses.
I was invited by the luxury bed makers, Harrison Spinks, to come and see its field-to-factory business and it had me intrigued. After all, it’s not every day you are invited to a farm to see where the insides of a mattress are made.
Harrison Spinks started life many moons ago back in 1840 and has been continually growing and developing its products over the years. With help of its 300-acre farm in North Yorkshire, it has nurtured and cared for its flock of sheep that produces the quality and pure grade wool that is used inside the mattresses. This wool is used alongside hemp and flax fibres, also grown on Harrison Spinks’ farm, and mohair from Harrison Spinks’ newest additions – a flock of Angora goats.
Arriving on the farm in torrential rain wasn’t really on the must haves list for the day but it did mean that I got to see some of Harrison Spinks’ newest lambs up close and personal in the barn instead of them being spread around the farm.
I was also immensely lucky to get to meet the Angora goats too.
Although I had presumed meeting the sheep and lambs would be the most exciting part of the farm, it wasn’t. Finding out about the other mattress fillings, hemp and flax, beat that hands down.
On the farm Harrison Spinks grows its own hemp and flax, both of which once grown produce strong natural mattress fillings that are extremely resilient and highly absorbent.
Not only is the main hemp fibre processed for use as a durable, supportive mattress filling, but the by-product (hemp shiv) is used for animal bedding.
Once harvested, all these materials travel less than 20 miles to the company’s factory in Leeds, where they are processed and blended into natural filling pads that are used inside Harrison Spinks’ luxury mattresses – this was my next stop on the tour.
Arriving at the Leeds-based factory one thing was clear, Harrison Spinks is massive! From the quiet tranquil farm, the next processes were certainly busy ones with many of the factories on the industrial site belonging to Harrison Spinks.
After a quick look round the on-site showroom I headed off to visit the fillings factory, where Harrison Spinks turns natural fibres into luxury natural mattress pads and it was an awe-inspiring sight. Many of the machines in the factories are specially designed and built in-house and so it’s easy to understand just how personally this company takes making its mattresses.
Every aspect of the mattresses seem to be loved – from the fields to the factory there is an element of love and pride stitched into each one.
The next stage of the development is the revolutionary spring factory.
The special springs made at Harrison Spinks are a magical component in themselves. These award-winning springs make Harrison Spinks the most vertically integrated bed makers in the world. The patented pocket springs, which are the smallest in the word, are made from thinner wire than commercially available thanks to the company’s on site wire-drawing machinery.
Since Harrison Spinks’ wire can be made thinner the team is able to make smaller pocket springs that not only supply its ranges of luxury mattresses but can also be found in sofas, cot mattresses and even automotive components… oh and trainers!
For me seeing how innovative Harrison Spinks is was amazing – it’s such a diverse and unique company it’s hard to think of how you would even think of half the things it does!
After the springs factory I got to see exactly how these super natural fillings and the unique springs all get put into the luxury mattresses and beds, with nearly all of processes from here on in being done by hand, from the sewing the mattress labels to the hand-stitched sides.
There was something quite relaxing knowing that there is such a massive amount of the creation all done by hand.
On the way home I honestly felt so overwhelmed and honoured to have been able to see just what goes into Harrison Spinks’ products.
I don’t think I will ever take something I spend 2500+ hours a year on for granted again.
It certainly answered a few of my own unanswered questions about why my own sleep is so bad and why it’s so very important to ensure you buy and use the correct mattress for you.
For me I loved the Harrison Spinks mattresses for their adaptability and the fact that they are packed with natural fillings used specifically for their antibacterial and heat regulating properties, all while adding a super luxurious feel.
Thank you Harrison Spinks for allowing me to learn about what makes a luxury mattress and bed and for taking the time to help me understand sleep that little bit more.
For any questions on the company’s mattresses or on sleep, why not head over to the Harrison Spinks Twitter or Facebook pages and ask.
Disclaimer: I visited the Harrison Spinks farm and factory for no compensation. All thoughts and opinions were independently formed by me.
What a fascinating post! Who knew so much love and labour went into making a mattress. I am really impressed.
Wow, I’ve never thought how much work goes into making a mattress. What an interesting process!
How fab getting to see a mattress in the making, what an interesting day out! x
What a fascinating place to visit. I would love to see how mattresses are made and how cute to meet the sheep too