The Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Company: Local heroes
In the twenty years since Amanda Oldfield and her family established The Wrought Iron & Brass Bed Company, they have been unwavering in their focus on craftsmanship, sustainability and manufacturing in Britain. Now, they are sourcing wool for their mattresses from the Sandringham estate, where they live and work.
If making traditional beds in one of the most scenic parts of East Anglia seems like an exercise in nostalgia, the reality couldn’t be more different. For Amanda Oldfield, her husband, Stephen, and their two sons, Jack and Harry, it has been a journey that has involved innovating at every stage in the evolution of their much-loved, highly successful business: The Wrought Iron & Brass Bed Company.
At their workshop in the pretty hamlet of Wolferton, on the Sandringham estate, they make iconic British wrought-iron beds by hand and a range of mattresses that include both plant-based options and — now — others that are handmade from wool sourced from the organic pastures of the nearby Sandringham estate.
‘For many years, I have been puzzled by mattress manufacturers looking overseas to source their wool when this country has an abundance of fleece,’ says Mrs Oldfield.
The family uses traditional methods of manufacture and locally sourced materials from East Anglia and beyond to make their wrought-iron beds, which come with a lifetime guarantee.
Among many other things, they have demonstrated that it’s possible to create a thriving business based in the UK, making high quality beds and mattresses almost entirely from locally sourced materials. It’s an achievement that has been recognised with a Royal Warrant.
‘When we founded the Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Co, authenticity and transparency was central to our ethos,’ Mrs Oldfield says. ‘By sourcing locally, being close to our suppliers, using raw materials from within the British Isles, we can focus on quality and ensure the miles travelled are kept to a minimum.’
It’s a business that demonstrates the exciting possibilities of thinking big and staying small.
For further information, please telephone 01485 542516 or visit www.wroughtironandbrassbed.co.uk
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
-
All hail the egg! The most innovative eggs in London — and how to make some of them at home this EasterForget the chocolate eggs, Lotte Brundle traipses around London, at her stomach's expense, to bring you a cracking guide to the most interesting eggs in the capital.
-
James May on the M1: BMW's best-ever bad carIn this article from April 2004, then Country Life motoring columnist James May pays tribute to BMW's first mid-engine supercar from the 1970s.
-
Reader Event: An eye to the future at Daylesford Heritage HouseWhat changes to a house do most to enhance its aesthetics, function, comfort, sustainability and longevity? On March 24, leading experts in architecture, interior design, craft and restoration will share the secrets to maximising possibilities and protecting value at Daylesford’s magnificent Heritage House in Gloucestershire.
-
Reader Event: Super women at London Design WeekWhat can be learnt from the achievements of the world’s greatest female designers and antique dealers? Which has created the most valuable legacy? What are the secrets of their success? Come and find out at an inspiring event on the first day of London Design Week at 10.30am on Monday, March 9, at the London showroom of luxury lighting brand Hector Finch.
-
Reimagining the past at VaughanIn September 2025, leading designers shared their views on creating interiors with the capacity to last forever.
-
Tetrad: Over half a century of timeless good looksSince 1968, Tetrad has employed a combination of traditional skills and the finest materials to make upholstered furniture that is designed to offer years of comfort.
-
Reimagining the past: A panel discussion with VaughanAt Focus/25 later this month, Vaughan will host an inspiring talk at which leading names in antiques and interiors will explain why understanding the past is vital to designing for the future.
-
Star of the show: Rose of Jericho's paint created just for Country Life at RHS ChelseaOne of the highlights of Country Life's ‘outdoor drawing room’ at the 2025 RHS Chelsea Flower Show was a new paint colour created by Rose of Jericho,
-
Munder-Skiles and the art of exterior decorationThe success of this project — which was awarded four stars by judges at the Chelsea Flower Show — demonstrates Isabella Worsley’s versatility as a designer.
-
Sell your valuables with ease with The Antique Buying CollectiveThe Antique Buying Collective treats gold and silver as heirlooms, not scrap. From Victorian brooches to Georgian silverware, each piece is appraised for its history, craftsmanship .and charm, then thoughtfully rehomed through a trusted network. It’s a respectful approach, giving fine antiques the second life they so richly deserve
