At the heart of Long Eaton’s world-famous furniture industry sits Harrington Mill, an expansive, well-appointed 19th century building that evokes the town’s industrial history while serving as a world-class showroom complex for some of the trade’s biggest names …
Harrington Mill, built in 1885-87 on Leopold Street, Long Eaton, was originally part of one of England’s largest lace factories. Power was provided through shafting on each of the four floors, connected through 6ft pulley wheels and ropes to an adjacent engine house – and the pulleys are still in position, just one reminder of the building’s heritage.
Of course, times change, and Long Eaton’s lacemaking industry eventually made way for furniture and other trades. Yet the mill itself proved adaptable. In the early 90s, the overhead telephone wires, sheds and superfluous buildings were removed, and the yards resurfaced. The building’s refurbishment included the cleaning, sandblasting and repointing of the external brickwork and the replacement of damaged window frames, gutters and downspouts, returning the building to its former glory.
Today, Harrington Mill sits at the centre of the UK Centre of Quality Upholstery Manufacture, housing a plethora of leading furniture brands, all of which capitalise on the building’s blend of rustic and industrial charm. Against an evocative backdrop of bare brickwork, floor-to-ceiling windows, exposed beams and boundless natural light, these businesses display their latest models in situ, often in well-dressed room settings, providing professional buyers (and the occasional consumer) with a retail theatre experience that is hard to beat.
Many of the showrooms are accessible all year round, giving buyers access to an ever-evolving, aspirational display of trade furniture. Harrington Mill is also the central location for the biannual Long Point exhibition, which sees guest tenants join its permanent occupants to welcome trade buyers each May and September.
Harrington Mill’s tenants comprise some of the industry’s most creative furniture brands, including: fabric and leather upholstery designer and manufacturer Siren Furniture, boasting a freshly refurbished showroom; online bed and bedroom emporium Head2Bed; heritage British sofamaker Micheal Tyler Furniture, a newcomer to the building which also operates from a vibrant new showroom;
Carlton Furniture, a specialist in wooden living and dining furniture and upholstery, and its sister business, The Vintage Sofa Company, a market leader in patchwork furniture; German wardrobe and bedroom specialist Wiemann; and Master Sofa, another mill newcomer, and a leader in the motion/integrated tech sofa sector.
When it comes to the demands of day-to-day business, the mill’s tenants benefit from their close proximity to one another, helping each other out and sharing expertise when needed – while visitors to the complex benefit from easy access to a wealth of class-leading showrooms, just a few steps (or an elevator ride) apart.
This year’s Spring Long Point, organised by the Long Eaton Guild of Furniture Manufacturers, will take place from 11-13th May, with Harrington Mill’s reception area serving as a key fair hub and the ideal entry point to the town-wide open house event.
Outside of the official show days, many of the showrooms are open all year round, serving as permanent bases and offices for the brands present. Buyers looking to maximise their visit to the area should contact their supply partners for a private viewing.
With extra showroom potential now available thanks to an extension of the existing space, there has never been a better time to discover the benefits and accomplished occupants of Harrington Mill.
