Clatteringford and the Heritage of Irish Linen

Clatteringford is a newly founded e-commerce business based on a
traditional Irish product and launched by a member of one of Ireland’s
great industrial manufacturing families.

The Old Mill

The company takes its name
from Clattering Ford, a stream that rises amidst the drumlins
of Co Down and which once powered the world famous production
of Irish linen in the historic landmark Andrews Mill in Comber,
Co Down.

John Andrews established one of Europe’s finest linen producing
operations at Comber in 1863, and subsequent generations continued
the tradition until the mill closed in 1997.

However the stream which once powered the mighty spinning
mill and water-wheel and a stream of Irish linen exports overseas,
has endured and still flows through Comber on its way to the sea.
Johnny Andrews, the sixth generation descendent of the founder,
has given the stream, the linen trade and Comber new life by going
back to his roots and starting a new higher tech linen and natural
fibres business under the Clatteringford brand name.

The
new business is based upstream of the Mill, in the picturesque
setting of the stable block of the family farm on the Old
Ballygowan Road. Using the latest internet and production
based technology, Johnny has cleverly re-positioned the new
company from a manufacturing to a service based retailing
operation using an approach that he describes as “contact-based
marketing”.

” Basically we are using contacts in the
linen and natural fibres industries across the world that
the family business built up over 150 years of operations.
We source and sell the raw materials to people who make up
the garments and products for us and we purchase back the
finished products to retail.”

He went on to say that ” using our experience and reputation
for producing quality linen products, we have diversified
into using other natural fibres to build a comprehensive range
of products that have real potential within our traditional
markets and new export markets through retailing through the
internet. ”

Stylish garments
in natural fibres

It might appear to have been a quantum leap
to move from a production based linen-orientated Victorian business
to a high tech internet based e-commerce operation but Johnny stresses
that he has simply transposed the reputation, experience, contacts,
industry knowledge and values of his family business into a 21st
Century business with similar values of producing high quality products
and providing first class customer service.

The Clatteringford website, www.clatteringford.com,
contains a fascinating and classic collection of high quality natural
fibre products including linens, cashmere, alpaca and woollens.
All of these are sourced from top quality manufacturers throughout
the world and can be despatched anywhere in the world on receipt
of an email, telephone, fax or personal order.

The linen range includes crisp cool shirts and blouses; smart table,
bed, and bathroom linen; handkerchiefs and classic christening robes.
This is stylish but classic linen range is complemented by stylish
garments that are both smart and fantastically comfortable to wear,
such as those made out of soft cashmere and the silky, luxurious
alpaca. More rugged knitwear such as genuine Guernsey and Shetland
are also available.

The emphasis throughout the company’s brochure and web site is on
educating the consumer to the real advantages of natural fibre products.
As Johnny says ” There is a lot more interest now in natural fibres.
People like their high quality look and their exclusiveness. More
and more fashion designers are basing their ranges on linen, alpaca
and cashmere.
More and more consumers are beginning to appreciate the lovely natural
“feel” of all these fibres and once you have had linen you will
never go back to cotton never mind synthetics.”

” We realised Irish linen needed a more modern approach and that
is why we are giving it a more contemporary image. In addition,
by utilising manufacturers with up to date production techniques
we have been able to design and retail easy care linen products
that are more functional, accessible and affordable.
With linen shirts at �45, cahmere sweaters at �215 and a pure linen
duvet cover at �148, we consider that we can provide convenience
and value for money shopping for anyone with a taste for luxurious
products”.

The Irish table linen range includes a Titanic collection (reminding
us of the Andrews family’s link with that world famous ship). This
collection includes specially designed damask table linen table
cloths and napkins exclusively woven in Ireland to the same quality
and design as those used in the dining rooms of the ship. This surely
must be an interesting talking point for entertaining at home or
the ultimate gift for foreign visitors.

The table linen range is complemented by a range of crystal glasses,
cut in Northern Ireland, and designed to add style and elegance
to a Clatteringford table setting.

Johnny also is encouraging customers to spend more on their bed
linen – after all that is where we spend at least 30% of our life-
and claims that people deserve to experience the natural cool crisp
comfort of linen bed clothes at home and not just in luxury top
class hotels.

The 19th Century Gate Lodge

And for those visitors who
want to experience a little more of the Clattering Ford experience,
John Andrews & Co also offer holiday accommodation in either
a beautifully restored secluded gate lodge with views towards
Strangford Lough and sleeping for 4/5 or in a lovely period
farm house (sleeping 5/7) complete with aga and log fire in
a quiet setting on a working farm.

The two houses provide an excellent base for exploring the
Kingdom of Down and with a round trip on the Strangford Ferry
the visitor can visit such attractions as the historic Downpatrick,
Portaferry, Mount Stewart and Castleward. There are excellent
local restaurants including the Cooperage in Comber, Lisbarnett
Inn, Daft Eddy’s, Denvir’s, the Dufferin Arms, the Smugglers
Table and newly converted pub at Darragh Cross.

With the twin objectives of efficient farm
working and conservation, the farm manager has created an idyllic
setting for these countryside holidays where the visitor really
can relax in the tranquil calm of the beautiful County Down countryside
steeped in the history and tradition of flax and linen production.

Johnny is extremely proud to have revitalised the family business
and taken into a new era of e-commerce based on the twin family
values of good customer service and the production of a good quality
naturally based product. He enthusiastically claims “the business
has been handed down through the generations. I was born a ” linen
man” and I am proud to carry on the tradition of being a “good linen
man.”

To view the full range of Clatteringford products visit the company
web site www.clatteringford.com

Or visit the
Country Store at:

CLATTERINGFORD
THE STABLES,
51 OLD BALLYGOWAN ROAD,
COMBER,
NEWTOWNARDS,
CO.DOWN
N. IRELAND
BT23 5NP

Tel:	+44 (0)28 9187 4545
Fax:	+44 (0)28 9187 4307
Email:	[email protected]
Website:	www.clatteringford.com

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