1838 Wallcoverings

1838 Wallcoverings is a luxury brand, manufacturing all wallpapers at our factory in Lancashire. The name evokes the deep roots of wallpaper innovation, for 1838 was the year the first wallpaper machine was pioneered, just a few miles away from the factory. A family owned business, 1838 Wallcoverings is led by brother and sister team James and Abigail Watson, whose family has over 4 generations of wallpaper printing experience.

Many 1838 wallpapers are printed on irreplaceable surface print machines that are over 100 years old. There are now only a handful of these machines left in the world and we’re lucky to have 4 at our Lancashire factory. The surface print technique creates a beautiful hand-painted effect and was pioneered in 1838, hence the brand name.

Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. As a responsible, caring, family-owned manufacturer, we are committed to constantly improving production and sourcing processes at our Lancashire factory. We use only water-based, non-toxic inks in the printing of our wallpapers, which are free from VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). Designs are printed on responsibly sourced, non woven bases and, when it comes to packaging, both our cardboard and shrink film are recyclable.

New, inspirational designs are launched each year; encompassing timeless classic patterns reimagined from archive prints, to contemporary digitally printed designs. Most recently we have had the honour of collaborating with the Victoria and Albert Museum in London to create collections inspired by their rich archive.