Bowron historyIn 1879 two brothers, George and William Bowron, master tanners of Yorkshire, set sail for Christchurch in the new colony of New Zealand. They were to start a new life and realise a personal dream, to start a tannery of their own.
At that time the population of Christchurch was a modest 29,000 but already the surrounding province of Canterbury was considered to be the leading agricultural centre in New Zealand, renowned for the quality of its sheep flocks.
As Christchurch grew, the small tannery, started in 1881 by the Bowron brothers, flourished and a family tradition of excellence in lambskin tanning began. Their commitment to quality has continued and over 100 years later, the Bowron name is synonymous with the world's finest Sheepskin products.
See our extensive range of Bowron sheepskin rugs in our sheepskin rugs (lambskin rugs) on-line catalogue.
TodayToday, Bowron select lambs from the finest flocks from the vast sheep stations of Australia's outback and the high country runs and the lush green pastoral farms of New Zealand.
Bowron operates tanneries in New Zealand and Australia, which are conveniently placed in the midst of prime sheep farming areas, ensuring a plentiful source of high quality raw material.
To this day, every Bowron Sheepskin is the perfect result of the same methods pioneered in the 1880's by the Bowron brothers from Yorkshire. Their unique 42 step tanning method has been constantly refined over the past 100 years. The raw skins are still expertly trimmed, machined and hand washed before the tanning commences. The tanned fleece is dried, combed by machine then by hand and finally polished to enhance the natural lustre of the Sheepswool.
Only then is the Bowron symbol of excellence attached to the Sheepskin.
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