In 2024, Hambleside Danelaw sold 2,562,469 products, the majority of which were manufactured at their purpose-built facility. These products stocked shelves at 1,893 suppliers, lit up warehouses and industrial spaces with natural daylight, and waterproofed flat roofs installed by one of 81 approved contractors. For half a century, Hambleside Danelaw have been raising the roof, and they are looking forward to the next fifty years.
2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the roofing products manufacturer, and this article breaks down some of the key achievements in that time…
1970s: Lava lamps, punk, and the start of Hambleside Danelaw
Hambleside Danelaw was initially incorporated on the 30th March 1976. It was a Tuesday, and ‘Save Your Kisses For Me’ by Brotherhood of Man was Number One in the charts after winning Eurovision. Hambleside Danelaw owned a patent for a combined fascia, soffit and guttering unit made from GRP which was manufactured by hand, using the traditional bucket and brush method.
In 1978, Hambleside helped develop and started using an automated GRP manufacturing process through continuous profiling producing a range of pitched roof flashings and rooflights, a process still being used today.
1980s: Hairspray, shoulder pads, and BBA certification
The company introduced roofing trims to their range, and Danelaw flashings were granted a multi-product BBA certificate in 1987.
1990s: The internet, Dolly the sheep, and the original Valley Trough
In 1993, Hambleside Danelaw started training and approving contractors to use Dryseal: a component based pre-cured GRP membrane flat roofing system awarded BBA Agrément certification in 1995. In 1997, the company designed and patented the Dry Fix Valley Trough. 1998 saw the launch of the first advanced composite rooflight sheets with high strength to weight ratios and high tear resistance. The same year, a unique plain tile vent, the TV10/5, was brought to market. All three products remain available today, with the valley trough the company’s top selling product.
2000s: National Treasure, The Sims, and Rooflights
Another big decade, with the release of the bestselling ridge kit CON6+ Dry Fix Ventilated Ridge & Hip system, known for its patented self-sealing flexible gasket. Hambleside Danelaw also designed and started manufacturing preformed verge systems, dry fix bonding gutters, and Zenon Low Carbon Rooflights.
In 2006, the company won a Green Apple Award, and the Queen’s Innovation Award for the unique rooflight Insulator product.
2010s: Boy Bands, Shutter Shades, and Tile Vents
The 2010s saw the introduction of the underlay range, interlocking dry fix verge systems and plain tile slip vents together with growing ranges of tile vents, individual soakers and additional GRP flashing options.
Right here, right now.
So far, the 2020s has been a whirlwind, starting off with a global pandemic where the impact is still being felt today.
Hambleside Danelaw, though, remains committed to their mission of manufacturing innovative roofing ancillaries with three new patented products: InVerg® Plain Tile Interlocking Dry Verge System, VentRidg® Ridge System, and SwiftRidg® Roll Top Ridge and Hip System.
They have continued to evidence their commitment to increasing sustainability, with a platinum award from EcoVadis, five EPDs (with more in the pipeline) and a robust research and development process.
The average service length at Hambleside Danelaw, across all employees, is just under nine years, with Managing Director Chris Avery dedicating 39 years to the company, Technical Manager John Godley and NSM for rooflights Amanda Davis 29 years, Richard Spreag 24 years. Internal Sales Team Manager Emma Stafford-Hart, 24 years, and so on. The company has celebrated weddings, birthdays and jubilees, and weathered industry changes, material shortages, and a factory fire before they moved all GRP production to Daventry.
It’s been an excellent opening chapter for the company, and as one of the few remaining independent British manufacturers, the future looks bright for Hambleside Danelaw.
Learn more about Hambleside Danelaw at hambleside-danelaw.co.uk or get in touch on 01327 701900.
