About

About eight years ago, Vanessa started up her business, Worthington Walker, which was making handmade leather goods. She combines her love of leather, and British made products, and uses only the best vegetable tanned leather with traditional craft skills.

Vanessa runs this alongside her equestrian business, which is breeding and producing dressage horses at the family home in Lincolnshire.

Vanessa's heritage is steeped in the leather industry, with the Walker family, having its own leather business for a century and a half starting in 1823. it was founded by William Walker in Bolton, Lancashire, and the company was called William Walker, & Sons Ltd. Overtime, it grew into one of the biggest Tanneries in the UK, producing many different types of leathers for many different uses:

It started with -

Strap and Harness Leather, and then Belting for Machinery which was used during the Industrial Revolution.

They then progressed onto Motor and Furniture Upholstery leathers.

During World 2 they were called upon by the Government to produce a leather that would withstand extremes of temperature - which they did. This was to be used for aeroplane engines, and fighting vehicles of all kinds, including tanks which were used in North Africa.

Another special war production was the jungle boot, made with Dri ped leather, which was supplied to forces in Burma. This served the soldiers well in the swamp and tropical temperatures. Dri Ped leather sprung to fame instantly, and a separate works had to be found for its manufacture.

They also produced fine leathers which were sold internationally and they also had a shop on Bond Street to sell them. The Tannery always strove to be at the forefront of technology, having its own laboratories at its Hartford Mill. It investigated into the chemical reactions on various tanning agents on hundreds of types of hides to improve their process and products.

We like to use vegetable tanned leather as it goes through an all natural method of tanning. Tanning being the process of turning animal hides into leather. It is a premium leather due to the artisanal nature of its production.

Vegetable tanned leather is known to be long lasting and softens with use, and develops a lovely patina over time.

Leather is an all natural product in itself. It is a by product mostly of the meat industry, and if not used the millions of cowhides would have to go into landfill, which would cause environmental problems. So actually leather production is helping the environment in that respect, and wonderful products come out of this process.

As a society, we should now be looking to buy less and buy quality.

These quality products will last an age, which is what you are getting if you buy one of our products.

Vegetable Tanned leather doesn't contain the chemicals that a lot of the Faux leathers do which people think are more environmentally friendly These are not going to buy degrade as well either.

The aim of the company is to provide beautiful long lasting products, which will stand the test of time.

We are using the best Vegetable tanned leathers, with top quality fittings, combined with Classic English Craftmanship.