2016 Archive

Hidebound is attending two Christmas markets this year, Manchester Christmas Market (we’ll be in Albert Square) from 10th November to 21st December http://www.manchester.gov.uk/christmasmarkets
We’re also attending Bury St Edmunds Christmas Fayre, (we’ll be on Angel Hill) from 24th – 27th November http://www.burystedmundschristmasfayre.co.uk/
Christmas Markets have a long history in Europe and particularly Germany. One of the first in the UK was Lincoln, still oper[..]

Would they like a traditional British leather drinking vessel?
Historically, most people would have used leather, pewter or wooden drinking vessels, only the very wealthy could have afforded glass. Possibly even only Royalty. Even then sometimes a household would possibly only have owned one very special glass which would have been passed around the worthy members of the household, as it was so precious, and breakable. Maybe seven years of bad luck came about because glass (and therefore mirr[..]

Have you ever wondered what a beer Stein is? It's an English description of a tankard from Germany.
In German "stein" means stone, but in English, a stein has come to be known as a drinking vessel designed to contain beer.
Historically a German stein would most typically have had a lid attached. Historically it was believed this was necessary to keep out the "bad air" that was thought to carry the plague in the 14th Century. They could be made of many things including glass, pewter or ston[..]

We often sell leather drinking vessels as unusual wedding presents. An engraved Tankard or Jack for the groom and best man, and as presents for the bridesmaids and groomsmen. Perhaps a Goblet, engraved with initials and the date of the wedding for the bride. It is becoming such an established thing that we are shortly hoping to attend a wedding market in Barnard Castle.[..]

It's lovely to be reminded from time to time, by happy customers, jut how unusual and original our Tankards and Jacks (and everything else) really are. Sometimes it happens face to face over our counter at a Music Festival, Medieval Reenactment or Christmas Market. Sometimes it happens by email or phone. Now by blog. This is a first for us and it's rather wonderful.
Andy C Watson, a recent happy customer has blogged about his Hidebound purchase http://noodleburger.com/2016/09/22/beer-leathe[..]

Over the 21 years the since Hidebound Ltd was formed we have not only enjoyed web site sales but also have a very healthy wholesale business and attend various Music Festivals, Historical re-enactments and Christmas Fairs throughout the year.
Balancing these various sides of our business is always an interesting challenge, never more so than in the run up to Christmas. Sorry, yes, I’ve mentioned the Christmas word in September, but when you make a truly hand-made product, time really [..]

We here at Hidebound are proud to have a glitzy side as well as a thriving retail and wholesale business. We have supplied numerous pieces of period leather work as props for several Film, Television and Theatre productions.
Our Tankards, Jacks, Bombards and other drinking vessels can be seen in Pirates of the Caribbean (the first three films), Robin Hood (2010) by Ridley Scott and Snow White and the Huntsman to name a few.
Television productions featuring our Tankards, Goblets, Jacks, [..]

Well hello there World.
Welcome to our lovely, shiny new website. It has been a long time in coming and we are exceedingly happy with it. The wonderful Discovery Design https://www.discoverydesign.co.uk/ really have done us proud.
I’ll be updating this blog regularly, but for the moment I just wanted to say hello.............................................
“Hello!”
And to say if you’re going to the Towersey Music Festival http://www.towerseyfestival.com/ [..]