Haws Watering Cans

Handcrafted Classic Metal Watering Cans.

The Haws name comes from their founder John Haws. Who was the inventor of the watering can design that they still produce. Which is virtually unchanged to this day. Originally from Clapton in London, John was by his own account quite an unsuccessful gardener. But in 1884, while struggling to grow vanilla during his British colonial service in Mauritius. He set about designing his own metal watering can to improve his gardening fortunes.

In 1886 he secured the patent. Established the Haws company and described his unique design as follows: “This new invention forms a watering pot that is much easier to carry and tip, and at the same time being much cleaner, and more adapted for use than any other put before the public.” John’s skills as an inventor swiftly eclipsed his efforts as a horticulturalist. His metal watering cans soon became popular with leading gardeners. Winning awards and establishing the company’s reputation for high quality. But before he could receive the coveted Royal Horticultural Society medal and be invited to the first ever Chelsea Flower Show in 1913, John Haws passed away.

Stepping in to continue his uncle’s work, Arthur Haws moved the factory from Clapton to Bishops Stortford, where he employed around 40 craftsmen. A stickler for quality. Arthur was obsessed with perfecting the watering can roses, and employed a worker for the sole task of painstakingly punching every hole into each rose. Spaced and tapered to absolute perfection. This attention to detail helped fight off competition from cheap imported replicas. Which helped maintain Haws watering Cans reputation at the pinnacle of the world of watering cans

Then World War 2 intervened. And the pressures of the war years left the company depleted of both labour and materials. Arthur Haws passed away and the famous watering can company fell silent until 1950. Until Taylor Law Co Ltd bought Haws. Yet despite working hard to maintain our fine quality, they lacked the expertise to reignite the Haws brand during the late 1970s recession. The company went under and the Haws workshop went silent once again.

The modern incarnation of Haws really began in 1982. When the company was bought by Eclipse Sprayers. Run by father and son team, John & David Pennock. Along with John Massey, Steve Riley and Graham Blocksidge, they began the long and ultimately successful journey towards re-establishing the high quality build of Haws watering cans, and rekindling our peerless reputation. Now due to their heritage, Haws Watering cans are an absolute classic British design.