The Watts & Co. Blog

Rejoice! Gaudete Sunday and Rose Vestments - Watts & Co.
Rejoice! Gaudete Sunday and Rose Vestments
Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent, stands out with its unique rose-colored vestments, a rare liturgical color used also on Laetare Sunday in Lent. This color shift from the... Read more...
A History of Watts Fabrics - 'Gothic' - Watts & Co.
A History of Watts Fabrics - 'Gothic'
In the first of their series on historic patterns, Watts & Co. explores the 'Gothic' silk damask, designed in the 1870s by G. F. Bodley. This fabric, a staple in... Read more...
“A Perpetual Song of Praise”: G. F. Bodley and Washington National Cathedral - Watts & Co.
“A Perpetual Song of Praise”: G. F. Bodley and Washington National Cathedral
The Washington National Cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture in the U.S., was originally designed by George Frederick Bodley, one of Watts & Co.'s founders. Bodley's design, deeply rooted in... Read more...
Religious Motifs in Watts & Co.’s Special Items - Watts & Co.
Religious Motifs in Watts & Co.’s Special Items
Watts & Co.’s vestment styles and fabrics are often named after saints, reflecting the company's historical and artistic heritage established by founders Bodley, Garner, and Scott Jr. These include the... Read more...
Behind the Scenes at Watts & Co: a Q&A with the sewing team - Watts & Co.
Behind the Scenes at Watts & Co: a Q&A with the sewing team
The Gothic silk damasks, particularly the one inspired by the rood screen in St Edmund's Southwold from 1480, is a favorite at Watts & Co., revered for its historical connection... Read more...
The Early Years of Watts & Co - Watts & Co.
The Early Years of Watts & Co
Initially focused on interior design for stately homes, Watts & Co. became known for its intricate wallpaper patterns and textiles influenced by late medieval and early Renaissance designs. Founders Bodley,... Read more...
Architectural Foundations: The Founding of Watts and Co. - Watts & Co.
Architectural Foundations: The Founding of Watts and Co.
In 1874, amidst the aesthetic shift brought by the Public Worship Regulation Act and the rise of the Aesthetic movement, architects George Frederick Bodley, George Gilbert Scott Jr., and Thomas... Read more...
The Watts Church Crawl (Part the 27th and Last) Westminster - Watts & Co.
The Watts Church Crawl (Part the 27th and Last) Westminster
Westminster station, opened in 1868 and rebuilt in 1999, is a striking example of London's Underground architecture. The deepest on the system at 34 meters, it contrasts heavily with its... Read more...
The Watts Church Crawl Part the 26th: Embankment - Watts & Co.
The Watts Church Crawl Part the 26th: Embankment
After a summer pause, the focus shifts to the final two stations, Embankment and Westminster. Embankment Station, intertwined with its neighbor Charing Cross, has evolved from four nearby stations. Its... Read more...
The Watts Church Crawl (Part the 25th) Temple - Watts & Co.
The Watts Church Crawl (Part the 25th) Temple
Temple station in London is named after the historical presence of the Knights Templar, with their conventual church, Temple Church, still standing as a place of worship and the religious... Read more...
The Watts Church Crawl (Part the 24th) Blackfriars - Watts & Co.
The Watts Church Crawl (Part the 24th) Blackfriars
Blackfriars station, re-opened in 2012 after renovations, leads to the tour's next stop, St Bride's Church in Fleet Street. This church, with its distinctive Wren spire, is dedicated to the... Read more...
The Watts Church Crawl (Part the 23rd) Mansion House - Watts & Co.
The Watts Church Crawl (Part the 23rd) Mansion House
Mansion House station, opened in 1871 as part of the Metropolitan District Railway (MDR), is unremarkable historically but notable for its entrance designed by Charles Holden, a prominent civic architect.... Read more...