To celebrate our 150th anniversary we've commissioned a bespoke commemorative umbrella from James Ince Umbrellas to raise funds for SPAB's charitable work.
The commission is particularly significant given the historic ties between the two organisations. James Ince was based at 37 Spital Square, London, from 1948 to 1985, the very building that today serves as SPAB's headquarters.
Founded by William Morris in 1877, SPAB has spent 150 years championing the careful repair and maintenance of historic buildings. The anniversary umbrella reflects the charity's longstanding belief in craftsmanship, sustainability and making things that last.
Richard Ince (pictured below), is the sixth generation of the Ince family to run the umbrella business, maintaining a tradition of specialist umbrella making that stretches back more than two centuries. James Ince previously produced a commemorative umbrella for SPAB's 125th anniversary and several SPAB members tell us their brollies are still in regular use.
Far from being a conventional commemorative product, the umbrella draws on specialist skills and materials from across Britain, Europe, America and Asia. It features a distinctive scorched maple wood handle, crafted in Germany from sustainable North American timber, and is fitted with an Italian-made silver sliding tip cup. The beechwood shaft is turned in Cheshire from sustainably sourced European timber before being stained and lacquered in Kent, and the metal steel springs of the shaft are made in Sheffield.
The umbrella's plastic-free framework incorporates non-ferrous metal trim finished in a gunmetal colour, while the canopy is made from high-density Japanese polyester fabric with an SPF 50 UV filter, offering protection from both rain and sun. The commemorative anniversary logo is printed in Essex.
One of its most distinctive details is the corozo button, produced by Courtney & Co, believed to be the last remaining button maker in the United Kingdom, based in Bourton-on-the-Water. The umbrella has been cut, sewn and assembled in James Ince's East London workshop, using German-made thread.
The result is a product whose journey spans multiple regions and specialist crafts, echoing SPAB's own support for traditional craft skills and local industry and carefully considered sourcing of materials.
Matthew Slocombe, CEO of SPAB commented on the collaboration, "This umbrella demonstrates that heritage craftsmanship remains alive and relevant. Every component has been carefully considered, from the responsibly sourced timber and traditional button-making to the London-based assembly. It reflects SPAB's philosophy that quality, repairability and longevity matter."
The project also reflects James Ince's commitment to responsible manufacturing. The company is a London Living Wage employer and is SEDEX registered, underlining its focus on fair employment and ethical supply-chain practices.
The limited-edition umbrellas will be sold for £150 each, with proceeds supporting SPAB's continued work to ensure old buildings are understood, cared for and appreciated today, and protected for the future.
As SPAB celebrates 150 years of protecting historic buildings, the commemorative umbrella stands as a fitting symbol of the charity's founding ideals. It is an object made to endure, crafted by specialist makers, and linked to a building that has connected both organisations across generations. For SPAB and James Ince alike, it demonstrates that heritage is not simply about preserving the past, but about sustaining the skills, materials and values that will carry it into the future.
Orders will be taken from December 2026.
Images © SPAB