Meet the makers at Vispring

In Walpole’s 'Meet the Makers' portfolio for the Book of British Luxury 2026/2027, we celebrate the people behind the design of the products and services that have become a global calling card for British luxury excellence. From historic hand-printed wallpaper to timeless trench coats, we speak with the highly skilled individuals who pour their passion into their respective crafts to create new British icons.

In this edition, we travel to Vispring’s workshop in Plymouth. Home to more than 150 skilled artisans, this is where the brand’s renowned mattresses are handcrafted using specialist techniques, including the pocket-spring technology pioneered by British engineer James Marshall in 1899.

At Vispring’s Plymouth workshop, more than 150 skilled artisans demonstrate the specialised skills that have earned the company a reputation as one of the finest bed manufacturers in the world. The key innovation that stands Vispring apart – the pocket-spring mattress – was first invented by a British engineer, James Marshall. In 1899, in an attempt to bring comfort to his wife while she was enduring a period of illness, he came up with the idea of using a layer of springs, each nestled within a natural cotton calico pocket, joined to the next in a honeycomb pattern. This meant that the individual springs could move independently, contouring to the body and offering a greater degree of responsiveness and support.

Two years later, the company was formed in London, and word – and demand – grew. Today, those same techniques have been honed and refined to create bespoke, handcrafted mattresses that stand the test of time and are found in the best establishments, including luxury hotels, yachts and even aircraft. (Vispring also provided the mattresses for the first-class cabins and suites on the RMS Titanic.)

For Andy Dent, a Team Leader in the cutting tool department (“where it all starts”), that reputation relies on a commitment to quality and never cutting corners. “You take anything; if you take a bit of pride in what you do, it goes a long way and the better the product becomes. It certainly helps Vispring to have experienced people, people who care.” The quality applies equally to the craftsmanship displayed, the workforce and the natural materials they use. British wool, silk, bamboo, horsetail, cotton and cashmere have been carefully selected for their softness, breathability and resilience, laid over the springs by hand to create a surface that is hypoallergenic and naturally insulating, helping to regulate body temperature for the perfect night’s sleep.

While the team specialise in a particular department, they are usually trained in two or three skills, allowing them to help in other areas when and where they are needed. “Every day, there’s something different, and you’ve just got to be flexible,” Dent explains. “You’d be surprised how you’ve got to move people around to make sure that the work flows through and there’s not a hiccup somewhere along the line.”

One of the techniques he singles out for special mention is that of the side stitcher, as ably demonstrated by his colleague Mark Clapton, who artfully wields a 14-inch needle, pointed at both ends. “It’s like an ordinary sewing needle that anybody uses to stitch with,” Clapton explains. “But we use a longer needle because we need to push the twine thread through the side, the border, through the insulator – which is lambs’ wool that we wrap around the spring unit – and then we have to take it through the springs, and then pull the needle back out.” This provides a permanent fixture, holding the springs in place and preventing the bed from sagging.

Having joined the company 26 years ago, initially working in dispatch (“loading the lorries”), Clapton heard about an opportunity in the side-stitching department and moved across, undertaking 12 months of training to learn the trade. He is now so proficient that he tours the UK and overseas, giving demonstrations of his craft to show why Vispring’s approach results in a superior product. “It’s a longer process, it’s more time consuming, more labour intensive.

It’s this pride in the quality and detail that Operations Director Thomas Stadden feels most proud about. “I think what stands Vispring apart for me is the craft production. It’s very much a skilled task, with hands-on tools. You’re relying on the people in the team and the capability of those people,” he says. “For me, it will always be the team. We ask for a really high standard from our craftspeople, and they work immensely hard to achieve that. I love manufacturing because I just love making things. And seeing it come together, how it starts off as nothing and then to see what they create as a team, it’s always really satisfying.”

Photography by Sam Walton