Vehicles
Mike Rowland & Son Wheelwrights and Coachbuilders will work on any kind of horsedrawn vehicle, and it possesses a back catalogue that includes road coaches and state vehicles through to farm wagons and handcarts. It also produces modern working vehicles which have a modular system design that are produced to meet modern standards and modern road use, regardless of whether used for recycling or waste collection, people carrying, or general-purpose use. All modern vehicles are bespoke (see slideshow for examples).
Aside from carriages, the company also restores and produces new farm wagons – including its own half sized Devon farm wagons. As for trade vehicles, the company has also become famous for its heavy horse vehicles, which it produces on order and often demonstrate in the show rings. And finally, in 2017, it developed a new Coster Barrows cart to populate Covent Garden (see slideshow). The cart is a modern design that incorporates traditional characteristics such as carving in the wheels and traditional sign written boards.
The Marketplace
Greg acknowledges that craft and working within craft – particularly within heritage craft – is “very cool today.” But as he points out: “people forget the hard work and backstory.” Few people realize how long it takes to become a master at the trade or how long it takes before you are taken seriously.
And there are downturns in the market. By way of example, Greg points out that, in the 1980s, his father almost went broke. So much so that he had to sell the house and move into the upper floor of the shop, where Greg’s mother
still lives today.
For this reason, there are no guarantees of future success. Across time, many people have entered the field: and a fair number of those chose not to stick it out.
Recognition
What the future holds for Mike Rowland & Son Wheelwrights and Coachbuilders is hard to say. But the company has been recognized both formally and by word of mouth.
The company was awarded Royal Warrant, which is given to a person or business in recognition of their craftsmanship and/or expertise. It is an award given by the King or Queen that ceases to exist upon the death of the royal. The warrant granted to Mike Rowland & Son Wheelwrights and Coachbuilders was issued by Queen Elizabeth II. Greg offered up the fact that one of his proudest moments was when he was invited to the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Having worked to restore the wheels on the carriage that carried her body during the ceremony, it was quite an honor to be in attendance and see their contribution to the event pass before their eyes. They held the royal warrant to Queen Elizabeth II for 20 years
Right now, the company works on about 250 wheels per year. The carriage business extends to about 10 vehicles per year. Oftentimes, work “just shows up.” An example: after recently returning from an event, Greg found two pallets of wheels sitting outside the shop waiting to be restored. One can only assume that as more people learn of their reputation and skill, more and more work will come their way.
Mike Rowland & Son Wheelwrights and Coachbuilders: a perfect example of moving tradition forward in responsible ways – not “reinventing the wheel, but making it better.”
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