Cavendish Pianos - a new era for British piano makers



“I’m sorry we do not have such a thing as an English Piano”.
These are the words Adam and Charlie Cox, a husband and wife team running Yorkshire Pianos, found themselves saying to many of their customers looking for a new piano.
“People grew up with British pianos at school and at home and we find that when people come to buy their own piano they are often looking for that mellow sound that they grew up with”, says Charlie.
When the Kemble factory closed in Milton Keynes a few years ago, it sounded the death knell for British pianos making. It was the last remaining factory and when the gates closed for the final time skilled workers, some of whom had been involved in the piano industry all their lives, found themselves with nowhere to turn.
“We felt we had no choice but to either lose British Piano manufacturing forever, or try to resurrect the art of making pianos in Britain” says Adam.

Having traded for 15 years in Leeds as Headingley Pianos, the team searched for new premises to not only act as showroom, but also as piano manufacturing base. They looked at shops, industrial units, church-halls… even a church! After well over a year’s searching they had almost given up looking.
“Then one day I was on a bike ride to Bolton Abbey” says Adam “I knew immediately it was the right place for us as I peered through a window and saw a large barn of a room. What an acoustic I thought!”
Of course when they took it on it is was more like barn than a piano showroom and workshop but with the use of a bank loan and the help of local Wharfedale firms they were able to transform it and it is now perfect for their needs.
“Lots of people ask if it was originally a church or chapel” says John Spencer, head technician, “reclaimed ecclesiastical panelling and doors were used in the conversion but it was built originally as a forge.” Situated just off the busy A59 at the foot of Beamsley Beacon with wonderful views in all directions it’s certainly an inspiring place to work.
The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire paid them a visit early on and were interested and then excited at the prospect of a piano shop and manufacturing base on their estate at Bolton Abbey.
“They have backed our project every step of the way so we felt ‘Cavendish’ was the perfect name for our pianos, being the Duke and Duchess’ family name. Without their kind patronage none of this would have been possible”, says Charlie.

There is no shortage of skilled workers in the piano industry and allied trades in this country. In fact, many components are still made here and exported all over the globe for piano making abroad.
“We felt it was crazy that British expertise was being used to make the highest quality components for the piano industry and yet no finished products were being made in this country” says Adam. For example, Hainsworth in Leeds produce cloth and felt used in the manufacture of many German pianos such as Steinway.

“Their quality is second to none and they’re on our doorstep while people are buying pianos manufactured in the Far East!”
As one of the oldest companies in the UK (established 1783) Hainsworth certainly know what they’re doing when it comes to textiles and their knowhow and heritage is legendary in the piano trade. It's no coincidence that one of the leading woollen mills should be in Leeds, famous throughout the world for its history of textile production. It was however coincidental that their wood source, British Hardwoods, should be based in the Yorkshire Dales.
Also their supplier of wood finishes is near the traditional cabinet making town of Thirsk. Silchrome Plating in Leeds, founded in 1949, work in everything from aerospace to classic cars. Cox says "We quickly started to realise we were not making ‘British pianos’ but ‘Yorkshire Pianos’.
“We were not using Yorkshire firms as a gimmick or because we liked the idea but simply because they are the best in their field.”
Surrounded by pianos in various states of construction, John Spencer, head technician at Yorkshire Pianos, sits down at a newly finished Cavendish piano. “Of course the sound is the important thing” says Spencer. “We are looking for that rounded, European tone that is part of British piano heritage.” Spencer plays a smooth sounding chord then moves over to a well known Far Eastern made piano and does the same. The difference is staggering!


The Cavendish team

The team with Jamie Cullum


Adam Cox
Managing Director

Charlotte & Adam are partners in the family firm which began in 1990 as Headingley Pianos and later moved out of Leeds to become Yorkshire Pianos. With over 20 years experience in the piano trade they have always wanted to build pianos and in many ways this is the realisation of a dream.


Chris Foxton
Head Cabinet Maker

Chris is a skilled cabinetmaker based in Otley, West Yorkshire. He has a lifetime's experience working in fine woods and veneers.


Adam Connolly
Workshop Manager

Adam Connolly joined us in 2010 and rose through the ranks from lowly apprentice to workshop manager. Adam overseas all building processes with his watchful eye..


Emmanuel Vass BMus(Hons), CT ABRSM, DipABRSM
Piano Consultant

Emmanuel is an up and coming young concert pianist named as Yamaha's artist of the month. He has helped develop the Cavendish piano sound and is well aware of the needs of performing artists.


Charlie Cox
Financial Director


David Wilson
Piano Designer

Originally educated as a design engineer with 15 years experience, David turned a life-long interest in furniture making into a new career in 2003 after training at Leeds College of Art and Design. Well grounded in traditional and modern furniture making materials and techniques, David's passion is for applying a clean-lined engineering approach to his designs while still creating superbly crafted furniture, always without compromise.
Dovetailors


Felix Dombay-Walker
Apprentice Piano Maker

Felix Dombay-Walker joined us in 2018 as an apprentice piano maker. He has quickly learned the trade and is responsible for a range of jobs from prepping keys and action to regulation work.


Ken Forrest

Ken Forrest, one-time president of the Piano Tuners Association, works with us fly-finishing pianos and preparing pianos prior to dispatch.



Cavendish Pianos is proud to be making in Britain


The Cavendish partners


The Piano College

Cavendish Pianos is partnering with The Piano School at Lincoln College. The Piano school is the last remaining place where piano technology is taught in Britain. We believe it is vitally important to keep piano making skills alive in the UK


British Hardwoods

British Hardwoods

The first oak log was converted at Lotherton Hall in the Vale of York in 1993. Using a mobile chainsaw mill purchased with the help of a £3000 loan, Joiner and Wood Machinist Tony Fillingham gradually built-up a stock of mature hardwoods from fallen and inaccessible logs. In 1994 the first kiln was commissioned drying 250 cu. ft. per month. This was closely followed by the installation of timber processing machinery.
British Hardwoods has moved premises three times since then and now operates from its own 14500 ft² purpose built factory on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales.
Brimming with state of the art machinery and quality kiln dried hardwoods, the unit also boasts superb offices, showrooms, a trade counter and shop. The entire building is heated with an eco-friendly system utilising waste shavings and all timber used, comes from sustainable resources. British Hardwoods also has excellent environmental credentials.
British Hardwoods

Renner Hammers

Louis Renner began on a very modest level with the production of piano mechanism in October of 1882. Renner today is the largest, independent purely action manufacturer for upright and grand pianos in the world. The company's success is due to their ability to produce custom made actions for the individual customer. Apart from Schimmel, Renner mechanisms are exclusively used by such reputable companies as Steinway & Sons in Hamburg, Fazioli/Italy, Bösendorfer/Austria, Grotrian-Steinweg, Bechstein Ibach, Feurich, Seiler, Sauter, Steingräber & Söhne, Pfeiffer, Leipziger Pianofortefabrik, Zimmermann, Steinberg, Blüthner, and Förster. In other words, all the German piano manufacturers. Moreover, Renner can count other reputable European piano manufacturers among their customers, such as Rameau, Generalmusic, Petrof, ERA Seidl, Calisia, Legnica, and in Asia such famous companies as Daewoo, Samick, Young Chang, Kawai as well as all well-known companies on the American market such as Baldwin, Charles Walter, and Mason & Hamlin.
Making use of the latest know-how in the application of computers and electronic controls, superior quality is produced, as the former premier of Baden-Württemberg, Dr. Lothar Späth, said: "Quality is honesty in action" or as a Swabian put it: "Quality, that's a matter of decency."
Renner piano hammers

Hainsworth Textiles

With over 30 years of proven experience Hainsworth partner the most prestigious names in the piano market including Steinway and Renner. Our pure new wool woven cloths provide excellent shape retention and durability. Our ISO9000 standing and strict quality control throughout the production process enables manufacture to the tightest tolerances.
The cloths are designed specifically to fulfil their unique part within the piano – from the smooth movement of the pin to the ultimate cushioning of the hammer. As the world leader Hainsworth can adapt our proven quality cloths to conform to customers own manufacturing specifications. Our constant aim is to give our customers consistency and stability of product to allow for the most effective smooth and quiet use of the cloth within the piano. Our fully equipped in-house conversion facility allows us complete flexibility in providing tailored products sizes to our customers' end uses– offering the full range of washer and strip sizes.
Hainsworth textiles

Pianostrings

Piano strings are hand spun by Barney Unwin and can be supplied for grand pianos of all sizes and for all upright pianos.
Fitting piano strings is a skilled job and should be carried out by an experienced piano tuner or piano technician. Each piano string, whether made individually or as part of a set of piano strings, is made to order so you can be sure that your piano strings will fit your piano perfectly.
Barney Unwin - piano string maker
Piano strings hand spun by Barney Unwin are competitively priced and are shipped worldwide including the UK, the USA and Europe.
Pianostrings

Barry Caradine

Polishers
Unrivalled expertise and vast experience combine to provide the most complete and versatile pianocraft service on offer. Barry and Roberta can restore the most worn-out and mistreated instruments to original condition. For a new lease of life for your instrument, contact Barry Caradine. You'll find it's music to your ears.
Barry started his piano restoration and refurbishing business after a career with Bösendorfer as a concert technichian in the UK. He qualified after training under Malcolm McKeand, at the London college of furniture. Carradine bought up equipment from the Kemble factory on its closure in the UK which is used to make parts for Cavendish pianos.
David Carradine logo

Dovetailors

Dovetailors cabinet makers produce made to measure furniture and kitchens-furniture designs that are literally tailor-made around you.
You give us an idea, and we make it by hand into something truly bespoke. And if you don’t have an idea of what you’re looking for, don’t worry, we can work it out together. We’re also quite handy at creating designs that you’ll love before we even lift a chisel.
What makes us unique is that we hand-make furniture you won’t see anywhere else, except maybe in your head. So for bespoke kitchens and fitted furniture that’s made to your measure, you’ve come to the right place. Everybody fits in around here.
Dovetailors cabinet makers

Silchrome Plating

Silchrome Plating Ltd is a privately owned company established in 1949 and offers a wide range of metal finishes to a variety of industries.
These include:- Aerospace, Defence Industries, General and Precision Engineers, Shop Fitters, Plumbers Merchants, Jewellers, Antique Dealers, Classic Car and Motor Cycle Restorers to name a few.
Over the years the Company has received many customer and industry approvals.
All processes are rigorously controlled to ensure all coatings and finishes confirm with the relevant British Standards, Defence Standards, American Military Standards or customer specific process specifications.
Silchrome Plating

Gabor Silent Pianos

The Gabor System is really a simple idea, which can allow you to practice on your acoustic piano at any time at all.
With a touch of a leaver you can stop the piano hammerheads short of hitting the strings, so you can practice on your piano without disturbing your neighbours or your dad who is watching football on the television in the same room as the piano. Just put the headphone on and play on your piano, and keep the music to yourself.
The Gabor System will take your acoustic musical instrument into another dimension of the electrical world. This simple marriage of acoustic with electric works very well, it allows you to play on your acoustic piano and can sound like a Cathedral Pipe Organ, a string quartet or anything you want it to sound like. The Gabor System enables you to connect direct into your computer and record your composition into your PC, and use it as a recording studio.
Gabor Silent Systems

Heckscher & Co.

Heckscher & Company was established in 1883 by Siegmund Heckscher who had recently arrived in London from Hamburg. The company moved to its existing Bayham Street premises shortly afterwards.
Siegmund was succeeded by his son Leo, who ran the company until his death in 1958. He had been assisted by his sons Derek and Roy, who continued until their retirement in 1984. Martin Heckscher, Roy's son, joined the company in 1971 and continues the family tradition as the current Managing Director.
Since 1883 it has been our aim to provide all our customers in the piano trade with the best possible service. That aim is as keen today as it was then.
Heckscher & Co.

Tenniswoods Removals

Tenniswoods Removals Service
The right move.....
All Types Of Removals. Specialist Ombudsman approved scheme guaranteeing quality service value & integrity by a vetted removals company. Call us & ask for more comprehensive information.
Our Experienced staff offer a high quality service including specialist for piano's, antiques, paintings etc including full packing if required.
*Local, National & International
*Full & Part Loads
*Complete Packing Service
*Packing Cases & Garment Cartons
*Expert Service Guaranteed.
Tenniswoods Removals

Essex Hinge Co

We have more than 70 years experience plus the design expertise and manufacturing capability to produce custom hinges for demanding applications.
The high cost of initial tooling has been the drawback to producing custom hinges by traditional methods. We have invested in state of the art manufacturing equipment which overcomes this problem. This means that high quality custom hinges can be produced quickly with minimum, and in some cases, no tooling costs.
Our highly skilled team with state of the art manufacturing methods, produce quality hinges you can rely on.
Essex Hinges

Smith and Allan

One of the UK's largest independent lubricant manufacturers. The production of Smith and Allan lubricants dates back to 1925, the intervening years have seen us forge strong and lasting relationships with the world's largest additive manufacturers and in particular with Shell Oils.
Smith and Allan logo

Anita Marquetry

Anita Lear Sancha MA RCA, Welsh Business Woman of the Year 1999, formed Anita Marquetry in 1991 having developed a passion for marquetry. The well established team of professional arts graduates in our design studio are highly qualified, competent, innovative and enthusiastic. They love their work and you will love working with them. From initial contact the team will work alongside the client giving advice on design, materials and techniques to ensure the accurate interpretation of the concept. The combination of skilled craftsmanship with modern technologies means that we can complete the most complex projects in weeks rather than months. Our clients return time and time again - a testament to our quality and service.
Anita Marquetry logo