1838 Wallcoverings: The Heritage of Innovation

1838 Wallcoverings is a luxury British brand that takes its name from the year the first wallpaper printing machine was pioneered in Darwen, Lancashire. Today, the company remains a family-owned business led by siblings James and Abigail Watson, whose family heritage spans over four generations of wallpaper expertise. Their mission is to preserve rare, traditional printing methods while embracing the possibilities of modern digital art. The result is a collection that feels "painterly" and artisanal, often featuring textures and color depths that mass-market brands cannot achieve.

The heart of the 1838 factory is its heritage surface print machines, some of which are over 100 years old. These rare machines use a "wet-on-wet" technique, applying a generous amount of ink to the paper to create a raised, hand-painted effect. This commitment to craftsmanship has led to prestigious collaborations, most notably with the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), where 1838 reimagines archival 19th-century designs for the modern home.