Our Story | Vintage Electrical, Norfolk

From Forgotten Factory Lights to Timeless Design: The Story of Vintage Electrical

There is something special about an object with a past. The marks left by time, the quality of its materials and the thought that went into making it give it a character that cannot simply be reproduced.

That belief has always been at the heart of Vintage Electrical.

Founded in Norfolk in 2015 by Steve Pattrick, a fully qualified electrician with more than 20 years of experience, Vintage Electrical began with a simple ambition: to preserve the honest design and lasting quality of traditional industrial lighting while making it practical for modern interiors.

Where it all began

The story started with original Coolicon and RLM-style enamel shades recovered from warehouses, factories and commercial buildings. Once used to illuminate working spaces across Britain, many of these lights had been removed during refurbishments and were at risk of being forgotten.

Steve saw more than old lighting. He saw strong proportions, functional design and genuine history.

Each shade was carefully inspected and restored, preserving as much of its original character as possible while preparing it for a new life. Those early pieces helped inspire what would become the Cawston and Filby collections, designs rooted in traditional factory lighting but made for contemporary homes, shops, bars, restaurants and commercial spaces.

Designed with experience

Vintage Electrical has never been about style alone. Steve’s background as an electrician has shaped the business from the beginning, bringing practical knowledge to every product.

Good lighting needs to do more than look right. It should be well constructed, properly considered and suitable for the space in which it will be used. That combination of design and technical understanding remains central to the way our collections are developed today.

As demand grew, we began creating new styles, sizes and finishes inspired by the original industrial pieces we admired. This allowed us to retain the substance and character of vintage lighting while offering dependable products suited to modern installations.

Growing beyond lighting

What started with restored factory shades gradually developed into a much wider collection of lighting, furniture, switches, sockets and distinctive interior pieces.

Our range now includes statement pendant lights, solid brass wall lights, industrial bulkheads, handcrafted lampshades, traditional electrical accessories and unusual pieces for homes and hospitality interiors.

Although the collection has grown, the principles behind it remain the same: honest materials, practical function and designs with lasting appeal.

We do not believe a room should feel mass-produced. The most memorable interiors are built from objects that add warmth, texture and personality and that become better with age.

From Norfolk to interiors around the world

From our base in Norfolk, Vintage Electrical now supplies customers throughout the UK and internationally.

Our products have been chosen for private homes, restaurants, bars, retail spaces and larger design projects, with pieces also supplied to names including Ralph Lauren and Warner Bros.

Seeing our lighting used in such a wide variety of settings is one of the most rewarding parts of the journey. A design inspired by a light once found in an old British warehouse might now hang above a kitchen island, illuminate a boutique hotel or help create the atmosphere of a film set.

Every setting is different, but the reason for choosing it is often the same: character matters.

Proudly independent

Vintage Electrical remains an independent British business with a hands-on approach. We care about the details, from the weight and finish of a fitting to the way it arrives with its new owner.

Our Norfolk location is an important part of who we are. It gives us the space to develop our collections, prepare orders and stay close to the practical side of the business. It also keeps us connected to the workshop led approach on which Vintage Electrical was built.

We are proud of how far the company has come, but growth has never meant losing sight of the original idea: find or create objects with integrity and help them become part of someone else’s story.

The next chapter

Today, Vintage Electrical continues to develop new lighting and interior collections while remaining inspired by the industrial designs that started it all.

We will continue exploring traditional materials, authentic finishes and enduring forms creating pieces that feel established from the moment they are installed and still look right many years from now.

Thank you to every customer, designer, electrician and business that has chosen Vintage Electrical since 2015. Whether you purchased one of our earliest restored shades or have only just discovered us, you are part of the story.

Explore our latest collections and find a piece with a story of its own.