Inside Brooks: the saddle-making institution

We headed to the Midlands to uncover a secret or two about the saddle-making institution

Style never goes out of fashion, it’s said. Almost a century and half since its founder made his first leather bicycle saddle, Brooks England is living, working proof of this maxim.

John Boultbee Brooks was the son of a Victorian leatherworker who sold horse tack. When his own horse died, so the legend goes, Brooks started commuting to the workshop in central Birmingham on a velocipede, the latest craze in 1866.

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1