About us

About Us

August 1978             

Our History

Robert J Hill

In 1976 my father Robert J Hill started the business of rush seating, he began by standing small, local craft fairs and working for the local antiques trade in the south Yorkshire area. As the business grew, my mother Dawn supported him and between them they started to take on Cane, bergére work and Danish cord. Eventually, they were restoring seats from all over the country.

Rachel Hill

Growing up it was inevitable that I was going to become part of the business. In 1991 I started a six-year apprenticeship alongside my parents learning all the skills. And yes, it took a full six years and many many chairs, to perfect the art of rush seating with some people telling me that I am the best in the country. After gaining my degree (BSc) and my parents going part time, due to ill health, I got married and with the arrival of my sons, I changed the name to R Mahon rush and cane seating.

Cutting Rushes with my brother John beside the River Soar in Kegworth - 1980

Rachel Mahon

Throughout the years I have continued to develop my skills in this trade. I have worked on many interesting and unusual chairs giving each one a new lease of life using the same traditional techniques handed down by my mother and father to re-weave a seat that could last another generation.

“Rachel’s work is beautiful. She has kindly re-rushed our dining chair seats and not only are they skilfully done, but they are stunningly multicoloured keeping us firmly in touch with their natural resource origins. They look amazing and each is a work of art and a thing of beauty. Cannot recommend highly enough.”
Share by: