2026 marks the 50th anniversary of Hambleside Danelaw. Here, we reflect on some of the roofing products specialist’s key milestones through five decades
Hambleside Danelaw was initially incorporated on the 30th March 1976. The business owned a patent for a combined fascia, soffit and guttering unit made from GRP which was manufactured by hand, using the traditional bucket and brush method.
In 1978, Hambleside Danelaw helped develop and started using an automated GRP manufacturing process through continuous profiling producing a range of pitched roof flashings and rooflights, a process still being used today.
In the 1980s, the company introduced roofing trims to its range, and Danelaw flashings were granted a multi-product BBA certificate in 1987.
In 1993, Hambleside Danelaw started training and approving contractors to use Dryseal: a component based pre-cured GRP membrane flat roofing system awarded BBA Agrément certification in 1995.
Four years later, the firm designed and patented the Dry Fix Valley Trough. 1998 saw the launch of the first advanced composite rooflight sheets with high strength to weight ratios and high tear resistance. The same year, a plain tile vent, the TV10/5, was brought to market. These products remain available today, with the valley trough the company’s top selling product.
The 2000s was another big decade, with the release of the best-selling ridge kit CON6+ Dry Fix Ventilated Ridge & Hip system, known for its self-sealing flexible gasket. Hambleside Danelaw also designed and started manufacturing preformed verge systems, dry fix bonding gutters, and Zenon Low Carbon Rooflights.
In 2006, the business won a Green Apple Award, and the Queen’s Innovation Award for the rooflight Insulator product. The 2010s saw the introduction of Hambleside Danelaw’s underlay range, interlocking dry fix verge systems and plain tile slip vents together with growing ranges of tile vents, individual soakers and additional GRP flashing options.
So far, the 2020s has been described as a ‘whirlwind’, starting off with a global pandemic where the impact is still being felt today.
Hambleside Danelaw, though, revealed that it remains committed to its mission of manufacturing innovative roofing ancillaries with three new patented products: InVerg Plain Tile Interlocking Dry Verge System, VentRidg Ridge System, and SwiftRidg Roll Top Ridge and Hip System.
Sustainability progress has been recognised with a platinum award from EcoVadis and five EPDs, with more said to be in the pipeline.
In 2024, Hambleside Danelaw sold a mammoth 2,562,469 products.
As one of the few remaining independent British manufacturers, the firm is now looking forward to the next 50 years!
