Northern Briars Handmade Briar Pipes

Founded in 1958 by George Walker, Northern Briars began as one of the foremost pipe repair shops in the UK. Ian Walker, George's grandson, joined the family business after leaving school in 1972 where he began at the bottom, making tea and sweeping the floor. Later he was allowed to polish some pipes and in the evenings he learned how to make silver bands from sheet silver. In 1983 Ian's parents bought a local tobacconist in Stockport. By this time Ian was doing all the repairs and had become one of the most skilled pipe repairmen in the country. Wanting to further develop his skills, Ian starting making pipes in the shop. These pipes sold well and he decided to expand this side of the business and was soon making pipes for other local shops. Today Ian's pipes are highly sought after all over the globe. Northern Briars, by tradition, has a strong commitment to quality. Quality of materials and quality of craftsmanship developed from many years’ experience. Ian sources his briar from Italy, where many pipe makers agree, the best stock can be found. Every pipe is totally handcrafted by Ian himself and all pipes have hand-cut stems using the best grade German vulcanite. The ‘rustication’ of Ian’s Rox Cut pipes is a time-consuming process done entirely by hand. This unique finish has proved to be extremely popular. Ian’s skill in silver mounting also enhances many traditional styles of pipes.