Early in 1885, 23 year old Arthur Spink, a bed maker with Joseph Longley, decided to start his own business. He joined forces with 44 year-old John Edgar, a salesman, and began trading from 60 Carlton Cross Street, Leeds as Spink & Edgar.

Arthur Spink was a hard taskmaster. He would never compromise on quality and he knew the value of good workmanship. He built all his beds by hand and it is said that he never made a bed that he would not sleep on himself. It’s a philosophy that has been carried through to the present day.

By 1891, Arthur Spink had been joined by his two younger brothers, Charles in sales and John, another master mattress maker: the company was re-named Spink & Co.

Over the years, Arthur and his brothers passed on their skills to a new generation of apprentices. When Arthur finally retired in 1927, one of them – Albert Harrison - took over the business, renaming the company A. Harrison Bedding (late Spink & Co).

He was joined by Albert Parker, who had learned his trade at another famous Leeds firm, the Bedding House of Rhodes, makers of Somnus. The two became partners when the business was incorporated in 1933.

When Albert Harrison retired in 1937, Albert Parker continued, later to be succeeded by his son in law, Ron Spinks and his grandson, Peter Spinks the current chairman.

Finally his great grandson Simon Spinks is today in charge of the day to day running of the business. Simon’s son Daniel Harrison Spinks could well be destined to carry Arthur Spink’s heritage of fine bed making into a seventh generation.