Duchess Merino Blanket

The manufacturer advises professional cleaning only. Many of our customers, however, have been carefully hand- or machine-washing these merino blankets for years. They advise that they use a cool wool setting at 30℃ using wool-approved detergent, with no spin and allow to dry naturally. Never tumble-dry.

There will always be some shrinkage after careful washing (usually up to around 6% initially). Our blankets are generously sized to allow for some shrinkage. Proper care of your blanket will see it retain its size and softness for many years to come

N.B. Never use your regular laundry detergent on wool; even "gentle", "delicates", or "non-bio" detergents usually contain bleach, which will ruin it. Always ensure you use a detergent that explicitly says it is wool-approved, or use a few pure soap flakes which are also wool-safe.

Made in England by John Atkinson, in Bradford.

Bradford, Yorkshire is the traditional wool capital of England and John Atkinson blankets are woven in one of the last remaining traditional wool mills in the county.

Merino wool from New Zealand Merino sheep using non-mulesed Merino. This wool is certified and independently audited as being shorn from sheep that have not been mulesed.

These many qualities make wool the natural choice for a good night's sleep.

Sustainable

Wool is a natural and fully sustainable fibre from a renewable source. Wool is nature’s technical wonder fibre and has many inherent qualities that can't be reproduced by manmade fibres. Wool is 100% biodegradable and does not add to microplastic pollution.

Comfort

Wool is comfortable due to its unique spring-like fibre structure. The natural crimp offers excellent support for all, as well as relief from bed sores and a surprising number of other medical conditions. 

Micro-climate Control 

Wool actively regulates your body temperature, keeping you warm in winter and cool in summer. Maintaining a steady temperature also leads to a more restful sleep.

Air quality

Wool fibres absorb and lock away indoor airborne pollutants, improving the air quality around you while you sleep.

Anti-microbial

Wool blankets are naturally anti-microbial due to the fibre protein composition and unique surface scale structure on which bacteria are unable to survive.

Odour control

The moisture-absorbing properties of wool absorb sweat from the skin and halt the generation of odour-causing bacteria. Wool is also naturally anti-microbial so (unlike manmade fibre or cotton blankets it doesn't smell , keeping your bedding fresher for longer.

Natural Flame Resistance

Wool is naturally flame-retardant, is self-extinguishing and doesn't melt, making for safer sleep and one of the few fibres that don't need coating in artificial flame-resistant chemicals.

Dirt Repellent 

The antistatic nature of wool reduces the attraction of lint and dust and the microscopic surface scales prevent dirt from penetrating the fibre surface.

Asthma-friendly

House dust mites are a key trigger for Asthma attacks, they cannot survive on wool making it a perfect choice for asthma sufferers.

Urgent Orders

If your delivery date is critical please choose one of the courier or express shipping options for guaranteed delivery dates.

Delivery

We dispatch most orders same day or next working day. Next working day delivery is available for most of the UK. 

Costs range up from £5 for UK addresses depending on what you order and how soon you want it. Occasionally we offer Free Delivery to UK addresses and display it prominently on the website and at checkout. Economy or Free Delivery usually takes 3-5 working days.

To find delivery options and costs, simply add items to your basket then enter the delivery address. 

All delivery methods are tracked.

We deliver to most countries not in a conflict zone.

Royal Mail Strikes

These appear to now be resolved and Royal Mail service is back to normal.  Find the latest info. on Royal Mail strikes here.

Hassle Free Returns

Simple! If you've made/received an online order and don't like something, simply send it back together with the order details and with a very few exceptions, and as long as we can still sell it "as new", we will be delighted to give you a refund, exchange or store credit, whichever you prefer. 

Some items are non-refundable and/or non-returnable. These limitations apply: -

• Sale and Bargain section and promotion items e.g. Discounted, BOGOF or 3 for 2 promotions need to be returned within 10 days of dispatch date: after this they are non-refundable time, but you can still return them for a store credit or exchange for up to 28 days after dispatch to you;
• Christmas Extended Returns: any gift bought between 26 October 2024 and 22 December 2024 can be returned up until 23 January 2025 if it’s unwanted or unsuitable.
• Personalised, Made to Order, Special Order, Bespoke items are not returnable;
• Mattress toppers and mattresses are non-returnable;
• Items damaged, marked or soiled are not returnable;
• Orders placed for our Swatch Service (where available) are not refundable.

By "as new" we mean: -

• you haven’t used the product.
• you’ve kept all original packaging and labels in good condition and the product can be resold at full price.

For all the information on Delivery and Returns Policies please see here.

Last updated 26 October 2024.