Established 1884

Our history

One hundred and forty years of colour, six generations of craftsmen - Britain’s oldest family-owned paint manufacturer.

One house, one family

In 1884, John Myland - known to his customers as “Honest John” - opened a modest varnish and French polish shop in the heart of Lambeth, south London. One hundred and forty years on, Mylands is still a family business, and the last paint manufacturer in London.

From Victorian cabinetmakers to film studios, from gilding workshops to royal residences, six generations of master craftsmen have handed down the same standards: exceptional pigments, proven recipes, honest work.

This page retraces that journey, decade by decade, through the photographs, recipe books and documents kept in the company archives - from the shop at 128 Stockwell Road to the luxury paints we now bring to France.

Colourised photograph of the John Myland shopfront at 128 Stockwell Road, two men standing in the doorway — **The shop at 128 Stockwell Road**“Oils, Colors, White Lead” - colourised from the company archives, London

Mylands · Est. 1884

Dates & milestones

Six chapters across three centuries, illustrated from the Myland family archives.

1884 – 1919

The early years

1884

The Lambeth shop. John Myland opens his French polish, varnish and colour business in south London. His proverbial honesty earns him the nickname “Honest John” - and a loyal following of woodworkers and decorators.

Portrait of John Myland, known as “Honest John”, founder of the company — John Myland, “Honest John” - founder of the company

1890

Polishes & varnishes. The workshop prepares French polish and thinners in stoneware jars stamped with the company name. Breweries, cabinetmakers and gilders from across London come to buy - and trade flourishes: “Honest John” is soon able to buy himself a farm in the country.

John Myland with his family and a horse at his farm — John Myland with his family at the farm - John Myland Ltd archives

John Myland Ltd stoneware jars: French polish and thinners — Original stoneware jars, stamped “Established 1884”

1905

128 Stockwell Road. “Oils, Colors, White Lead”: the shopfront supplies the painters and polishers of south London. It will remain the company’s address for almost a century.

1908

The second generation. John Charles Francis Myland, son of the founder, in his office. He takes over the books, expands manufacturing and prepares the company for a change of scale.

1914

The Great War. The conflict spares neither London nor its craftsmen, but the company holds firm. In the portrait, the family gathers around the founder - uniform included.

1920 – 1938

The Stockwell works

1920

The factory. Mylands grows: a manufacturing site opens in Stockwell, a few streets from the shop. French polish, spirit varnishes and paints are made here - and delivered across London by the company’s own vans.

John Myland with a 1920s motor car — The motor age reaches the house of Myland

1927

A family affair. Richard Myland and his sisters, pictured here together, will run the company for more than fifty years. The third generation takes charge.

1928

The film studios come knocking. British Lion, London Films… Britain’s studios discover Mylands paints, and the workshop notebooks fill with formulas for the sets. A love affair with the silver screen that has never ended.

Recipe book page: orders from the British Lion and London Films studios — The studio notebook: British Lion Films, London Films Corporation…

1939 – 1945

The war years

1939

The studios in the order book. “Warner Bros - Special Transparent Thinners”, “Fox Films Ltd - Special Green Spirit Enamel”, “Pinewood Golden Brown”… In the workshop notebook, orders from Teddington, Fox and Pinewood sit alongside those of decorators. The cameras keep rolling - and Mylands keeps delivering.

Notebook page dated 30 March 1939: Fox Films Ltd order and a Pinewood golden brown enamel — The order book, 30 March 1939: “Fox Films Ltd” and “Pinewood Golden Brown”

1942

Open, come what may. The Blitz hits south London hard, but the shop never closes for a single day. The team joins the Auxiliary Fire Service to protect the neighbourhood from the fires.

British and American officers photographed outside the shop during the Second World War — Allied officers at the shop during the war - John Myland Ltd archives

1946 – 1979

On to West Norwood

1946

The trade organises itself. Mylands sits on the Spirit Varnish section of the London Chamber of Commerce. The company’s reputation now reaches far beyond the streets of Stockwell.

1958

“Established 1884”. French polishes, varnishes, wood stains, oils, brushes: the company price list - bearing the JM monogram - proudly recalls the founding date on every cover, with free delivery within ten miles of Charing Cross.

1968

Paints & polishes. Inside the factory, varnish drums and paint cans are stacked to the ceiling. Production has never been higher - still made to the family’s recipes, and matched to the British Standard colour cards every decorator carried.

Fanned-out BS 2660 British Standard colour cards from the workshop archive — BS 2660 colour cards, kept in the workshop archive

1974

90 years of trade. John Myland Ltd celebrates its ninetieth anniversary. Four generations have passed; the methods haven’t changed.

Portrait of John R. Myland, fourth generation — John R. Myland, fourth generation to lead the company

1977

West Norwood. The factory yard, in the neighbourhood Mylands has never left: this is where, in south London, our paints are still made today.

1980 – 1999

Royal recognition

1985

The Royal Warrant. The ultimate accolade: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II grants Mylands a Royal Warrant as supplier to the Royal Household - a distinction the company has held ever since.

Press cutting: “Royal Warrant given to Member” — The trade press salutes the company’s Royal Warrant

Dominic Myland beside the Queen Elizabeth II Royal Warrant coat of arms at the London factory — The Elizabeth II warrant, still on the factory wall today - with Dominic Myland

1987

Trade fairs & workshops. Mylands shows its wood finishes at the trade fairs. Cabinetmakers, restorers and decorators from around the world discover the products made in West Norwood.

John Myland Ltd Woodfinishes stand at a trade fair — The “John Myland Ltd - Woodfinishes” stand

1998

The fifth generation. Dominic Myland takes charge of the company his forebear founded. Under his leadership the house will open up to a new audience - without compromising on how things are made.

Dominic Myland, fifth generation to lead Mylands — Dominic Myland, fifth generation

2000 – Today

A new era

2012

“Colours of London”. For the first time in its history, Mylands speaks to homeowners too: 120 timeless shades inspired by London, richly pigmented with natural earths and minerals.

Mylands colour fan deck, sample pots and room photographs — The Mylands colour card and sample pots - colour for the home

2025

The Royal Warrant renewed. His Majesty King Charles III grants the company his Royal Warrant in turn. Forty years after the first honour, Mylands remains an official supplier to the Crown.

Royal coat of arms: by appointment to His Majesty King Charles III, manufacturers of French polishes, stains and wax polishes, John Myland Limited, London — By appointment to His Majesty King Charles III - the Royal Warrant, 2025

Today

From London to France. From James Bond to Harry Potter, from Downton Abbey to the world’s most beautiful homes, Mylands colours dress screens and interiors everywhere - and the West Norwood works still makes every tin. The next chapter is already being written: alongside Dominic, his son Harvey represents the sixth generation. And now mylands.fr brings 140 years of London craftsmanship to your door.