Final run from Joan • In 9 active baskets • 21 left
Joan's Cast-Iron Hedgehog Boot Brush
Joan's Cast-Iron Hedgehog Boot Brush
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Joan's Cast-Iron Hedgehog Boot Brush
Poured in a small iron foundry in Netherton, the Black Country
Joan Sidaway, 73, has cast these hedgehogs since 1987 from her father’s pear-wood pattern. A torn shoulder tendon means she can no longer lift the 18-kilo ladle — these are her last ones.
“I don’t make ornaments. I make something you wipe your wellies on. A hedgehog by the door means somebody’s coming home.”
Joan Sidaway · Netherton, West Midlands
What comes in the box
Cast-iron body, ready to use
Stiff coconut-fibre spines, already fitted
Stiff bristles set in a solid block
No assembly, no tools needed
What Joan puts into every hedgehog
Poured one at a time into damp casting sand, not stamped from thin metal. Solid iron all the way through.
Every hedgehog is tapped with a hammer. A clear ring means a sound casting. A dull thud goes back to scrap.
Thick, stiff coconut-fibre bristles along 29 cm. One pull and the whole sole is clean, deep into the tread.
Solid cast iron, so it stands firm on the step while you pull your boot across.
Rain, frost, snow — cast iron doesn’t mind. The rust-brown finish just gets a little darker each winter.
A small dent on the tip of every nose. It’s from Len’s thumb, pressed into the original pattern in 1987.
“Sand-cast iron is still the best material for anything that has to live outside by a door. It’s heavy, it doesn’t crack in frost, and a sound casting will outlast the house it stands in. Testing each piece by sound is old foundry practice — most factories stopped doing it decades ago. Joan never did.”
Graham Whitehouse · Retired pattern-maker · Black Country, 40+ years in foundries
Perfect for
Why Joan’s hedgehogs last
- Solid cast iron. Poured in sand, not pressed from sheet metal.
- Sound-tested. Every piece is tapped and checked before it leaves the yard.
- Stiff coir bristles. Coconut fibre stays firm and gets into the tread.
- Frost-proof. Made to stand outside, all year, every year.
- No fuss. Nothing to assemble, no power, no batteries.
If it isn’t right for your door, one email to info@cedarandtinco.com is enough. No forms, no questions — Joan would rather have it back than have it sit in a cupboard.
Every hedgehog is a little different. Each one is cast by hand in sand, so small marks, a slightly rougher patch or a darker shade of rust are normal. That’s the casting, not a fault. To clean the bristles, knock the hedgehog upside down on the step once in a while.
Product details
| Contents | 1 cast-iron hedgehog boot brush with coir bristles |
| Material | Sand-cast iron body; stiff coconut-fibre (coir) bristles |
| Finish | Rust-brown, weathered patina |
| Dimensions | Approx. 29 × 18 × 10 cm (11.4 × 7.1 × 3.9 in) |
| Colour | Brown |
| Placement | Free-standing by any door, step or porch — no assembly needed |
| Care | No care needed; knock out the bristles now and then |
| Made by | Joan Sidaway, Netherton, Black Country — final run |
| Made so far | Around 3,100 since 1987 — 212 remaining |
The Last Winter
The Last Winter
A note from the foundry:
Joan Sidaway started at her father Len’s little iron foundry in Netherton, in the Black Country, in 1967. She was 15, and the only woman at a furnace for miles. In 1987 Len carved a pear-wood pattern of the hedgehog that slept behind their sand pile every winter, and Joan has poured about 3,100 iron hedgehogs from it since. Every one has a small dent on its nose: Len’s thumb. In 2024 a torn shoulder tendon ended her work at the furnace. 212 hedgehogs are left on her shelves. When they are gone, there will be no more.
Free UK Delivery
Free UK Delivery
Free delivery across the United Kingdom
- Delivery time: 3–5 working days
- Every hedgehog is carefully packed and sent with tracking
- Approx. 29 × 18 × 10 cm
- Sand-cast iron body with stiff coir bristles
- Stands free, or screw it down through the base plate
- 30-day money-back guarantee — just email info@cedarandtinco.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Got a question? Here’s how to reach us.
Got a question? Here’s how to reach us.
Email us anytime at info@cedarandtinco.com. We answer Monday–Friday 9am–5pm and Saturday 10am–3pm (UK time). Whether it’s about your order, where the hedgehog stands best, or just to say hello — a real person writes back.
Can I return it if it’s not for me?
Can I return it if it’s not for me?
Of course. 30-day money-back guarantee. Put it by your door, try it through a few muddy days, and if it isn’t right for you, email info@cedarandtinco.com within 30 days for a full refund. No questions, and UK delivery is free.
How is it made?
How is it made?
Each hedgehog is poured one at a time into damp casting sand, from the pear-wood pattern Joan’s father carved in 1987. When it has cooled, Joan taps it with a small hammer: a clear ring means a sound casting, a dull thud means it goes back to scrap. The stiff coconut-fibre bristles are fitted last. The finished hedgehog is about 29 cm long, stands outside all year, and has a base plate with four holes if you want to screw it down.