Our Heritage

Our Heritage: The Cockpit, Eton

You will not find another candle company like ours, because you will not find another home like The Cockpit.

Situated proudly on Eton High Street, this remarkable 15th-century timber-framed building is the oldest structure in the town. Believed to have been built by the Dean and Canons of Windsor around 1420, it has stood as a silent witness to six centuries of English history.

Originally operating as a medieval tavern, documentary evidence from 1465 reveals it was owned by Thomas Jourdelay, a generous benefactor of Eton College. By the 17th century, it had become a wildly popular inn known as the ‘Adam and Eve’, frequented by notable dignitaries and locals alike. It is a building woven into the very fabric of Windsor and Eton.

A Legacy of Light: The Origins of William West

Candles have been crafted within these ancient timber walls since 1661. It was in this year that a tallow chandler named William West took residence in The Cockpit, establishing a tradition of artisan candle making that we proudly carry into the 21st century.

When William West first stepped foot in The Cockpit, his original candles were made from animal fat (tallow). Whilst a necessity of the era, tallow burned too quickly and offered a distinctly unpleasant aroma. Today, we have entirely modernised the process whilst fiercely protecting the craft.

Our luxury candles are now hand-poured using sustainable, vegan-friendly soy and pure natural beeswax. Every unique blend is inspired by the rich history of Eton and Windsor, designed to transport you back to this historic town with every use. Even our smallest creations offer a burn time of over 25 hours.

Though we have left tallow in the past, we honour William West’s legacy by continuing to create our signature stick candles using a traditional machine, exactly as it would have been done centuries ago.

The Great Restoration

Today, The Cockpit is embarking upon its most important chapter yet.

After falling into a state of severe disrepair and being placed on Historic England’s ‘At Risk’ register, this magnificent Grade II* listed building faced an uncertain future. Fortunately, the Windsor-based engineering specialists at Structural Repairs have stepped in to save it from the brink.

They are currently leading a painstaking, masterclass restoration project to secure the ancient oak frame and preserve unique features – including a rare floor constructed entirely from sheep knuckle bones.

Our Vision for the Future

Whilst The Cockpit undergoes this vital structural preservation, our artisan candle making continues off-site. We are proud to say that all profits from the sale of William West candles go directly towards funding this monumental restoration project.

When the doors eventually reopen, our vision is to return The Cockpit to its original 1420 glory as a medieval tavern. It will feature medieval-themed guest rooms, locally curated gin and mead, and on-site candle making classes where you can learn the ancient craft yourself.

Until that day, every candle you purchase helps to ensure that the lights at The Cockpit will never go out.