Thomas Smith - The Royal Sussex Trug

Happy Customer Testimonials

I just wanted to appreciate you all over again! Some years ago I came to your shop and was shown the wonder of making Trugs....the whole process. The history in itself is facinating and reminds me of my own roots in Sussex. My little grandson has the Trug I bought. Thank you for keeping going!

Evengeline Rand, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

I thank you very much for the indeed lovely, pure and historic Sussex Trug No.6. The solid box arrived a few days ago, and the trug is welcomed here. It will be our 70-years birthday present to our friend, who is taking lovely care of our garden. I will of course include the history of Mr. Smith’s Trug – after doing a copy to ourself to keep. It is very interesting, as we have a No.6 and a larger fireside trug in constant use for years.

At the same time I should tell you that my husband, our two children and I visited your then trug workshop in the mid 70-ties in Herstmonceux. The (then) children were invited to climb in the chips (shavings), and we purchased a few trugs to bring home to Denmark from our holiday on the outskirts of Hastings .

A few years later I started a modest trade with handicraft……..and the first items I imported was Sussex Trugs from Thomas Smith’s Trugs. The Queen of Denmark was gifted with one item from the Old Town Museum in Aarhus when visiting the museum.

So you see it is an old love and admiration we feel about this genuine, perfect made British quality. Perfect in shape, design and handicraft making. It is wonderful to learn that you are exporting 40% of your production – and that you are successful in carrying on the traditional of this handicraft. We are looking so much forward to gift our friend with your trug.

Karen Doessing, Denmark

All the testimonials below are genuine remarks made by our customers and we have the records to prove it! All customers are very welcome to visit our workshops when coming to Sussex.

The Trug has arrived - thank you, and it is beautiful! Thank yiouy so much for this - Mum will definitely enjoy uysing it now! I'll be recommending you to my friends!

Danielle Marks, New South Wales, Australia

Thank you for your excellent service!

Stewart Brown

Yallingup, Perth, Western Australia

Thank you very much for the lovely trug.....I am delighted and I know that my sister-in-law in New Zealand is going to be so surprised! And thanks for thehome delivery, very much appreciated.

Hope to see you on my (next) trip over to beautiful Sussex.

Mary Huxley, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Editor's Note: We delivered to Mary in Seaford, Sussex although we would have preferred to do so to Canada! This Trug went from Sussex to Canada and then on to New Zealand - so very well travelled!

Thank you for the safe delivery of the lovely trug. My cousin has long wanted one and will be delighted to receive it when we deliver it to its new home in Switzerland!

Julie Pembrey, Surrey.

Dad loved his Trug for his 88th birthday, really loved it and served his home made sour dough bread in it at a family party last weekend! Thank you for your brilliant customer service, speedy response, courteous emails and super fast delivery as this was a very last minute request. I have recommended you to lots of my friends who have admired Dad's Trug. Old fashioned craftsmanship is rare these days, but my Dad appreciated it very much and I am very happy to have made him happy on his birthday with your help.

Alison, Warwick, England

The Trug arrived on Thursday as promised. It is perfect! Thank you so much. I shall put the word around and hopefully you will get some more orders.

Dilly Rowe, London, England

The Trug I bought from you last year has been put to good use and I'm delighted with it!

Janet, Surrey Hills Wood Fair

The Trugs have just arrived and they are fabulous!

Mary, Hollyhocks, Cranleigh, Surrey

Just to say a big "thank you" for processing my order so quickly. The trug was a gift for my mother and she is delighted with it. It is a beautiful work of craftmanship. I wish you every sucess. Andrew Evans, Gwynedd.

There is something infinitely satisfying about having a Trug and it will learn its manners from my old one, which must be at least 50 years old and is still serviceable, except for a small hole in the base. I couldn’t resist buying yours from Notcutts, St. Albans …….I refuse to use a plastic one! Daphne Griffin, Hertfordshire.

Just wanted to say Trug arrived on 13th December, safely in one piece. It is terrific! I wish I had one myself – maybe one day. I can’t wait to see Mum’s face when she opens it! Rebecca Haynes, Australia.

Thank you. I am sure it (the Trug) will be highly prized and much used for a very long time. Graham Rose,

Glasgow, Scotland.

The Trug arrived on Monday and is perfect! Michael Clarke, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

I picked up the Trug today, it is beautiful and so light. I rushed out to the garden and filled it with broad beans – they make a lovely “clunking” sound as they drop in! Kerry Pattenden, Sydney, Australia

Trugs have been delivered this morning and look absolutely fabulous! Thank you for your first class product and service. Caroline Bunting, Romsey Marsh, Kent.

Just to let you know, the Trug arrived today. It’s lovely and I am sure that my mother-in-law will love it! Thanks for everything. Wendy Bowen, Chislehurst, Kent.

The Trug arrived this morning in good order and I’m very pleased with it. My mother will be delighted this Christmas, as she has been looking for a new Trug for a while. Tim Price, Nottingham.

The Trug arrived safely and is lovely, a perfect gift for my wife. Thank you. Robert Birtwell, Chichester, Sussex.

The Trug arrived safely today and I’m sure my Mother will be thrilled with it on Christmas day! Jane, Hill, Inverness, Scotland.

Just wanted to let you know that I am ABSOULTELY DELIGHTED with the Trug. It will make a wonderful gift and now that I have seen it, I think I will be ordering more in due course as gifts for other friends. It is such a delight to have a proper hand made one. Rosemary Byrde, Reading, Berkshire.

I love the Trug! It is beautifully made and it is all the more special because I was born and brought up in East Sussex, near Lewes. It will be very useful for all the vegetables I have grown with the children this year – potatoes, runner beans, courgettes and tomatoes, as well as for all the flowers. It will be very well looked after here. Alexander Roberts.

A beautifully made No.1 Flower Trug arrived at midday today in perfect condition. Thank you so much for doing this so quickly. Donald Lockhart, Hayle, Cornwall.

Just a quick note to say thank you to you and your son. We were really pleased with the Trug and enjoyed meeting your son very much and learning about this lovely craft. The Trug was a present for a very close friend and she was absolutely delighted. Christine James.

Do keep up the good work! People are turning more and more to handmade and authentic objects and I get a real pleasure out of possessing and making a gift of something that is NOT mass produced. It DOES make a difference. Ellen Jolley, Bruebach, France.

I am pleased to report that my order arrived today. The Trugs are lovely, so, thank you. Marion Clarke, Brighton, Sussex.