The History of Crosswater
It all started with one man, a car and a plan to bring better bathroom design to Britain.
28 years later…
We are now 250+ people and 30 vehicles, delivering the beautiful bathroom design nightly to Britain and beyond.
How did we get here?
1998
Dave Hance set up Crosswater, so named as the goods were coming across the water from Asia, and the business was all things bathroom and water.
Equipped with his first logo (designed by his Mum), £30,000 borrowed from friends and family, and his first products, Dave made his first delivery at 12:01am to Ellis Tiles in Hendon on the 13th of November 1998.
While Ellis Tiles no longer exists, they were the first step to where we are today; a thriving, international business, making more than 300 deliveries a day.
1999
Crosswater turned over its first £1 million.
2001
Crosswater exhibited at its first show at Excel London.
2004
Crosswater published its first A4 brochure.
2006
- A new website and logo were launched.
- Crosswater acquired Classic Showers Ltd, known as Simpsons.
2008
Crosswater acquired Bauhaus.
2014
Bathroom Brands Group became the sole shareholder of Crosswater. Today, Crosswater sits under the Bathroom Brands Group umbrella along with three other brands, allowing the Group to provide a comprehensive offer of complete bathroom solutions across a range of interior styles.
2015
- Crosswater expanded their business into Europe.
- Investec acquired a minority shareholding in Crosswater.
2025
After being a non-executive for a few years, Dave Hance happily rejoined the day-to-day running of Crosswater as Sales Director.
How our premises has grown with us
1998
It all started with just one car, a Ford Mondeo Estate.
1998
Later in the year Crosswater opened its first premises: Unit 38, Acorn industrial park, Crayford. A small warehouse with 1,900 sq ft
2002
Crosswater knocked through the wall into Unit 39, doubling the warehouse space to 3,800 sq ft
2003
Crosswater moved to Buttery Avenue in Dartford in a huge jump to 16,000 sq ft
2007
Crosswater moved to a bigger venue in Dartford with 65,000 sq ft
2009
Crosswater get new units at Charles Park with over 20,000 sq ft
2013
Work began on Lake View House in Dartford, Crosswater’s current Head Office and Logistics centre
2014
On 21st July, Crosswater officially moved into our new home, where we remain today with our Head Office, warehouse and showroom.
Notable products through the years
1999 - Cascata
Avant-garde Italian styling of the time.
The first single lever basin mixer specifically designed to work with the UK’s low pressure water system!
2000 - Kai Lever
Designed specifically for Bathstore (OEM), it remains one of their best sellers to date!
2002
The first three-quarter inch, low pressure, recessed shower valve – a big landmark product for Crosswater!
2005 - LoveMe
This tap enhanced the free flow of water by replacing the directed jet with the spontaneous downpour of a small domestic waterfall. The water flowed in a soft and natural outflow, like spouting directly from its source, thus combining aesthetic purity and genuine authenticity.
2007 - Water Square
Following from LoveMe - Water Square fused round & square parts to create a new waterfall range, incorporating lights to provide visual feedback.
2010 - AIM
Made from Crystalplant, a compound that combines mineral fillers with plant resins for a result similar to natural stone. AIM was the sum of many appealing elements that come together in one product, with contrasting sharp edges and rounded shapes combining to form an extremely practical model with clean lines.
2011 - Artist
Artist wasn't just a tap, it was a new design concept by Massimiliano Della Monaca that went beyond modern contemporary and into some uncharted design space where bathroom taps morph into a life form of their own.
2013 - Belgravia
Capturing exceptional time-honoured designs, Belgravia brassware features intricate lever or crosshead handles for a more traditional look and feel.
2013 - Mike Pro
'Mike Pro' was launched exclusively into the projects arena to appeal to designers and specifiers who only knew of the Arne Jacobsen classic. MPRO, as we now know it today, appeals with clean, timeless designs, unique water saving features and depth range previously unseen this price level.
2017 - Union
Inspired by the traditional forms of the industrial faucet, the Union collection is marked by solid outlines and essential and functional forms, making it the better choice for spaces with strong features and personality
2021 - 3ONE6
A new material for the Bathroom Brands group. Incredibly resilient and undeniably compelling, 3ONE6 offers a full collection of cutting-edge brassware to maximise impact in contemporary bathrooms. Crafted with the finest 316 grade stainless steel, the range includes taps, showers and matching accessories for perfect harmony.
2023 - Limit
Inspired by a shard of glass, bending the light past its sharp edges, Limit reflects the beauty found in broken things.