The Sheila Maid and us: Our Story
What’s In a Name?
The Sheila Maid® Clothes Airer – a classic from a bygone age.
Before the floor-cluttering clothes horse or energy-eating electric clothes dryer was invented, these charming drying racks were installed in laundry rooms, kitchens, wash-houses, and sculleries of the world, dating back to the 18th century.
The rope and pulley system raises and lowers the rack so that damp clothes can be loaded on and then hoisted up into warmer air to dry. However, during the middle part of the twentieth century, with the advent of the tumble dryer, the trusty “pulley” or “creel” fell out of favour.
In 1986, Sheila Johnston, being the canny Scot she is, became concerned about the environmental impact of fossil fuels and the damaging effect of repeated tumble drying on laundry. Seizing the day, she re-introduced this iconic item to the market, and so, the Sheila Maid® Clothes Airer was (re)born.
The first product – the 4 rail X 5’ airer was soon making a comeback in UK households, but, news of the benefits and ease of use of the Sheila Maid® soon spread beyond British shores, resulting in more sizes being made and a huge increase in world-wide demand.
We have been (confidently and) constantly selling Sheila Maids here at The Old Mill Stores since the late 1990’s. While our friend “Sheila” retired in 2007, the brand has continued its growth and development and is now recognized as the market leader for quality, style and customer service.
Sheila Maid + Stove – a winning combination!
We at The Old Mill Stores were early Sheila Maid converts, particularly when we opened Ovne, our Antique Stoves Shop in 1998.
In the early 2000’s we expanded our repertoire of goods but The Sheila Maid has always featured. In 2012, as antique stoves became more difficult to source, Ovne became The Old Mill Stores. We introduced a broad range of unique and unusual Irish, European and International homewares and interiors accessories to our ever-eager customers – both instore and online.
We personally chose everything we stocked and playing it safe was never our thing. Our customers came to expect the unexpected at The Old Mill. In a generic world we strove to be different – in our stock, and how we presented it.
Our ‘dare to be different’ policy was affirmed by our ever-appreciative customers and recognised by the many accolades we received over the years; thank you everyone.
But, as Chaucer so succinctly put it, back in 1374 ‘all good things must come to an end’. The shopping space we designed to be part lifestyle shop, part creative retail experience and part experimental showcase has passed into new hands and we wish them every success.
While we miss our customers, our shopping adventures and our lovely store, we’re enjoying our more laid-back life.
Tom and Claire