Bulldog Tools were the last real manufacturer of garden tools totally made in Britain.
The Company was established in 1780 and has a factory in Wigan, Lancashire, where top quality tools are made by craftsmen using techniques developed over 2 centuries. The products cover the whole range of gardening and contractors tools such as forks, spades, rakes and hoes. Many of the Bulldog tools remain as they have for decades and are sold on their tried and trusted performance, rather than flashy looks.
Bulldog Tools are famous throughout the world and old examples are still being used and cherished by their owners. I have used Bulldog Tools since 1970 and hope to for many more years.
During the 1990's the company became American owned but in February 2004 the company came back into English ownership as part of the respected Rollins Group.
Bulldog Tools have a large following in the USA under the brand name "Clarington Forge".
In 2009 I visited the forge in Wigan to see in more detail how the tools are made and distributed. It was an incredible experience seeing one of our oldest and longest running factories still in full use.
In 2014 all the forges and related equipment were moved to a new modern factory in India. Bulldog staff there supervise the manufacturing of the heads in the traditional way on the original forges before the metal heads are shipped to Wigan. In Wigan the handles are added and the tools finished and quality checked. The excellent Springbok and Wizard rakes are still completely made in Wigan, along with the smaller hand tools.
Fred and Bulldog Director at the Wigan Forge in 2009
How Bulldog Tools are made
The image to above shows the stages of a Bulldog Spade being forged from one piece of solid metal.
This hot solid forging technique makes the tool as strong as possible, and as importantly as light as possible.
Most forks and spades you find in shops and catalogues are not hot solid forged. This is to save money, but results in an inferior tool.
The picture above shows me at the Bulldog factory in Wigan learning how the spades are shaped and forged.
I was impressed with the skill and craftsmanship that goes into these tools. Hot solid forging involves more processes and expense than just stamping and welding but the end result is a stronger tool that will outlast the rest many times and possibly outlast you!
click here for my new page on forks and spades in the USA
Continue on this page if you are UK based
Best Product Examples of Bulldog Tools
The Bulldog Border Fork and Spade
This tool has been in production for decades.
They are available in 2 versions
Firstly, the Premier Range shown- with green painted metal parts
Secondly the cheaper Evergreen Range - The metal parts are the same but the ash shafts are fitted with plastic handles.
Bulldog Premier Border Spade
Premier range in green with D handles.
The Bulldog Premier range of digging tools has remained unchanged for
decades and for good reason. The tools are effective, strong and good to use. Bulldog Evergreen Forks and Spades
(cheaper range)
One range down from the Premier tools these Epoxy coated carbon steel
tools have hardwood shafts but plastic soft touch ergo handles. The
metal parts are forged from one piece for strength and lightness, and are
used in the top price Premier range tools too. Solid forged forks always cost more than spades as there
is a lot more skilled work involved in making them As used by Hugh Fearnly-Whittingstall Bulldog 7104 Evergreen Border Fork
Bulldog 7103 Evergreen Digging Fork
Bulldog 7102 Evergreen Border Spade
Bulldog 7101 Evergreen Digging Spade
Solid Forged Digging
Tools with longer handle
The extra long handled
spade, next to a standard spade, border spade and shrubbery spade.
It is arguable that most forks and spades sold today are too short as
they are the same length as tools made hundreds of years ago when people
where shorter. Not sure about that but it is obvious that longer tools
suit longer people and this fork has the strength to be able to take the
extra strain * * it is possible to bend any fork if you
try hard enough or use it inappropriately Garden or
digging forks are designed for soil and are most commonly damaged when
use to lever roots and rocks which is a task more suited to a crowbar or pickaxe.
Bulldog Premier Garden Fork with Long Handle The best leaf rake - will even work on concrete and gravel!
Bulldog Wizard and Merlin Rubber Leaf Rakes The unique Merlin rake has 16 rubber tines that act like
sensitive little fingers when raking leaves and other debris.
The Bulldog rubber rakes are a favourite of professional
gardeners who love to use them on gravel drives and in herbaceous borders.
The Merlin (shown right) is ideal for border work and its big brother the
Wizard with 32 tines is best on gravel and lawns.
Replacement tines are available for both rakes.
Remember when ordering that the Merlin is a small Wizard!
Use the links below to help this site too with your purchase.
Bulldog Premier Merlin Rubber Border Rake Still made in Wigan UK
Steel leaf rake for grass
Springbok Steel Leaf rake 48" handle
This is the finest example of a leaf rake available. The
Bulldog "springbok rake" is a classic that has been used by professionals
for many years. It is the best rake for use on grass. The reason that so many people chose this
rake is that it is so well built that it will outlast most other rakes and
still keep its shape and flexibility.
Bulldog Premier Springbok Lawn Rake The choice of professionals -
for over 100 years! Irish Spades and Irish Shovels Bulldog have been making these traditional tools since
1780 and they have been used on some of the worlds greatest construction
projects. To make things clear a spade is designed for digging into soil
and a shovel is for moving material. However a very strong shovel can be used
to dig sand and soil too, especially if it has a pointed end. The T handled Irish Square Spade is one of my favourite tools. They are superb for digging planting holes, and
trenching. The quality and design of these tools have not changed for
over 100 years and I have seen how they are made in the Wigan factory. Bulldog Square Irish Spade Part no 5612133610 Shaft length 36" Head size 290mm." * 190mm" (the Square Irish spade is slightly longer than a full
size spade) If the Bulldog one is not available use the link below for a similar one from S&J Spear & Jackson Neverbend Professional Irish Spade Round Point Irish shovel is similar to the West Country shovel featured above This is a large tool with a 54"
wooden handle (you could cut it down easily). The head is 10." wide and 13" long.
Bulldog Premier Irish Shovel 54" Handle
These shovels are for moving loose soil or digging in soft areas . For deep
digging the long handled round mouth SPADE is best, as it is solid forged
and much stronger. West Country Shovel
WEST COUNTRY SHOVEL
Bulldog 2309 West Country Shovel Known to some people as the Cornish Spade this tool is slightly wider but flatter than the
Irish Shovel and although strictly speaking it is a shovel it can be used for
digging in some ground. This is a large tool with a 54"
wooden handle (you could cut it down easily). The head is 10.5" wide and 11.5" long. T handled Rabbiting Spade (also known as planting spade) As used by Elmer Fudd
You don't need to be a rabbit
hunter to use this excellent spade It has a 26" handle and is also very useful for making deep holes for planting saplings.
Bulldog Premier Rabbit/ Planting Spade
Spear & Jackson Agricultural Planting/Rabbiting Spade
Children's Digging Tools
Garden Tools for Children tested and Reviewed Real Garden Tools For Children Most garden tools sold for Children are a bit flimsy and
do not last very long. Bulldog make proper mini versions of their solid forged fork and spade to suit children. Children's gardening tools can also be ideal for elderly or disabled gardeners to use. These tools are
so well made that your children could pass them onto your grandchildren.
Bulldog Premier Children's Junior Digging Spade
Bulldog Premier Children's Junior Garden Rake The best 4 Children's garden tools - solid forged from Bulldog The Draper Young gardener range is reasonably priced and
well made enough to withstand the use that a child with give it. As these
are proper tools with potentially sharp edges and prongs make sure any child
using them is made aware of the dangers and appropriately supervised. As I child I was given a specially cut down fork to sue
and worked with it for many hours at a time on my own with no accidents or
injuries. Problems are more likely to occur where you have 2 or more
children working together so be extra careful if you have two budding
gardeners.
The Bulldog premier lawn edger - doing the Fredshed edges.
The shank and head are one piece of steel. Bulldog Premier Solid Forged Edging Knife 
