Topp & Co
Topp & Co. is a UK-based bespoke architectural metalwork and heritage ironwork specialist, designing, manufacturing, and installing balustrades, gates, handrails, and ecclesiastical ironwork for cathedrals, palaces, private estates, and luxury retail clients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1982
- HeadquartersTholthorpe, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Topp & Co does
Topp & Co. is a privately held UK specialist in bespoke architectural metalwork and heritage ironwork restoration, founded in 1982 by Chris Topp and now led by Managing Director Jerome Peycher. The firm operates from a single workshop and headquarters at Tholthorpe, North Yorkshire, with approximately 15-20 employees spanning craftspeople, design, and operations. Its core offerings include stairs and balustrades, gates and railings, handrails, ecclesiastical metalwork, cast iron work, bronze work, and heritage restoration services, delivered as commissioned design-to-installation projects.
The company's central technical differentiator is its operation of the only remaining traditional hot-rolling mill in the world that produces re-rolled genuine puddled wrought iron in 4ft, 6ft, and 8ft lengths. Production combines traditional blacksmithing methods (fire welding, swaging, hand forging) with CAD design and 3D-printed foundry patterns. The firm is accredited to BS EN 1090-1 Execution Class 2, UKCA approved, Safecontractor certified, and Constructionline Gold-registered, qualifying it for restricted government and heritage procurement.
Topp & Co. generates revenue through project-based one-time commissions priced via tender or quote, plus a small UK-only direct-sales line in 10kg wrought iron sample bundles. Customers are predominantly heritage and ecclesiastical bodies (Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, St Paul's Cathedral, York Minster, Manchester Town Hall), royal residences (Kensington Palace, Buckingham Palace Queen's Gallery), private estates (UK and New York), luxury retail (Cartier), and architectural practices that specify the firm (Foster + Partners, John Simpson & Partners, Purcell). Distribution is direct, via architect specification and competitive tender, with international delivery capability including overseas installation teams.
Topp & Co firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Topp & Co
- Legal name
- Topp & Co.
- Website
- https://toppandco.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1982
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Topp & Co. is a UK-based bespoke architectural metalwork and heritage ironwork specialist, designing, manufacturing, and installing balustrades, gates, handrails, and ecclesiastical ironwork for cathedrals, palaces, private estates, and luxury retail clients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Topp & Co industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Metalwork Services
- NAICS
- Ornamental and Architectural Metal Work Manufacturing (332323), Architectural and Structural Metals Manufacturing (3323)
- SIC
- Fabricated Structural Metal Products (3440), Sheet Metal Work (3444)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural & Miscellaneous Metals (Stairs, Railings, Ladders) (IMADACAE)
Keywords
Where Topp & Co is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tholthorpe
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Topp & Co business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Bespoke Architectural Metalwork Commissioning: Project-based custom commissions for architectural metalwork including balustrades, gates, railings, handrails, and ecclesiastical ironwork. Each project is individually designed, manufactured, and often installed by the company. Revenue is generated through one-time commissioned projects rather than standardized product sales.
- Heritage Restoration Services: Restoration and repair services for historic ironwork at prestigious properties. The company provides complete service from planning and design through to installation and logistics management.
- Wrought Iron Materials Sales: Sale of genuine wrought iron materials including sample bundles (10kg containing mixed sizes and sections) for customers to experiment with the material. Available only to UK customers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 10kg Sample Bundle of Genuine Wrought Iron |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Topp & Co product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Topp & Co. designs, manufactures, and installs bespoke architectural metalwork including stairs, balustrades, gates, railings, handrails, bronze work, cast ironwork, and ecclesiastical ironwork for prestigious properties. The company also provides heritage ironwork conservation and restoration services and operates the world's only remaining re-rolling mill producing genuine puddled wrought iron in 4ft, 6ft, and 8ft lengths. Services span complete project management from design and CAD/3D-printed pattern production through foundry casting, fabrication, shipping, and on-site installation.
Product overview
Topp & Co is a specialist architectural metalwork company offering bespoke design, craftsmanship, and restoration services. The company provides a comprehensive portfolio of metalwork products including stairs and balustrades, bronze work, handrails, gates and railings, ecclesiastical metalwork, cast iron, and genuine wrought iron. Their services span from complete project management encompassing design, planning, and installation to logistics management. As the only remaining supplier of re-rolled genuine puddled wrought iron in the world, they serve prestigious properties including cathedrals, historic buildings, private estates, and commercial premises in the UK and internationally.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Stairs and Balustrades Individually designed stairs and balustrades crafted from brass, bronze, stainless steel, mild steel, wrought iron, or cast iron to suit client tastes and the property style.
- Bronze Work Fine architectural bronze work created by skilled metalworkers using advanced design technology combined with traditional craftsmanship, for handrails, balustrades, doors, and decorative features.
- Handrails
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 40 years of heritage ironwork experience with reference sites including Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, St Paul's Cathedral, and York Minster.
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Topp & Co
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Topp & Co technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Topp & Co partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- John Simpson & PartnerscoreArchitectural practice that has specified Topp & Co. for multiple prestigious projects including Kensington Palace Loggia and The Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace. The partnership involves collaborative design development and bespoke metalwork creation for complex architectural projects.
- Purcell (Architects)coreHeritage architecture firm that has commissioned Topp & Co. for projects including Durham Cathedral handrails for the 'Open Treasures' exhibition project. Purcell specialises in heritage and conservation architecture.
- John MaddisoncoreCambridgeshire-based artist and medieval architecture expert who designed the Ely Cathedral screen. Recommended Topp & Co. for the commission due to their experience and Chris Topp's talents. The partnership created one of the largest pieces of new ecclesiastical wrought ironwork in the company's 30-year history.
- Harrison Brookes ArchitectsminorArchitectural practice that commissioned Topp & Co. for cast iron gates for Royal Victoria Park in Bath, studying old photos to create accurate replicas of 1830 gates.
- Martin Ashley ArchitectsminorArchitectural practice that commissioned Topp & Co. for St George's Chapel Windsor bronze handrail project, specifying traditional techniques of skilled craftsmen.
- Smith & Co (Foundry)coreFoundry partnership for cast iron work. Worked with Topp & Co. on projects including Stirling Castle and cast iron columns for Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford.
- Aynsley MetalworkminorMetalwork specialist subcontractor that worked with Topp & Co. on the Kensington Palace Loggia project, part of the £12 million revamp of Kensington Palace and Gardens.
- National Heritage Ironwork GroupcoreIndustry body formed in 2009 including Chris Topp as founding member. Chris was influential in writing the code of practice for heritage ironwork conservation. The group raises awareness of heritage ironwork importance and preserves blacksmith skills.
- Foster + PartnerscoreWorld-renowned architectural practice that engaged Topp & Co. for custom metalwork on an extremely high-end residential project in San Francisco. Described Topp & Co. as 'excellent partner' with quick shop drawing production and submittal turnarounds.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Topp & Co competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Architectural Iron Designs: Architectural Iron Designs is a US fabricator of custom ornamental and architectural ironwork including doors, railings, stairs and gates. Comparable to Topp & Co in its custom ornamental metalwork offering and heritage/traditional design orientation.
- Compass Ironworks: Compass Ironworks is a UK bespoke architectural metalwork firm specializing in gates, railings, balustrades and heritage restoration. It competes with Topp & Co for heritage and luxury commissions in the UK domestic market with similar product scope and client profile.
- Robinson Iron Corporation: Robinson Iron is a US-based architectural and ornamental ironwork company producing custom railings, stairs, balconies and restoration metalwork for institutional and high-end projects. It is a direct competitor in the bespoke architectural ironwork niche with comparable craft-led positioning.
- The Ironwork Studio (Bethan Griffiths): The Ironwork Studio is a UK design-led metalwork practice that has collaborated with Topp & Co on Shrewsbury Cathedral railings and gates. It is a comparable peer in ecclesiastical and heritage cast iron work, operating in the same vertical with similar craft-led positioning.
- Aynsley Metalwork: Aynsley Metalwork is a UK architectural metalwork specialist that has worked with Topp & Co as a subcontractor (e.g., Kensington Palace Loggia). It offers comparable bespoke gates, railings, and balustrades for heritage and luxury clients.
- Ballantine Castings: Ballantine Castings is a UK foundry producing architectural castings and ornamental ironwork. It competes with Topp & Co on the cast iron and architectural components side of the heritage restoration market, often serving the same architects and conservation specifiers.
- Heritage Cast Iron: Heritage Cast Iron specializes in cast iron architectural components, restoration, and reproduction for historic buildings in the US market. Overlaps with Topp & Co's cast iron restoration work and serves similar institutional/heritage customers.
Broad incumbents
- Cliveden Conservation: Cliveden Conservation is a UK heritage building conservation contractor operating broadly across masonry, timber, stone, and metalwork restoration. It overlaps with Topp & Co on the heritage ironwork vertical but as a wider multi-discipline conservation provider rather than a metalwork specialist.
Others
- National Heritage Ironwork Group: The National Heritage Ironwork Group is the industry body of which Chris Topp is a founding member and council member. It is not a competitor but is the standards-setting body that shapes heritage ironwork specifications in the UK, directly influencing Topp & Co's tender positioning.
- Smith & Co Foundry: Smith & Co Foundry is a UK foundry that Topp & Co partners with for cast iron work (Stirling Castle, Pitt Rivers Museum). As an upstream supply partner, it is comparable as a casting capability provider in the heritage metalwork value chain.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Topp & Co social profiles
Digital presenceTopp & Co compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Topp & Co financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Topp & Co leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Topp & Co funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Topp & Co M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Topp & Co
What does Topp & Co do?
Topp & Co. designs, manufactures, and installs bespoke architectural metalwork including stairs, balustrades, gates, railings, handrails, bronze work, cast ironwork, and ecclesiastical ironwork for prestigious properties. The company also provides heritage ironwork conservation and restoration services and operates the world's only remaining re-rolling mill producing genuine puddled wrought iron in 4ft, 6ft, and 8ft lengths. Services span complete project management from design and CAD/3D-printed pattern production through foundry casting, fabrication, shipping, and on-site installation.
Is Topp & Co a public or private company?
Topp & Co is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Topp & Co founded?
Topp & Co was founded in 1982. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Topp & Co based?
Topp & Co is headquartered in Tholthorpe, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Topp & Co make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Bespoke Architectural Metalwork Commissioning is the primary driver. The others are heritage Restoration Services and wrought Iron Materials Sales.
Who are Topp & Co's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Architectural Iron Designs, Compass Ironworks, Robinson Iron Corporation, The Ironwork Studio (Bethan Griffiths), Aynsley Metalwork, Ballantine Castings and Heritage Cast Iron. Cliveden Conservation is listed as a broad incumbent. Others are National Heritage Ironwork Group and Smith & Co Foundry.
Does Topp & Co have an API?
No public API is recorded for Topp & Co.
What industry is Topp & Co in?
Topp & Co's product category is Architectural Metalwork Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMADACAE, Architectural & Miscellaneous Metals (Stairs, Railings, Ladders). Its NAICS code is 332323 and its SIC code is 3440.