Growing up in Henley-on-Thames, much of the town's life revolved around the river, especially in summer, when the regatta took over the town. Most outings involved our old picnic bag: a faded blue canvas holdall with rope handles and brass eyelets that had been in the family for as long as I could remember. It had no label inside, but it was beautifully made from heavy-duty canvas, and though faded, it showed no sign of wearing out.
When I had children of my own, the bag was passed down to me. By then, we were living in Tynemouth, with the North Sea on our doorstep instead of the River Thames, but still the old blue bag came with us on every picnic and beach trip.
I’d often wondered about its origins, but with no maker’s label there was no way to trace its story. Until, in 2018 while visiting family in Australia, we were introduced to our bag's twin. Inside this one was a label:
That discovery sent me digging into its history. It turns out the bag was made by Putman & Sons, a small family business founded in the 1890s by Joseph Putman. The company started out making ropes, sacks and tents for local events, including marquees for the Henley Royal Regatta. Using leftover tent canvas and rope, they began sewing simple carry bags: sturdy, functional designs built for everyday use.
The bags became well loved by locals and visitors alike; one even belonged to film star Vivien Leigh, who used hers to store her watercolours. (It was painted with her married initials Vivien Olivier, and it later sold at Sotheby’s for £3,800.)
Like many small workshops, Putman & Sons eventually disappeared in the decades after the Second World War, and their story faded with it. But our blue canvas bag was still going strong, a quiet survivor of a bygone era of British craftsmanship.
So we decided to bring it back.
The new Putman ‘Henley Bag’ is handmade for us here in the UK by Yarmouth Oilskins, a family business founded in the same decade as the original Putman workshop. Built from heavyweight waxed canvas with rope handles and brass fittings, it keeps the spirit of the original alive, now with a few thoughtful updates like a bottle pocket at each end (perfect for a flask or stack of cups), and side pockets for plates and a chopping board. The rope handles are just the right length to carry by your side or sling over your shoulder on the way to the perfect picnic spot.
It’s our tribute to classic British craft; simple, functional, and made to last through decades of your own picnics and beach trips.