The origins of our name and logo

The name “Heron’s Ghyll”

Heron’s Ghyll is the hamlet in Sussex where Ned grew up and enjoyed a boyhood spent reading in trees.

“Ghyll” is an alternative spelling of the word “gill,” and refers to either a deep ravine or a narrow mountain stream. To me, the word sounded exotic and old fashioned—the stuff of English fairy tales, like the ones I grew up reading.

There’s also a timelessness to the word, and a feeling of being slightly out of step with modernity, which describes the way I generally feel.

Heron’s Ghyll showerproof cotton drill garment bag with logo. Made in England.

Heron's Ghyll leather notebook handbound in England using sustainably sourced English paper.

Logo

Our logos and artwork are original and developed by us.

The designs were influenced by:

English private bank seals

Our approach to nurturing client relationships has its parallels in private banking: intimacy, trust, discretion, and a more long-term view of client servicing. We wanted our logo to be the mark of a longstanding, personal relationship.

From left to right: Reuzenreiger (1915) by Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita; Heron (1910) woodcut by Walter Kemm; Two Herons in the Snow (1970) by Gakusui Ide; Great Blue Heron by Linda Jean Thille.

Ukiyo-e and linocuts

The English story books I read as a child were often illustrated with woodcuts, and as a result, I’ve associated the medium with an English pastoralism which the name Heron’s Ghyll evokes.

Heron's Ghyll gold foil debossed letterpress business cards. Made in England.