What's In A Mattress?

History of Springs

The first step towards the modern bed was the development of sprung interiors and bases. Before this, feather or hair mattresses were set on fully sprung box bases or wire mesh bedsteads. Today, with the exception of waterbeds, some high quality latex mattresses and some cheap foam mattresses, it is unusual to find a mattress without interior springing.

The main types of modern spring units are as follows; open coil, knitted and pocket spring.

• Open Coil (often called a 'Bonell' unit) - individual springs are joined together using wire. There are between 288 and 325 springs in a 5'0 mattress.
• Individual Hand Nested Pocket Springs - These are the finest of spring systems. Each spring is housed within individual fabric pockets. They move independently of each other, eliminating 'roll-together' and offering correct spinal support. Spring counts vary between 700 and 3000 and the best spring units are assembled in two tiers, giving greater support.

Upholstery

Correct spinal support is vital, however without comfort, sleep offers little benefit.

Mattresses are upholstered to offer comfort to the sleeper - soft fillings mould to body shape and allow muscles to relax, helping to prevent restricted blood flow caused by pressure points.

Most high quality mattresses are upholstered with loose fibres (hair, lambswool, cotton, silk, etc). These mattresses have tufts (cords that pass through the mattress) to keep all the fibre in place, preventing migration to the edges. An indication of the quality of the mattress is if it is the 'hand side stitching'. This is where the border is sewn to the internal spring unit by hand, helping to strengthen it.

Springs

We believe the mattress should adjust to you - not the other way round. So for your complete ease and comfort, our mattresses contain hundreds of springs placed closely together under layers of sumptuous fillings.

In a 'Pocket Sprung' mattress each precision-made coil is wrapped in its own individual soft cloth sleeve, holding the spring at exactly the right tension and allowing it to move independently. This means each spring is poised to adjust and respond to your every movement for a deeply supportive sleep, all night long.

You'll find that every range has a choice of mattresses with different 'spring counts', indicated by the number after the model name, e.g. the Athena 2000 has 2,000 individual pocket springs in a kingsize mattress. The more springs there are, the less body weight has to be supported by each spring and the mattress will be more supportive and responsive.