Oxford Herringbone Antique Brown Oak 14 x 125 x 600 (mm)

The dark brown colour is aged in, the surface carries the marks of the grade, and the broader block gives the pattern the scale of an old country-house floor.

Hard wax oil in a deep brushed grain is the most forgiving surface in the range: new marks join the pattern the block already carries, and worn blocks are re-oiled locally with the manufacturer's maintenance oil. Tongue and groove, micro-bevelled, listed as compatible with underfloor heating; a box of 16 blocks covers 1.2 square metres, and the manufacturer's warranty is 15 years.

It is the herringbone for a period hallway or a farmhouse kitchen. The Oxford Dark Brown block at 90 mm by 450 mm is the dark tone without the ageing; the Victorian Antique boards carry the same aged surface into planks, with 4 mm and 6 mm wear layers on the thicker ones.