At Gemini Worktops, we believe every great home starts with craftsmanship. Not just in the surfaces we create, but in the spirit of ‘making’ - that runs through everything we do. It’s this spirit - shaped by four generations of the Rotherham family - that makes us who we are today: a family business dedicated to skills that many say are dying, but we know are more vital than ever.
This is a story about heritage, about passion, and about one young man – Matty - who is keeping the flame alive.
Our journey began nearly a century ago, when Henry Rotherham worked the quarries of South Yorkshire. His son Joseph followed in his footsteps, opening a stonemason’s yard after World War II. From there, each generation built on the last, combining timeless skill with innovation: introducing the UK’s first CNC stone-cutting machine, developing high-end projects, and eventually founding Gemini Worktops - the UK’s first creator-to-consumer stone surface brand.
Through it all, one thing has never changed: our belief in the power of British craftsmanship. We know that longevity and beauty are created not by machines alone, but by people who care deeply about what they make.
For Matty, this heritage is personal. At 18 - before he could even drive - he knew he wanted to design and make furniture. While many of his peers looked toward lecture halls and offices, Matty stepped into a workshop.
He began by studying furniture design, quickly realising that true craftsmanship can’t be rushed. It’s patient work, where every join, curve, and grain matters. To deepen his skills, he moved to York College and embarked on a 21-month Furniture Making Apprenticeship.
Those months were transformative. Matty learned not only how to shape wood, but how to think like a craftsman: to respect the material, to welcome challenges, and to chase perfection even in the details no one else sees. When he finished his apprenticeship with a distinction, it was proof of his dedication - but also the start of something bigger.
Every great maker learns from those who came before. For Matty, that mentor was Barry - a craftsman who has worked alongside the Rotherham family for more than 40 years.
Barry has seen the business evolve from a small stonemason’s yard into one of the UK’s leading stone surface company. But what has never changed is his passion for doing things properly. Working with him, Matty discovered the irreplaceable value of lived knowledge: techniques that no textbook can teach, insights that only decades at the workbench can provide.
This passing down of skill - from one pair of hands to another - is what keeps British craftsmanship alive. It’s also what makes Gemini Worktops different.
Today, Matty is shaping the future of Gemini Worktops in a very tangible way. In our Rossmoor showroom just outside York, he is handcrafting oak shelving, drawers, and display cabinets to house our stone samples for our new look showroom.
These may look like simple details, but they speak volumes. The smooth glide of a drawer, the solid feel of an oak frame, the subtle joinery holding it all together - these are the touches that tell our customers, you are in safe hands.
When you visit a Gemini Worktops showroom, you don’t just see stone. You feel our values: passion, precision, and pride in every detail. Matty’s work is a reminder that quality isn’t a claim - it’s something you can touch.
In a world of fast production and mass manufacturing, skills like stonemasonry and fine furniture-making can feel like they’re disappearing. But we see it differently. These are not dying skills - they’re living ones. They connect us to the past while shaping the future.
Our customers know this too. They come to us because they value quality over convenience, because they want products that will last, and because they understand that craftsmanship adds something you can’t measure in price alone: character.
This is why, at Gemini Worktops, we remain committed to British craftsmanship. From stone surfaces cut with precision to oak shelving built by hand, we believe in making things the right way, not the easy way.
As the fourth generation of the Rotherham family continues to shape Gemini Worktops, Matty represents both tradition and innovation. He honours the values passed down to him - integrity, attention to detail, passion for materials - while bringing fresh ideas and energy to our future.
His story proves that our legacy isn’t just about stone. It’s about people. It’s about creating beautiful, lasting work that transforms not only homes, but also lives.
When you step into our Rossmoor showroom and pull open a handcrafted oak drawer, you’re not just looking at furniture. You’re touching a piece of a story that began in a South Yorkshire quarry in 1927. You’re experiencing skills that have been carried forward, generation after generation.
For us, this isn’t just history. It’s our future. And through people like Matty, we know that the craft, care, and creativity that define Gemini Worktops will continue to thrive for generations to come.
Because when we say exquisite surfaces, crafted in the UK, we mean it. Every detail. Every time.
Interested in a quartz worktop for your kitchen? Get in touch for a free, no obligation quote today.
An insight into a day in the life at Gemini Worktops, from factory team leader Mark Jennison.
We caught up with our head of manufacturing, Mark, who gave us an insight into the process and his role at the Gemini Worktops factory.
Following the great success of last year's Gem Awards, we're once again searching for the best kitchens of 2025!
Discover why over 40% of homeowners choose quartz for their kitchen worktops. Learn about the science behind this engineered stone's remarkable durability and resistance to scratches and stains.
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