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This wash basin with lions mouth spout was designed and built for Manchester House, Whiston Road, Cogenhoe. It was commissioned by Thomas Mann, a local shoe manufacturer, in 1875.

Thomas employed most of the people of Cogenhoe village in his shoe factory at this time.

A wash or basin stand was a piece of furniture consisting of a wood table or cabinet made for holding a water basin and water pitcher. Mahogany, walnut or rosewood were most commonly used. A custom designed and made corner wash basin like this was commissioned by the wealthy for a bedroom.

From 1800 with the expansion of ideals of personal cleanliness, the washstand grew in importance with space provided for soap-dishes and water-bottles and larger ones made for one or two people. From 1900 the wooden top of the washstand was replaced with white marble to make it more elegant. Later red or other warm-tinted marble became fashionable.

These were the predecessors of the modern bathroom wash basin and were in common use throughout most of the 18th and 19th centuries until eventually disappearing with the introduction of modern indoor plumbing and bathrooms.