Cooke and Lewis Toilet
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Cooke and Lewis Toilet

Stop me if this sounds familiar. You bought a "universal" seat from the local shop, tried to fit it to your bathroom suite, and realized it overhangs by an inch. You aren't alone. While a Cooke and Lewis Toilet is a solid choice for a modern bathroom, they are notorious for ignoring "standard" dimensions.

Models like the Santoro, Clarence, and Helena use specific shapes that generic seats simply can't match. If you are staring at a broken hinge, don't guess. Here is how to measure your pan accurately to ensure the replacement actually fits.

The "Universal" Trap

Most cheap seats are oval. But Cooke & Lewis pans are often D-Shaped (straight back, curved front) or completely Square. If you put an oval seat on a D-shape pan, the "ceramic shelf" at the back gets exposed. It looks messy and the seat will likely slide around because the hinges don't line up right.

Measure the Pan, Not the Seat

Don't measure your old seat—it might have been the wrong size to begin with. Grab a tape measure and check the bare ceramic.

  1. The Hole Spacing Measure the distance between the two fixing holes at the back. Go from center to center.
  • Note: Standard spacing is often 155mm, but many Cooke & Lewis hinges are adjustable. You need to know if your holes are wider or narrower than average.
  1. The Projection (Length) This is where most people mess up. Measure from the center of the fixing holes to the very front edge of the porcelain.
  • Tip: Do not measure from the cistern tank! The seat pivots on the holes, not the tank.
  1. The Width Just measure the pan at its widest point side-to-side.

Top Fix vs. Bottom Fix

Before you order anything, check how the seat attaches. This is critical for a Cooke and Lewis Toilet.

  • Bottom Fix: Can you reach your hand underneath the toilet bowl to screw on a wingnut?
  • Top Fix (Blind Hole): Is the toilet fully enclosed with smooth sides?

If you have a "Back-to-Wall" model, you likely have Top Fix holes. You cannot use standard fittings here. You must use expansion toggles that slot in from above. If you buy a standard bottom-fix seat for a blind hole pan, you will never be able to tighten it.

Stop Guessing

Identifying models like the Fabian or Cordoba can be tough years after you bought them. You don't need to scour the aisles hoping for a match. My Toilet Spares categorizes their stock by specific model names. Whether you need a heavy-duty resin seat or a specific hinge pack, they list the exact dimensions and fixing types.

Check your measurements, look at the fixing holes, and get a seat that stays put.