2022 Chair Making courses: 11th July, 1st August, 5th September. Email Us.

We Value Traditional Crafts

We Value Traditional CraftsWe Value Traditional CraftsWe Value Traditional Crafts
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  • About Us
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  • Tool Chest Course
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    • Home
    • About Us
    • Craft Courses
    • Chair Making Course
    • Tool Chest Course
    • Gallery
    • Contact Us

We Value Traditional Crafts

We Value Traditional CraftsWe Value Traditional CraftsWe Value Traditional Crafts
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Craft Courses
  • Chair Making Course
  • Tool Chest Course
  • Gallery
  • Contact Us

About Us

Qualifications & Experience

Director, Bill Ratcliffe MA , is an Advanced City & Guilds qualified cabinet maker, surface finisher and upholsterer. He has also achieved a First Class  BA (Hons) Degree in Furniture Conservation, Restoration & Decorative Arts. He later gained a Masters Degree in the Conservation of Historic Objects. 


He has worked on a number of important projects at some historic locations but just loves working on a variety of objects. Bill also takes on commissions for making projects in addition to running a number of woodwork based craft courses.

Campaigning & Writing

Bill is an advocate for traditional crafts and skills. He was awarded 'Campaigner of the Year' when at University for campaigning against craft course closures. He believes we need to encourage more young people into woodworking and to spend less time in front of screens. Vocational skills remain undervalued and this needs to change.


Bill writes regularly for hand tool woodworking magazine, Quercus. He is passionate about the benefits of enjoying woodworking, both for the person but also for the environment.


Bill has also written for the 2022 Annual Journal of Woodland Heritage.

Furniture & Decorative Arts

We offer services in cabinet making, surface finishing, traditional upholstery, gilding and all aspects of conservation and restoration. We work for private clients, institutions and historic houses. 


Please take a look at the gallery to see a small selection of photos including rocking horse restoration, conservation of the well documented Thomas Chippendale 'Violin Cabinet ' at Wilton House (supporting Granary Conservation of Lincolnshire) and the frame conservation & upholstery of a pair of 18th century French chairs, stamped with French Master maker's mark, Adrien Pierre Dupain.

Services

Craft Courses

Furniture Conservation & Restoration

Furniture Conservation & Restoration

  • We value traditional skills and run a number of courses in woodworking, making and furniture restoration
  • We focus on providing a relaxing environment where you can learn new skills and escape the phone or laptop screen for a while
  • We focus on developing skills with hand tools and also the use of machinery if you wish but the aim is to give you the skills to continue with more new projects when you get home

Furniture Conservation & Restoration

Furniture Conservation & Restoration

Furniture Conservation & Restoration

  • We discuss the needs of our clients and complete repairs and restoration to a high standard.  
  •  We work ethically and professional using conservation grade materials and respecting the history of the objects


Surface Finishing

Woodwork Training Courses

Woodwork Training Courses

  • We work on many surface finishes such as french polishing, paints, oils, waxes and gilding. 
  • We can also complete gesso work to objects like picture frames. 

 


Woodwork Training Courses

Woodwork Training Courses

Woodwork Training Courses

We run a number of woodwork based courses and the aim is for you to fall in love with craft that we have such a passion for and get so much from, for example:

  • Make a Welsh Stick back chair over 5 days
  • Make your own traditional tool chest
  • Tuition - Finally learn to produce good dovetail joints or other skills
  • Learn to sharpen your tools to the correct standard
  • Make something you have always wanted to make, send an email through to Bill and he will discuss arranging a course for you.



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