Arranging regular on-site visits can ensure small damages and losses are reinstated or consolidated quickly. This ensures those pieces do not get lost or damaged further in a 'bit box' and also allows the conservator to identify the cause of the deterioration and to then prevent further losses.
We can be a flexible and professional addition to your collection care strategy and team.
In addition to his furniture related qualifications/experience, Bill has a Master Degree in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage and we are also able to manage or collaborate on larger conservation projects.
There are many benefits of this method:
Arranging a regular schedule of, for example, one conservator for 1 day per month or a team each quarter allows easier budget planning. We can set up a schedule to suit your requirements and review it regularly.
Risk to the collection can be reduced in a number of ways:
These courses are covering the basics to give the foundation skills and let you try the craft
1 day course covering basic tool kit & techniques and you will cut a joint. Private tuition available, please contact us.
1 day course covering the approach to restoration, materials and techniques. Private tuition available, please contact us.
After completing the Introductory course you can arrange to do a follow up days, or regularly so that you can focus on particular items of furniture and skills. We have a number of people who attend regularly throughout the year. These are group courses and normally a 2 day course to allow an overnight for clamping/gluing up or other processes to dry/cure.
5 day course where you will use many techniques to make a Welsh Stick type chair from oak and ash.
Please see the Chair Making Course page for further details.
5 day course where you will learn to make a traditional tool chest, you will get the main carcass and lid completed and this will set you on your way to completing the project at home.
Please see the Tool Chest course page for further details.
Spend two days making a three legged stool. Learn new skills and use new tools. You will learn many new skills and take away a handmade stool. Techniques covered will be sawing, planing, basic wood turning, tapered tenons to name a few.
Make a pair of saw benches for your workshop. Mine are used regularly, see my Instagram posts. They look great and are perfect for sawing on or sitting for a coffee. An ideal addition to your workshop space. The skills used also transfer to stool and chair making, so the learning is great.
Techniques include, sawing, planing, basic wood turning, tapered wedged tenons, to name but a few.
Have you attended the Introductory course or are you an intermediate woodworker who wants to improve your hand-tool skills and joints?
This 2 1/2 day course offers you the chance to hone your skills by making a dovetailed box.
These can be box making, make a stool, tool sharpening, focusing on dovetailing, make a workbench, make a pair of saw horses and most aspects off the craft. If you have an idea or a project, then contact Bill.
£345
Make a pair of saw benches for your workshop. Mine are used regularly, see my Instagram posts. They look great and are perfect for sawing on...
£345
£325
After completing the Introductory course you can arrange to do a follow up day, or attend more regularly so that you can focus on particular...
£325
£325
30th - 31st March - further dates will be added
£325
£375
Have you attended the Introductory course or are you an intermediate woodworker who wants to improve your hand-tool skills and joints?
This 2...
£375
email for price
A one-off day or regular days to make a project and/or develop specific skills & knowledge
email for price
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Cutting a halving joint on an Introduction to woodwork day
Can I attend a course if I am a total beginner?
The easy answer to that is yes, we all have to start somewhere and we will teach you the basics and make sure you are with others of a similar level. We operate in a positive, supportive and informal atmosphere. Our beginner courses are designed to give you a good foundation to build on and we look forward to welcoming you to the workshop.
Is the tutor qualified?
Yes, the majority of courses are run by Bill who is fully qualified from City & Guilds (Cabinetmaking, Upholstery and Surface Finishing), then a BA Degree in Furniture Restoration through to a Masters Degree in the Conservation of Historic Objects. Occasionally if a student requests a tuition on a particular subject, Bill may bring in a specialist to ensure you get the best tuition, so please contact us with any requests.
Can I bring my own tools?
Firstly you do not need to bring tools as the workshop is well equipped however by prior arrangement this can be done. This can often be an ideal time to teach tool sharpening using your own tools so you can get the most from them in the future.
Can I bring in a project to work on?
Again we want you to get what you want from your tuition so yes. We would want to see photos and agree the project in advance though to ensure it fits in with timescales, physical space and to assess material requirements. We have to assess if the object requires work that is suitable for the level of experience but we always try to be flexible.
Can you design a course to cover a specific skill area I want to learn?
Yes absolutely, this is what we love to do. We will consult with you beforehand, design a schedule and agree it with you. Please contact us.
Do you teach up-cycling?
As a conservator/restorer there is always an interesting conversation to be had about the subject of up-cycling, over a cup of tea, of course. We conserve and restore furniture and there is a set of ethical standards we work to regarding the history and integrity of an object.
We do not teach 'up-cycling' however many of the skills are transferable and If we can help someone to improve their skills and knowledge to help them in their own craft, we are happy to do so. Woodworking, surface finishing and upholstery are all important skills.
The course is a gift for someone, do you do gift vouchers?
Of course, we will invoice you for the course and you will have a record that the course has been paid for. Should you require it, we can also email you a personalized gift voucher to give to the recipient.
We will keep adding to the FAQs as and when required.
How do I book a course?
Please email Bill and let him know which course and date you are interested in, also add any questions you may have. He will reply quickly, check availability and arrange our booking. You will be emailed an invoice with payment details, once payment is received, the booking will be confirmed. We are aiming to add a booking system and payment system to the website in late 2024.
Price TBC
These Introduction courses in Woodworking and Restoration will run one evening a week for 10 weeks. Late run the year I will be adding 1 wee...
Price TBC
£595
Introduction to Furniture Restoration evening classes. These will be run on Thursday evenings from 6.30-9.30pm. The first series of 10 eveni...
£595
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