Please feel free to give me a ring about any aspect of our courses: 07778 397328

How much do courses cost?

2024:

Simple stool – 2 day – £190

Round Stool – 3 day – £275

Side chair – 5 day – £500

Arm chair – 6 day – £575

Where are you? How do I get there?

Great Wilbraham – 15 minutes from Cambridge, an hour from North London, Norwich and Northampton. 

By car – just off the A11.

By public transport – get a train to Cambridge or Cambridge North and then a taxi. Buses are rare!

Do you have parking?

There is plenty of parking on the street (we often park on the street) and a few places on our driveway.

Do you provide food?

We provide tea and coffee all day, a mid-morning snack, a light lunch and tea and cake in the afternoon. 

What should I wear?

You must wear strong, closed-toe shoes. I always wear safety shoes in the workshop. No sandals or light footwear. Imagine dropping something on your foot. We recommend trousers rather than shorts (you’ll get shavings in your socks) but the rest is up to you. Don’t wear anything precious.

Will I be able to do it?

If you are strong enough and dextrous enough to cook a roast dinner from scratch then you should be able to build a chair! You’re not expected to have any special skills and instruction on all tools is provided.

Do I need any experience?

No. All our courses are designed for beginners though experienced woodworkers are likely to learn something because chairmaking is different from a lot of woodwork.

Which course should I take as a complete beginner?

Any. But if you need a gentle introduction the Simple Stool Class is ideal.

What are the chairs built from? Where do you get the timber?

Air dried ash. We buy it from a small number of English timber yards that we know well.

What’s the finish on the chairs?

You can apply a finish when you get home. We use and recommend Osmo Polyx Raw and a coat of wax.

Do I have to build my chair exactly like yours?

The dimensions and jigs are all provided for you. You have a lot of choice over slats, spindles and arms which all give a distinctive and personal feel to the chair.

How long is the day? What’s the schedule?

We start at 9.30 prompt. Please arrive early and have a cup of coffee so that we’re all ready for the first demonstration. The day usually finishes around 5pm but this depends on individual progress. Some people finish different stages at different times and can then either go home or set up for the next day.

How long have you been running courses?

I’ve been teaching for over 20 years! I started running stool-making and woodworking classes about 5 years on a rather ad hoc basis. I was asked to run small ‘masterclasses’ in a school I worked in and then ran classes in other people’s workshops. We moved to dedicated workshops of our own in 2023 and are testing all of our courses with small groups and will start full-time in 2024.

Can I skip a day/leave early?

You will struggle to finish your chair. If you miss a day during the course you’ll be out of synch with the rest of the class.

What’s your refunds/returns policy?

If you are ill at the time of your course please don’t come. We can rebook you on a course in future.

Our refunds policy works on a sliding scale. If you book and decide not to attend we will refund 100% of your fee up to four weeks before the course and 50% up to two weeks ahead. We will advertise the vacancy and if it is filled we will refund the rest of your fee.

We do not offer refunds on gift vouchers.

I can’t find your store on the website. Where is it?

It will go live later in the summer.

How long does a gift voucher last?

You must book your course within two years of the purchase of the gift voucher.

Is there a minimum age for courses?

18. We are looking into accompanied children and are checking with our insurers.

Where can I stay nearby?

Camping: Bounds in Fulbourn is two miles away.

Budget hotel: The Fourwentways Travelodge is the cheapest we can find in the area but it’s right next to a busy road!

Posh hotel: The Quy Mill Hotel and Spa is close and apparently very nice!

Can I pitch my tent in your garden?

Sorry, we don’t have the facilities for this! Bounds campsite is two miles down the road.