Furniture Craft School

This is Charlie’s Krenov-inspired cabinet in Oak and Syscamore. He’s decorated it with bog oak handles and details; and the little drawers and handsomely detailed with tiny handles and brass. Overall, a rather effective design, which we hope he will use and get much enjoyment from throughout his life.

Charlie completed his full-time one year course in January.

What we made 💪🏼🪑 at the Women’s Weekend Woodworking at the Furniture Craft School in Scotney Castle Estate this weekend.

Linda, Louise, Jenny and Fiona spent Saturday and Sunday using drawknives, spokeshaves, jack planes and block planes to shape the legs of their milking stools and their seats. Finally, they glued their stools with wedged tenons before oiling them.

We had moments of beautiful, quiet focus with just the sound of the shaving. We had laughter by a roaring fire whilst enjoying home-made biscuits and plenty of cake. And a lot of hands-on woodworking, trying different tools, techniques and helping each other out whilst sharing stories.

A fantastic weekend! Join us for the next one? Dates to be announced in the website.

It was a real pleasure to welcome Joseph Bray to the Furniture Craft School.

Joseph spent time with our students sharing three threads that sparked thought and conversation: the work of the Sylva Foundation and its mission to support home-grown timber and woodland management; the gender diversity project; reflections from his Churchill Fellowship travels across the US and Europe, visiting workshops and training schools observing what ‘good’ looks like. All followed with an open Q&A about life after graduating, routes into work, and what workshops expect from new makers. Several students told us afterwards it shifted how they think about wood sourcing, workshops, and their own next steps.

A sincere thank you to Joseph for taking the time to come and share his experience so generously. A valuable and inspiring visit all round!






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The crisp air has arrived, and with it, our first snowfall of the year.

The students huddle around the fire with cupfuls of tea before heading back in to finish fitting their drawers into their Shaker tables. Other students who are further along are working on their practice pieces for their Krenov cabinets — which are built with hand-cut dovetails; or even their final projects.

Around the workshops, our technician is busy building new workbenches for students joining in January.

What have psychiatrists, paramedics, chefs, engineers, software developers and tech consultants have in common?

They’ve all ended up on our fine woodworking courses!

There are many reasons why people decide to join us, whether for our short or full-time courses. Our students come from all walks of life. After a few hours in the workshop, everyone starts feeling at ease as their focus is directed towards applying a succession of new skills, demonstrated by our tutors.

Learning with wood is a wonderful way to feel calm, focused, feel a sense of achievement and encourage your creativity.

We had a wonderful week hosting our newest short course cohort — Gemma, Philippa, Olivia, James, David & Derek. They took home beautiful marquetry games-boards and a handful of joinery skills.

We saw our students make some thoughtful, functional pieces of furniture this year.

Here’s Andrew — now working in Conservation Joinery — and his record cabinet. Andrew finished the one-year course early in 2025.

We have now welcomed our 2025/26 cohort, who started last week. And there’s already talk about what they are going to design and make for their final piece in a few months’ time.

Three stunning dovetail boxes made by our short course students this week.

Emma, Jamie and Sandy learned tricks to mark and cut dovetails, glue their Oak boxes with cedar bottoms, make a frame and panel lid and install brass hinges using hand tools.
Then they planed their boxes smooth and finished using their scrapers and abrasive papers.

We enjoyed gorgeous weather and lots of cups of tea, treats and chats outside by the oak tree.

A wonderful week — and they’ll be back for round three; next time for a one day machine woodworking course.

If you’d like to join them drop us a DM and we’ll add you to the list and work out a date that works for all.

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End-of-year snapshot, with a few beloved gaps.

As the sun leans into summer, we pause to mark a moment: the graduating cohort of 2025 at Furniture Craft School—flanked by tutors, technician, staff, and a few students still deep in their making until next spring.

Not everyone made it into this photo. Some have already moved on to their next chapter—like Daniel Thumwood, now working with Sebastian Cox—and others, though absent here, have been very much present in the life of the workshop. Especially alumni Brian, who helps us with workshop projects and without whom things wouldn’t be the same.

This year saw a quiet phenomenon: four Annas (if we’re counting Susanna, which of course we are). Only two appear here, but the others left their mark in sawdust, shavings, and spirit.

To those moving on: may your next projects be bold, and your joints stay tight.
To those staying: your benches await.

📚 Applications are open for the next full-time programme, beginning this September.

From pavement to poetry in timber.

This remarkable pair of chairs—somewhere between Windsor chair, Nakashima bench, and 21st-century chaise—are the product student David’s relentless curiosity and unshakeable craftsmanship at the Furniture Craft School.

The story began with a felled London plane tree, cut down outside the student’s former flat—a chance encounter turned into a design journey that spanned disciplines. Blending fine furniture-making with green woodworking techniques, and shaped through months of self-driven research, what began as one chair grew organically into two. A pairing. A dialogue in wood.

Each curve, tenon, and taper speaks of traditional roots reimagined—where joinery becomes sculpture, and patience yields form.

🪑 Inspired? The full-time September intake is now open.

🪚 Or join our next short course—box making with hand-cut dovetails—starting Monday for 5 days. There’s still space, if you want the spot just DM us.

The Krenov style cabinet of student David, who graduated this summer.

David chose to include some creative marquetry on the back panel, check out his reel showing a little behind the scenes.

Our next full time course starts in September. Our short courses are now full for the year — with exception of the Dovetail Box-making short course starting on Monday 4th August. There’s still time to book!

Next year’s courses will go up on the website at the end of the year. If you want to be the first to hear of opportunities and news, sign up to our newsletter.

Or download our prospectus via link in bio.

Olivier’s drinks cabinet, made during the last three months here at the Furniture Craft School.

We have an upcoming taster course for those who have some basic prior experience. Our dovetail box course starts in Monday next week 4/8/25. There’s still time to sign up! Link in bio.

Made by hand. Designed for life.

This student-built dressing table in walnut is proof of what’s possible when you give craft your full attention.
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Want to make furniture like this? Our next short course in starts August 4 — make a dovetail box. Or join our beginner short course in October — we have one space left each.
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🎓 Download the prospectus for the full time course via the link in bio.

Make something you’re proud of.