Courses
To book one of the following courses, please email edward.carefoot@gmail.com
On this two-day shavehorse making course, you'll make your own shavehorse from locally sourced wood. Under Edward’s guidance, you’ll learn traditional joinery techniques and the art of shaping wood with hand tools. This practical, hands-on course gives you the chance to build a functional tool. By the end of the two days, you'll have a quality shavehorse to take home, along with new skills to continue exploring the craft.
On this bench making course, you'll craft a useful wooden bench using sustainably sourced local timber. Under expert guidance, you'll learn traditional woodworking techniques in a hands-on, supportive environment. Surrounded by natural scenery, this course offers not just practical skills, but a deeper connection to traditional skills and the landscape through the materials you use.
This one-day course enables you to learn all the traditional skills used to produce a useful and practical table. All the materials are sourced from the woodland on the estate, you’ll split the wood by hand and turn the legs and joints on the shavehorse. The final stage involves fitting and wedging the through-tenons on the legs. Our house is full of these handy tables, you can never have too many.
2026 Bench-Making Course Dates:
24th/ 25th April - Fully Booked
2026 Table-Making Course Dates:
April 3rd - Fully Booked
April 4th - 1 Place Available
May 8th - Fully Booked
May 9th - Fully Booked.
June 26th - 2 Places Available
June 27th - 1 Places Available
2026 Shavehorse Course Dates:
22nd/ 23rd May - Fully Booked
28th/ 29th August - 2 Places Available
The pieces you will create on these courses are traditional to the woodland heritage of the Lake District.
All courses are held at the workshop on the Witherslack Estate, the largest ancient woodland in Cumbria.
You will learn to select green Ash timber, sustainably felled in the surrounding woodland, and be guided through the process of splitting the logs using wedges and mallets to produce the material needed.
Once this is done, using traditional hand tools like the froe, axe, drawknife, and spokeshave on a shave horse, you will craft the components required.
No previous experience is needed, and all levels of ability are welcome.
Key Information.
Courses include all materials and tools.
The course number will be no larger than five.
The course does not include accommodation, however, there are various options locally within the valley from camping, yurts, pubs and self-catering. A list of which can be sent over if requested.
Please ensure you have transport to the Estate. There are good national train links to Kendal and buses and taxis to Witherslack.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to be in touch.