small sash window in Bonsall Chapel window in Belper Chapel school room window in door in Matlnock Bath
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Jacob Butler's Joinery Workshop

Period Joinery & Building Conservation

In 1986 I started working as a joiner specialising in the repair or replacement of period work; mainly Victorian and Georgian sash-windows and panel doors. My emphasis has been on the perfect reproduction of period design and detail. My first web pages cover this in some detail and are archived here: Since 2001 I have been working on various projects, particularly the conversion of a chapel in which we now live and work.
Latest addition has been the restoration of 10 large windows. Two of them incorporate the original coloured flash glass margin. The others follow the same overall design but with plain glass and the addition of opening lights.

chapel before chapl after

Regional, Traditional, Real Furniture

I am turning my attention towards furniture, with repaired, recycled and new made items. I am most interested in what I think of as "real" furniture; a loose category which could include "regional", "traditional", "country","shaker", "colonial", "vernacular" and also some strictly modern items.
I will be doing more of this in the future, and less architectural joinery.

These images are a few examples of what I have in mind!
A derelict chest of drawers being re-cycled. Two new tables based on a traditional welsh original, with 2 drawers, sycamore tops on a redwood structure. A Welsh table and settle for restoration and for copying. Copies will be available with various options of size, finish and timber.

welsh settle and table

Woodwork

The web is a marvellous place for talking to other woodworkers. Sometimes a waste of time, or an interesting voyage of discovery, bad tempered, hilarious, informative, mis-informative; it all depends who is out there!
For me the pooling of information and the development of ideas in a very critical environment, has been really useful. Some of this I hope to pass on as "how-to" or "how not to" articles here: Woodwork Tips
I spend more time on Woodwork UK than other message boards at the present