Find sources of lumber, veneer, wood specialties and sawmill services - see how it works
Articles Forums Gallery Marketplace Videos

WoodCentral Forums

Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge

Rare Exotic & Domestic Hardwoods, Milled In-House in Oregon. Browse Unique Stock.

UK trip report *LINK*

Posts

UK trip report *LINK*

#1

UK trip report *LINK*

Ross Canant

>I just returned from another week in the UK. I did take a woodworking side trip this time. I visited the Bedales School, a private high school 50 miles south of London. It has a timber framed library designed by Ernest Grimson and constructed by Sidney Barnsley. It also has library tables designed and built by Barnsley. Both the building and the tables are stunning examples of Arts and Crafts style. The library space itself is an amazing work of architecture and construction. I think it is one of the most beautiful timber framed rooms I have ever seen. It is still used daily by the students. The school, while not open to the public, was quite accommodating and allowed me to tour the library and an adjacent timber framed theater space. The librarian pulled out her files with a pictorial history of the construction of the library complete with pictures of Sid Barnsley raising timbers himself. My intent was to learn the construction details of the library tables and I plan to reproduce one soon.


Bedales Memorial Library image

Re: UK trip report *LINK*

#2

Re: UK trip report *LINK*

Ross Canant

>My work has also been taking me to Lincoln in the UK. I recently toured the Lincoln Cathedral that dates from Norman times. You will see the interior of it in the upcoming movie, The DaVinchi Code. It was used for scenes that were supposed to be set in Westminster Abbey. I was also given a private tour of the roof structure of the cathedral that is all timber framed. Most interesting was the king post framing of a round chancel library. The Lincoln Cathedral also houses one of the 4 known original copies of the Magna Carta.


Timber frame roof image

Re: UK trip report *LINK*

#3

Re: UK trip report

paul womack

>My intent was to learn the construction details of the library tables and I plan to reproduce one soon.

I know about the famous hay-rake tables by Gimson/Barnsley, which are well documented. Are the libary tables different?

BugBear

Re: UK trip report *LINK*

#4

Re: UK trip report *LINK*

William Duffield, on the Cohansey

>Wow, those are a long way from Stickley! I can now understand your need to go Across the Pond to search these out. Thanks for the reference, BugBear. After asking Google and looking at several "copies" of the hay rake tables, and thinking "there must be more to it than this?", I found the following, which clarifies a lot of things:

Barnsley Hay-Rake Table

Re: UK trip report *LINK*

#5

Re: UK trip report

paul womack

>Wow, those are a long way from Stickley!

Yeah. I know some people in the USA think Stickley invented Arts & Crafts furniture, but 'tis not so.

And - wow - nice searching job Sir William.

BugBear

Re: UK trip report *LINK*

#6

Re: UK trip report

Ross Canant

>The library tables are in the hayrake design, although I hadn't heard that term before (thanks for the tip). They are built somewhat heavier than the dining tables and, to my eye, have more character.

👍 This page answered my questions

Your vote helps other woodworkers quickly find the answers and techniques that actually work in the shop.