Weald and Downland Living Museum Ticket Portal

Sunday 01 June 2025

Sunday 17 August 2025

A friendly and informal course during which participants will have the opportunity to use traditional tools and to turn simple objects.

This one-day course offers the opportunity to learn the concepts of pole lathing to create component parts for various projects.

Experience the use of draw horse and knife to shape fresh timber prior to commencing turning with the lathe.

Options and designs are possible and a little discussion will ensure you get the most from your lathe. The day is designed for “between centres” turning to assist in making turned items, especially for chairs and chair making.

From novice to experienced, all will be helped to create their own specific requirements to take home and use for their next woodworking projects.

Saturday 19 July – Sunday 20 July 2025

Coracles are traditional riverboats. Round in shape, they are paddled with one oar. On this two-day course you will make a traditional coracle and try out your boating skills on the Museum's mill pond.  You will make a coracle covered in calico and receive instructions for completing the final stage (waterproofing) at home.  The finished coracle is quite large so please consider appropriate transport.

Tuesday 24 to Wednesday 25 June 2025

Your tutor, Sarah, will guide you through the various processes involved in creating a decorative relief carving in Limewood using traditional tools and techniques. Choose from a selection of 4 example designs or create your own unique design to carve and take home with you.

Friday 04 April 2025

Friday 16 May 2025

Learn how to make a basic sturdy traditional Sweet Chestnut gate hurdle, to go around stock or in a gateway.

Tuesday 11 March 2025

Wednesday 12 March 2025

Thursday 13 March 2025

Spoon carving is the ultimate hands on woodcraft. On this one day course you’ll learn safe knife grips and axe skills, and gain an understanding of working with the grain to create functional wooden spoons.

Thursday 26 June 2025

Learn the basic techniques involved in letter carving in wood. During this one day course, Sarah will take you through the various elements required to carve lettering in a basic font in Limewood using traditional carving tools. After lunch, you'll then have the opportunity to either carve some initials or a small sign of your choice to take home with you.

Sunday 16 March 2025

Spend the morning making a unique woodland brush using branch wood, tampico fibres and rush.

Friday 14 March 2025

Saturday 15 March 2025

Starting with an axed out bowl blank from half a log, learn how to shape it into a bowl suitable for soup or cereal, using a foot powered pole lathe.

Saturday 26 - Sunday 27 April 2025

The ideal project for learning green (unseasoned) wood working techniques, also for anyone wishing to further their endeavours on their own afterwards. The draw horse is the old and very efficient forerunner of the work-mate and can be designed to fit the operator, no matter height nor intended purposes.

Starting out with the intended uses of the draw horse, fresh logs and prepared parts will be used for the design and build. Day one assembles the component parts, day two continues with joint-work and completion. Then a necessary trial-run before despatch.

All materials, demonstration, tool-use and on-going assistance provided to help everyone make their own draw horse to take home at the end of the course.

From complete beginner to anyone with previous skills, all should enjoy their experience of crafting their very own all-in-one work bench, vice, clamp, table or seat; however you choose to use it.

Saturday 31 May 2025

Saturday 16 August 2025

This course involves both discussions on woodlands and their historical management, and practical sessions involving tutoring in using various tools and the pole lathe. You will learn a different way of looking at trees, how they grow, how they can be managed to provide a wide range of differing timber for traditional woodworking.

• Use of various timbers and design – the very starting point of making serviceable wooden implements and furniture.
• Get experience in cleaving, shaping with axe and drawknife and begin to feel the attraction of these ancient working practices.
• Students make their own traditional-style charcoal makers stool to take home.
• Demonstration on the use of the pole lathe for shaping and jointwork.
• All techniques demonstrated and constant guidance given as required so that each student can learn and enjoy the processes for themselves.

No previous woodwork experience needed, this course is designed for anyone with an interest in trees, woodlands, design and making for themselves.