Less scrolling, more sawing.
Our intimate small-group woodworking courses are suitable for all levels of ability and are designed for people who want to slow down and reconnect with the simple pleasure of making by hand.
Whether you want to develop existing skills, explore a potential new hobby or simply fancy a relaxing day or so of creative non-digital making, then please see below for details of upcoming courses and classes.
*To ensure a safe and environmentally conscious workshop, we only use sustainably sourced solid timber and avoid man-made board materials (such as MDF) and glues or finishes with nasty toxic chemicals.
Traditional woodworking courses in the heart of Oxford.
A deep dive into woodworking for people of all levels!
Named from an Orcadian dialect word meaning to stoop or crouch, these traditional wooden seats were historically made and used across Scotland and the Northern Isles for carrying out low-level tasks such as milking cows or tending fires.
For those of us no longer living in a thatched croft on a windswept archipelago, today, they make great folky seats, step-stools, side tables or plant stands.
Using a range of tools and techniques, you will make and take home your own stool. Ideal for complete beginners or those with some experience who want to advance their skills, under our careful tutorship you will learn how to make structurally strong mortise and tenon joints, as well as how to measure, mark-out and saw accurately.
As with all our courses, we encourage students' creative expression and build-in a degree of flexibility and creative freedom into our designs. We’ll work with you to make something totally unique.
Course Highlights:
-Learn about the characteristics and materiality of timber and various wood species.
-Learn how to measure and mark accurately.
-Learn to use a series of traditional hand tools, including planes, saws, chisels and bit & brace drills.
-Learn to create strong mortise and tenon joints.
-The fundamentals of finishing wood with waxes and oils.
-Have a beautiful and usable stool to take home at the end!
All classes take place 9:15 – 17:00 at our workshop (Froe Studio, Edith Road Workshops, 15 Edith Road, Oxford, OX1 4QB).
Courses are limited to 5 learners.
Courses are 18+ (or 16- and 17-year-olds with a participating responsible adult)
A light lunch and tea and coffee are included.
Please wear closed-toe sturdy footwear and clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty or dusty.
We will give full safety briefings and ensure all activates are as safe as possible, however, we will be using sharp things and accidents can happen. By booking onto a course you are accepting that you are attending at your own risk and you will be asked to sign a waiver before the course begins.
Tailor your own time to your needs.
Whether you want help with a specific project, task or skill or you are small group of friends, family members or colleagues looking to spend a creative and constructive day together, we can arrange a workshop session to suit your requirements.
The day (or a number of days) are yours. You are hiring our facilities and knowledgeable input and support in order to achieve your woodworking aims or goals.
For example, we could work on..
-Bespoke shelves or cabinets (freestanding)
-A chair, bench, stool or table for the home or garden
-Restoring or repairing a family heirloom
-Practising a specific skill or joint, such as router work or cutting dovetails
-Freeflow creative sculpture
-Woodwork based team-building activities
We are willing to discuss almost any ideas that you might have. We are only really limited by the size of the workshop and what you can feasibly bring to us (no ocean-going yachts or shepherds huts I'm afraid). Although our workshop is well equipped, we also cannot cater to those wanting to use highly specialised machinery, such as CNC machines or veneering presses etc.
Please bring your own tools, equipment and materials (we can help you source or borrow from us within reason).
If you’re ideas are only vague or partly formed at this stage, then still please do get in touch and we will be happy to discuss.
The price of £220 is for an entire day 09:00 - 17:00.
Forget windowless conference rooms, icy white water rafting and team building spaghetti towers!
Our Oxford woodworking workshop offers the perfect location for a relaxed, hands-on alternative to the standard drab corporate away day or team event.
We can create a unique event tailored to your needs, whether its a half day’s relaxed individual making or an ambitious team project spanning several days. Depending on the activity, would could accommodate around 10 participants max, but this is something we are open to discussing.
Simply contact us to discuss your ideas, preferences, budget and availability.
Want to give woodworking a go but don’t know where to start?
Our one-day workshop experience is the perfect taster session. Suitable for complete beginners, over the day you will be introduced to (and try your hand at using) all of the main tools and fundamental techniques of traditional woodworking.
Under our tuition, you ‘ll safely develop the basic skills and understanding to work confidently with wood and you’ll put these new skills to work on a series of quick projects to take home. You will also learn to design and plan your work, which tools to buy to build your own toolbox and where to source sustainable timber.
Each day will be slightly different, but you can expect to cover measuring and marking out, sawing accurately, chiselling, planing timber smooth, sanding and shaping.
This is an ideal short course for anybody who’s curious about woodworking but isn’t quite ready to commit to a longer course, creative craftspeople looking to explore a new medium and/or DIY enthusiasts who want to extend and develop their practical woodworking skills.
All classes take place 9:15 – 17:00 at our workshop (Froe Studio, Edith Road Workshops, 15 Edith Road, Oxford, OX1 4QB).
Courses are limited to 5 learners.
Courses are 18+ (or 16- and 17-year-olds with a participating responsible adult)
A light lunch and tea and coffee are included.
Please wear closed toe stout shoes and clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty or dusty.
We will give full safety briefings and ensure all activates are as safe as possible, however, we will be using sharp things and accidents can happen. By booking onto a course you are accepting that you are attending at your own risk and you will be asked to sign a waiver before the course begins.
Course Information: admin, logistics and other questions answered
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Unless otherwise stated, all courses take place at our workshop: Froe Studio, Edith Road Workshops, 15 Edith Road, OX1 4QB.
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Yes, we have a fully flushing loo and sink.
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We provide a simple hearty lunch. Please let us know before the course starts if you have any dietary requirements.
Of course, you are more than welcome to bring your own food.
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We provide tea and coffee throughout the day. There are also a number of coffee shops within walking distance.
We also provide accompanying biscuits etc. However, it’s always welcome when people bring snacks for the group to share!
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Please see our workshop location page.
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Yes, there are many ways to get to us by public transport. Please see our workshop location page for details.
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unless otherwise stated, courses run 9:30 - 17:00 and we suggest students arrive at 9:15 to allow settling in time.
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All tools and materials are provided. However, you are more than welcome to bring your own tools if you have them.
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Please wear stout shoes (no open-toed sandals, sliders or bare feet). Things can get dropped and we recognise the importance of toes, so please dress sensibly!
The workshop can be dusty and we will be using glues and finishes so please wear appropriate clothes (no ball-gowns, tailored suits or fabulous sequined jackets).
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Absolutely. Anything you make will be yours to take home and cherish.
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Unless otherwise stated, all of our courses are for over 18’s.
However, 16 and 17 year old’s can attend if they are accompanied by a full paying participating responsible adult.
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You will be refunded up to 30 days before the course start date (minus £25 cancellation fee).
After this, if you can’t attend a course then please let us know asap and somebody from our waiting list may be able to take your place. If so, we can then move you to another course date.