Downs craftsmen
Charles Marland and Paul Crudge are two local craftsmen
who are using wood, particularly from local sources, to create beautiful
products that are sustainable. In the process woodlands are managed for
timber or underwood that nearly always benefits wildlife.
Charles has been working with coppiced wood since the
age of thirteen when he took an interest in coppice crafts. He went on to
do a part time apprenticeship whilst still at school, with Alan Waters,
who makes wildwood charcoal and coppice products and is one of the country’s
most knowledgeable hazel coppice workers. Since then he has taken pride in
producing hazel hurdles, thatching spars, besom brooms, chestnut sheep
hurdles and a variety of other products. Every year he coppices roughly
two hectares of woodland around Wye. This is then turned into the above
products, most of which go to private customers and landscape gardeners
who use large quantities of hazel hurdles in landscaping. He is carrying
on an age old tradition. If you would like to place an order for any of
the products above Charles can be contacted on 01233 813406.
When it comes to buying furniture, the mass-produced
route is an all too easy one to go down. How much more rewarding to
commission a piece instead. With the high street stores full of cloned
products there has never been a better time than now to go bespoke.
In the case of furniture designer maker Paul Crudge, a
move from Dorset after a full ten years with British designer John
Makepeace has proved successful. Almost all Paul’s clients are local,
coming to him for a piece of furniture that will not only sit happily in
the modern home, but also has a purpose. Be it a chair, table or a
multiple drawer cabinet, each piece is made with careful consideration to
how the chosen materials are used. In certain situations the wood itself
can be the inspiration for the design, capturing the character of the
timber in a unique way.
Commissioning a piece of bespoke furniture for your home
is a close involvement between client and craftsman, resulting in a one
off piece of British craftsmanship. Paul's contact details: Tel:
07881 467774 Tel: 01233 811792. E mail: info@paulcrudge.com
Website: www.paulcrudge.com
