Ben Bydawell

• Ben Bydawell
• About the Maker
• More Images
•  

More Images »

I am a joiner, making a wide range of items for historic houses including panelling, windows, doors and staircases; I also make furniture, specialising in bookcases, cupboards and dressers. All of my work is done to commission, the furniture work is realised by collaborative design with clients but the traditional carpenter’s bench is a stock item made to order.

The English Joinery Tradition embraces a variety of styles ranging from the neoclassically inspired proportions of the Georgian period, through the exuberance of Victorian Gothic to the Arts and Crafts influenced Edwardian era.  To ensure that pieces properly reflect the period of the houses they are in, I have familiarised myself with the details and mouldings typical of individual periods, over many years, by  collecting original mouldings to copy and amassing a photographic archive of existing buildings as well as using contemporary pattern books.  I am also interested in vernacular style and always enjoy making pieces of a design peculiar to a particular area. Whilst making joinery of traditional design, I think it’s important where possible to include innovations like draught exclusion strip (which can usually be concealed in frame rebates) to help older houses be energy efficient.  This can be seen in my range of ‘Farmhouse’ windows where blacksmith made opening lights hung on hinge pins (often required as replacements in listed buildings) are fitted to timber frames with draught strip. I also use developments like the new generation of wood preservatives and micro porous paints to protect and extend the life of external joinery.

The inspiration for my cupboards and dressers comes mainly from the capacious Butler’s Cupboards found in the pantries and huge kitchens of large country houses, although every one is designed with a particular space in mind, made to harmonise in style and finish with its surroundings. Some are made in solid timber, Oak or Ash, with a wax oil finish that works up to a dull golden lustre; many are made in Tulipwood ( American Poplar), particularly good for accepting an eggshell paint finish which provides a pleasing contrast with the steamed beech top.   The design of bookcases is another matter as they will have to pitch somewhere between a piece of freestanding furniture and shelving; again they are configured to fit a specific space and as far as possible, if a long run of bookshelves is required, architectural mouldings can be introduced, such as cornicing and a double shelf edge beading, to provide visual interest and make each unit appear contained and complete. These book cases have shelves that are adjustable on slotted brass strip and are usually made from Tulipwood, finished in its natural pale colours and sealed with a hardwearing clear lacquer to prevent marking.

I lecture every year on English Historic Joinery, Traditional Woodwork, (techniques and tools) and Timber (properties and historical availability) for the Ironbridge Institute, part of the University of Birmingham.  I have also done some demonstrating of woodwork techniques at Acton Scott Historic Working Farm in Shropshire for which I recreated the traditional 8foot long Traditional Carpenter’s Bench that I learned woodwork on at school and on which I learned my trade as a bench joiner many years later.  I now make these very useful benches when asked; they are big and solid enough to take on any job.