We use our top quality traditional cabinetwork skills and specialist knowledge of furniture history to provide
appropriate and sympathetic conservation and restoration treatments for historically important furniture and
interior woodwork in the North of England.
The workshop has a good stock of 17th, 18th and 19th Century antique timbers for use in our restoration and
conservation work, including high class old surface period walnut veneers, very good quality C18th mahogany
both as veneer with faded mellow surfaces, and also available as thicker solid materials for mouldings etc,
C17th and later old surface oaks, and faded antique C19th rosewood veneers.
We also have a good selection of 18th and 19th century brassware comprising of handles, locks, keys, catches, table clips, table screws
and other fittings for dining tables and castors, together with extensive specialist catalogues of brass patterns for
replacement fittings available to order.
We can supply distressed and toned down replacement mirror plates and high class tooled leather linings.
We hold some old glass in stock, and are familiar with supplying curved and shaped glass panes for glazed doors
when replacement is required.
We supply and fit old pattern keys to locks, and we also clean and refurbish locks internally.
In all our work we are committed to retaining the mellow appearance of historic showwood surfaces
whereever possible. Minor watermarks and surface damage can often be toned in to match acceptably with undamaged adjacent
polished areas. Usually surfaces are wax polished on completion and we avoid
unneccessary stripping and repolishing of old surfaces.
The workshop, now employing four craftspeople, was established by Tim Phelps in
Harrogate in 1984 and relocated to larger premises in 2004. Tim
Phelps trained initially at Rycotewood College, Thame and West Dean
College, and has since been accredited as a full member of both
the Institute of Conservation (formerly UKIC) and the British
Antique Furniture Restorers’ Association (BAFRA). The workshop is
included in the Conservation Register.
More than half our
work is for private clients; other important customers include the
National Trust, English Heritage, museums, stately homes and the
antiques trade. Over the years the workshop has had particularly
extensive involvement with the furniture collections at Nostell
Priory (the National Trust) and Brodsworth Hall (English Heritage).
