About Us

Janet, my wife, and I live in Weardale, County Durham where I hand manufacture our hats from several types of wood such as Sycamore, Oak, Cherry and Beech.

You can see a selection of hats in the gallery.

I have had exhibitions in two galleries in the North East of England: The Biscuit Factory, Byker, Newcastle Upon Tyne and Blagdon Mill, Northumberland.

See the Biscuit Factory and Blagdon Mill Page for photographs or visit the Biscuit Factory website at http://www.thebiscuitfactory.com/

The hats come in all shapes and sizes from top hats to Stetsons and bowlers to baseball caps.

I was initially inspired after reading an article in the Woodturning magazine about a turner in America that made full size hats that you could wear, His name is Johannes Michelson and after having tried several times to make hats I had the opportunity to see Johanness demonstrate in Ireland at the Irish woodturners Guild and my full size hat making took on a new dimension with the learning that I received.

I have taught and practiced woodworking associated crafts for over twenty years to apprentices and now teach privately in workshop at home and voluntarily in my former school Wolsingham (See the Wolsingham School Project page for photographs). I have recently demonstrated to small groups of a maximum of 4 the manufacture of a full size hat from start to finish.

Janet makes excellent home made food when students attend training in all the whole day will be very enjoyable experience please see our contact details if you wish to book Training or Demonstrating (see demonstration diary).