Upcoming Courses at Penrhyn Castle North Wales

ByPaul Sellers

DSC_0035 Free classes coming soon

Before we get into the two workshops below, I should say that we have some exciting news about free workshops and crash courses in planes and saws at the Castle over the next few months. I will post when we have updates so you can plan a weekend in the beauty of North Wales. That’s my workshop behind me. Imagine your bench place in there!

Upcoming Nine-day Course at Penrhyn Castle North Wales

The next nine-day Foundational Course September 21 is full again and that means we will likely run another before the end of the year. I know, we should put up the testimonials to help you decide but time slips away from me. The last class in the US was full too and I cannot tell you how inspiring my work in training the new generation of woodworkers is. DSC_0396 I first put this course together back in the last century (over 20 years ago) and since then around 4,500 woodworkers have gone through all or part of it. I say all or part because back then we split the course into three modules and some people attended one, two or three of the modules. Mostly all three. Why did we change that? Well, we found that people progressed to much higher levels when we combined the courses into an intensive long week and that people could get a week off work but not longer. DSC_0145 We also found that people found the one trip more economical in time and transportation/travel etc. So, all round, this has seemed the most popular plan. In this workshop students build three important projects surrounding my three joints and ten hand tools tradition that in so many ways became the trademark of my work. DSC_0202 Back in 1989 I saw that with three joints and ten hand tools you could make just about anything from wood. This single simplicity then became the signature statement of my working with woodworkers from all around the world.

The Two-day Workshop

DSC_0043 After the nine-day course we have a two-day weekend class planned and this class is filling nicely with a couple of places left. This class is our Discovering Woodworking workshop that prepares the way to better understand the value of working with hand tools and also equips you for the Nine-day Foundational Workshop as well. Many students never had the opportunity to work with their hands in woodworking yet feel drawn to become a woodworker. DSC_0004 With the right tools and good instruction, they gain a foundational understanding of the tools we use, the joints we make and how they work in the many different realms of woodworking crafts like general woodworking and furniture making. So, what’s a sprig bit? What’s draw-bore tenon? How do you set a mortise gauge? Is there a difference between a mortise chisel and a bevel edged chisel and what’s a convex bevel anyway? All these questions and a million more are answered as you sit with friends around my bench and work at your own. I hope if you have considered starting hand tool woodworking that you will join me and Phil Adams to make this the best introduction to woodworking you ever had.

13 Comments

  1. Hi Paul,
    at the two day course do we practice joints and sharpening or is their a finished product, apart from our honed skills?

    1. Each class is different, but yes, we do make joints and sharpen edge tools, planes, When we did do a project we found people lost track of the purpose of the class and focussed only on the project not skills and skill building.

      1. Sounds good, Paul. In fact too much concentration on a project can lead to stifling of creativity. If you don’t know how to use and sharpen your tools, you won’t get very far;I’m looking forward to it.

  2. Very Exciting news.
    I would have loved to have gone on your 9 day course.
    Its just that I would have to take the other half and the dog. The cost of course and accommodation for us bit out of my price rang at the moment.
    Don’t get me wrong I think your course prices are good value.
    I have some holiday due so maybe just maybe if you decide Paul to do another 9 day course later in year.
    I might be able to go and it would be a great honour to meet you and the team.

    If not there is next year.

    1. We are looking at scheduling future classes with the next UK 9-day in probably in January.

      1. Could you please let me know of the course dates in Jan, I am very interested. Also an idea of costs and location. Thanks

        1. Sorry, Kirstie, I have no plans for courses into the future as yet until we are more settled after our move.

  3. Hi Paul,

    I just have to ask, how does one get a workshop in a castle!?! Oh, and are there any ghosts? (Not that I actually believe in ghosts.)

  4. Hi Paul,

    Hi Paul,
    I sent an email via your web page a week or so ago, just wondering did you receive it?
    I was enquiring about joining the next 2 day workshop, when it is held, the cost, times, how to join, etc.
    Many thanks.

    Pete

    1. I did answer this but I can’t see the answer so my advice was to go to the New Legacy School of Woodworking website where you should find the details you need for this.

  5. Can you tell me a date for a 9 day workshop at Penrhyn Castle in 2018.
    I live in Australia.
    Not that I’m coming on a sailing ship like my grandparents did from Ireland, but I would like to plan it with some long service leave.

    1. Hello John, We have moved to the southerly regions of England as of 10 months ago and are in Oxfordshire. We have nit set the dates for courses next year but hope to find time and dates soon.

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