Reviews of Rowden Atelier Woodworking School. (Carpenter) in Plymouth (Devon).

Rowden Atelier Woodworking School

32 Reviews

32 Comments

Carpenter

Wood working class

College Rd, Shebbear, Beaworthy EX21 5RE, United Kingdom

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Information of Rowden Atelier Woodworking School, Carpenter in Plymouth (Devon)

On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.

This business has received very good reviews from their customers, so probably it’s a place you should try if you are looking for this kind of services.

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Reviews of Rowden Atelier Woodworking School

P. B.

Just back from completing the one-week course at Rowden. The whole experience was brilliant from start to finish. Beforehand Sarah and Matt answered all my questions and were super efficient getting everything set up, helping with advice and accommodation questions. The course itself focused on developing fundamental skills for accurate woodwork. Our tutor Jonathan was patient, challenging and a great teacher. He had loads of advice and experience and was happy to answer our many questions about a career in fine furniture. I was really pleased with what I achieved at the end of the week. It was good to get the opportunity to chat to the students on the longer courses. I really can't think of any downsides, if I was been really picky then Rowden is fairly rural making a car a necessity (or a long bike ride). That said, part of the appeal is how nice and rural that part of Devon is. I am sure I will be back at Rowden in the future.

N. H.

I have just finished the one month course at Rowden. During this period we were instilled with attention to detail second to none - planing, sawing, chiselling, joining, honing, sanding, polishing and actually using our eyes to see the tiniest of imperfections and then correcting them. Taking a rough piece of wood and turning it into a beautiful object was wonderful. Our tutor Christian was amazing - in a calm and humorous way he got the best out of all of the group. The course has inspired me but also made me painfully aware of the skill and time it takes to make a piece of furniture - the Rowden team are incredible and an opportunity to time spent with them is not to be missed.

F. B.

Weekend box making with Ed Wild, a wonderfully patient and knowledgeable instructor. We were just two students and we covered a wide range of wood working skills, learning a tremendous amount in a busy and absorbing two days. I finished the weekend with a wonderful walnut and sycamore box made by myself with a precision and finish that I could have only dreamed of before coming to Rowden. Recommended.

c. f.

I had a really great weekend, I thoroughly enjoyed the box making course, who'd have thought I would be able to make something that looks so beautiful in such a short amount of time - not me for sure! And I was totally immersed in what I was doing, a truly perfect way to relax. Ed was an extremely good tutor, very patient and encouraging, making very clear instructions as we went along. Thanks very much, I am inspired and have the confidence to continue woodworking and to make the most of the beautiful tools that my father left behind.

J. H.

I did the month -long course at Rowden in July. The group was just five people, which I gather is about the usual intake size for the courses at Rowden. There were other students at different stages on the year and six month courses, all of whom were friendly, encouraging and helpful. This attitude was also noticeable in the tutors, all of whom were happy to help even if not directly tasked with teaching our group. Our tutor, Steve explained things clearly and was encouraging. Our group was very mixed in terms of previous experience but Steve was able to adapt quickly to the needs of each student as he moved around the workshop. He ensured that everybody achieved the precision of working required and we were each encouraged to work at our own pace. The daily lectures, attended by all students were also interesting and useful. I found the course extremely enjoyable and rewarding. It fulfilled all my hopes and expectations and filled me with confidence. I would recommend the course very strongly to anyone who wants to become more confident and skilled with hand tools.

I. M.

I attended the one month course at Rowden, and loved it! We were five students in total with various levels of previous experience, and our teacher Steve made sure that everyone were challenged appropriately. I really enjoyed my time both in class and socially, and I was sad to leave. If circumstances would allow it, I would have continued staying for longer! I can't recommend Rowden enough and I hope to be able to take another course there one day.

H. Y.

Best week ever! Our teacher Johnathan was simply brilliant at encouraging us to always aim to get finer results, whilst supporting us as we learnt new skills. Somehow he also made the week fun. All the instructors and longer term students made us feel welcome from day1. The daily talks were absolutely fascinating and the inspiration from everyone was priceless. You wouldn’t believe what can be achieved in wood until you’ve seen it at Rowden!

D. B.

What a fantastic week! I found the course inspirational, absorbing and great fun. Jonathan was a great instructor - always happy to help, with a fine balance of encouragement, constructive feedback and adherence to the school's high standards; and with a four-to-one student to instructor ratio. I would thoroughly recommend the one-week course for those who want to really learn professional standards, test themselves, and meet a great bunch of people.

N. D.

I went on a 5 day course. I didn't realize that I would be able to complete any task to such a high standard that Jonathan required from us. His teaching skills did the trick and I came away feeling very pleased with the results. Eds tutorial are very interesting and it is inspirational to meet a group of professionals with so much passion. I'm really looking forward to going back on a different course in the near future. This course is a must, better than any holiday I've ever been on! Thanks guys.

O. D.

Perfect weekend learning to create a beautiful American walnut box. I had my concerns covid would spoil the course however the school dealt with the situation professionally. Ed is a very patient and diligent teacher who guided the two of us through the process of making the box. The finish and results are as displayed on the website. I would not have believed I was capable of finishing a box to such a high standard. The course was very enjoyable and left me wanting more time at the bench. I would thoroughly recommend a weekend course to anyone interested.

R. M.

I completed the one month course in October 21. As someone with no experience of woodworking since workshop class in high school, I had little idea what to expect. However, even for a complete beginner, the training is top quality, providing a rigorous grounding in use of apparently simple hand tools via a series of structured tasks which teach each element (marking, planing, sawing, chiseling) in turn and then combining them to increase the complexity and number of processes in a given job. The course is targeted as an introduction for future cabinet makers - ie those with a desire to design and build their own fine furniture. Check out the alumni portion of the web site to see the work of previous students. The atmosphere is collegiate and supportive, really embodying the atelier principle. Fellow students ranged from novices like me to people with 'twenty years experience in restoring furniture' - but the trainers were able to accommodate the different pace of the various individuals. Also, one a personal note, I found that the work demands complete focus and concentration - really, 'mindfulness'. A perfect antidote to the stress and noise of the corporate world.

K. O.

Just completed the weekend course. Had a great time. very relaxing, easy pace of working. Ed was a star, taking me through the basics, and teaching in a very patient way. The workshops are spacious, and a joy to work in. I would recommend this to anyone who wanted a taster, or just wanted a relaxing weekend of woodworking. I will definitely be going back for the week course.

c. c.

What a wonderful weekend, Edward is very good teacher and explains techniques and skills to suit your skills. The well equipped workshops were warm and spacious and other students were very friendly and made you feel at home, nothing was too much trouble to explain. With just 2 people on the course and progressing at your own speed it was a joy. The box was something I will treasure and has spurred me to make more in my retirement. What lovely surrounds in the countryside and the spring weather was wonderful and so peaceful. Highly recommended and best short course I have been to.

R. T.

After years of tinkering with wood, with nothing of note to show for my efforts, retirement provided the perfect opportunity for me to learn how I should have been doing it; I am so pleased that I chose Rowden to show me the way. In October I attended their one-week basic woodworking skills course with the modest ambition of unlearning the self-taught bad habits I had acquired and to replace them with the hand tool skills that will enable me in due course, to create quality work. Rowden was the right choice. The curriculum was predominantly 'hands-on' at the bench with just enough theory time to enjoy a cup of tea and a biscuit. It delivered everything I had hoped for and more besides. I had a thoroughly enjoyable week in the company of tutors Jonathan, Jon and Ed and fellow students drawn from all over the world. Though the workshop was cold, the welcome was warm and the tuition endlessly patient. Rowden is a special place full of wonderful people...I would recommend it anyone.

R. F.

I have bodged about my workshop for quite a few years. I have now retired and have the time to improve, to make furniture I want rather than just to fulfill a need; but I needed inspiration and practical help. I was not sure quite what to expect from a 5 day course but this was exactly as required, showing me not only what sort of precision should be expected, but how it can be achieved. The tasks (a halving joint and a mallet) may sound simple but the level of required precision made them very testing exercises. I would recommend the course to anyone wishing to start or to improve. It was also hugely enjoyable, with excellent and patient tutoring. I will certainly be back for another.

T. D.

I attended Rowden for the year-long Designer Maker course and now that my time has come to an end, I feel compelled to leave a rave review about the place because it truly was the best experience of my life! I sacked in my very comfortable (but ultimately unfullfilling) London office job back in early 2018 and nervously headed for rural north Devon to satisfy an itch I'd had for several years. And I came away with so much more than I expected. The school harnesses a great philosophy of embracing traditional joinery styles and techniques but gives a comprehensive outline of all approaches to furniture making - old and new. They let you work at your own pace, never pressuring you to speed up and actively stop you from cutting corners. This does mean at times you'll need to rely on your own ambition and drive to move you along (which is a pretty important attribute to acquire anyway) but importantly it reinforces the idea that it's the quality of the work that matters first, speed can come later. From a practical point of view, I found the school to be incredibly well equipped in terms of materials and machinary. Whilst I was there I felt like there wasn't anything I couldn't experiment with and somewhere locked away there wasn't the tool or application to help me do it. And finally it is a really fantastic community of people from all around the world. I made some amazing friends, from South Korea to the Isle of Man and I was very sad to say good bye to them when I left. If I was rich enough, I'd have stayed on for longer. The time I had there was worth every penny though.

S. O.

BIG thank you for the weeks course. It was wonderful. Jonathan is a great teacher and the Dimbleby´s fab too. Loved every minute of being at Rowden and learnt loads of skills that I can use back here at school. What a great bunch of people and a great place you all work at! I hope to make it back again soon for another wood immersion!

J. B.

I spent a weekend at the woodworking school recently, making a trinket box. Ed was the perfect tutor, with a great balance of passion, perfectionism and good humour. He brought out a level of patience and determination in me that I didn’t know I had, and the end result is a beautiful box which will I will treasure forever. Along with the memories of skills learned over a lovely weekend of satisfyingly hard work in beautiful surroundings.

J. C.

Superb week spent learning some of the fundamentals of fine woodwork using handtools only. It was a real challenge, both physically and mentally, but also an immense joy and I came away from the week feeling enthused and that I had learnt a massive amount. The entire team at Rowden were a joy and the tutors second to none. If you're at all interested I can't recommend it highly enough.

F. F.

We had a fabulous weekend with Ed Wild, not only making the lovely boxes but also finding out first hand all about being a student at Rowden and about making a career in fine furniture. Seeing my 16 year old son in what is clearly his natural environment was brilliant: I don’t think even he realised that he could concentrate on one thing for so long. I am hoping that the experience will help to get him through his GCSEs, knowing that there is something better to look forward to on the other side.

C. G.

A really good week. This was a total switch off from the day job for me. The concentration needed to work to the tolerances demanded of Rowden was totally engrossing. The teaching was excellent and I honed and developed skills with hand tools that will stay with me forever. Highly recommended.

M. P.

What a fantastic week learning from some of the best teachers in this industry, I have never spent so much time on the detail to produce such lovely items to be proud of. Jonathan was a most patient teacher and always on hand to answer the silliest of questions so thank you for the patience you showed. This is a course that may only be a week but the skills will last me for a lifetime so thank you to all at Rowden.

J. C.

I spent two weeks at the school and enjoyed every second. All the teachers are very knowledgeable and passionate about teaching. Everyone including the the other students were all welcoming and helpful. Overall it was a great experience. I would definitely recommend this school to anyone and can’t wait to go back myself.

m. l.

I did the weekend box making course with Ed and it was absolutely brilliant, well worth the 5hr drive from London. I would highly recommend this course to anyone.

J. R.

The 50-week designer-maker course was a memorable year of my life! Having arrived as a relative wood-working amateur with a couple of home-made furniture pieces to my name, after one year of intensive training at Rowden I emerged as a "cabinet maker" with the expertise to design, plan and make complex pieces of furniture (which previously I could only have dreamed of.) Rowden is one of only a handful of full-time schools in the world where you are immersed in an environment that teaches the time-honoured hand-craft techniques of traditional cabinet-making. There are many things that make Rowden unique, including: they provide the support for you to stretch yourself as far as you believe to be possible (and then some more); they will introduce you to a breadth and depth of furniture making techniques which students can then individually choose to develop further, with Rowden being the self-styled custodian of some of the more traditional techniques; they place great emphasis on practices that develop every students' artistic, creative and design skills; they provide workshop facilities in which to develop the confidence to work with a broad range of machinery; & finally they nurture development of the problem-solving capabilities required to take-on any project no matter how challenging. And to top it off, living in rural Devon is a truly beautiful place in which to experience the growth, challenge, pleasure and transformation of emerging to become a "cabinet maker." I wish to say a big "thank you" to the phenomenal team at Rowden: Darren; Jon; Ed; Jonathan; and Rachel :)

K. H.

A complete beginner, and after 2 days I made a perfect little jewellery box! Amazing fun and definitely a skill I want to continue to develop. Thanks so much Ed. Will definitely be back at rowden ASAP.

r. S.

Just finished a 1 month course at Rowden. Very enjoyable experience. Most of my dealings were with John and Ed who were both very patient and knowledgeable teachers. I would love to come back in the future and highly recommend 👍

S. L.

I just returned from the one month course, it was absolutely superb. The tutors were excellent and the facilities top class, I would 100% recommend to anyone who wants to improve their woodworking skills

G. T.

What an outstanding experience- it was a privilege to experience teaching of such a very high standard in such an inspiring environment

D. L.

A wonderful weekend introduction to the art of working with wood. I cannot reccomend it highly enough.

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