Timber-Framing Courses –
April/May 2026

Timber-Framing Courses April -May 2026

Timber Frame Building Courses

5 days of traditional carpentry in Plashett Wood in East Sussex.

Courses running from April 18th – May 31st

Join us on a traditional timber frame carpentry course to help build an exciting Community Workshop at the wonderful and ancient Plashett Wood near Lewes.

Each 5-day course is ideal for anyone interested in traditional carpentry skills and sustainable building techniques.

Course Tutors

The courses will be led by two renowned local heritage timber frame experts, John Russell (left) and Rebecca Tann (right).

Both tutors have decades of experience working on new and ancient timber buildings.

Dates in April & May 2026:

Course 1: April 18th- April 22nd
Course 2: April 27th – May 1st
Course 3: May 6th – May 10th
Course 4: May 16th – May 20th
Course 5: May 27th – May 31st

John Russell and Rebecca Tann, course tutors for the timber-framing course — John Russell and Rebecca Tann crosscutting an oak log

Course Overview

The course is designed to introduce students to historic carpentry skills through fun and accessible hands-on craft work. Students will first have a chance to learn about local forest management and timber selection as well as historic timber conversion skills such as hewing and pit sawing.

The courses will primarily concentrate on gaining experience in accurately marking out and cutting joints such as mortice and tenons using historic scribe rule carpentry systems.

There will be several site visits to historic and modern timber framed buildings and some entertaining timber frame building slide shows.

All tools and equipment are provided.