Stick & Stone Crafting at Pen-y-Graig

In September 2018 the Programme Director James Cooke had the pleasure of working with the famous green woodworker Mike Abbott

Over 5 days he crafted a spindle back chair made from his own Ash wood using just a shave horse, draw knife, various jigs and an adapted wall paper steamer

James told us

“ This was just such a fantastic week working the wood with hand tools to produce something so functional but also beautiful. It made you feel very connected with the wood and the focus was away from all your own troubles”

Future courses will include the production of this furniture item as a key example of how wood and function go together so well

In July 2018 the first Dry Stone Walling Course was held at Pen-y-Graig led by Alastair McGowan Master Stone Mason from Abergavenny

Alastair, over two days, led the group of 5 through the heritage history of dry stone walling and then the elementary parts of stone choice, setting the foundation stones and building an entire retaining wall beside the 18^th Century Barn at Pen-y-Graig.