Each week we bring you a round-up of interesting and entertaining woodworking content from the Woodworkers Institute and the web, including handy tips to help you get stuck into your next woodworking project
Upcoming UK Show
London International Woodworking Festival (Nov 1-2, 2024): Held at the London Design & Engineering UTC, this show is focused on hand-tool woodworking. It includes seminars from renowned experts like Megan Fitzpatrick and Christopher Schwarz, covering topics like Shaker furniture and chair making.The event also features a marketplace where you can find hand tools and materials for your next project
Videos of the Week
Woodworking Past & Present
The reconstruction of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, completed in 1997, is a remarkable example of traditional woodworking techniques brought to life in the modern age. The theatre’s timber frame is made primarily from English oak and mirrors the original structure built in 1599. Craftsmen used traditional joinery methods, including mortise-and-tenon joints secured with wooden pegs — no nails or metal fasteners were used, as was common in Elizabethan carpentry.
The oak was shaped and fitted by hand using tools like adzes and chisels, allowing the woodworkers to replicate the original construction techniques as closely as possible. The theatre’s distinctive round shape is achieved through a radial arrangement of timber posts and horizontal tie beams, all of which provide structural integrity while retaining the aesthetics of the original theatre.
A key feature is the thatched roof, the first in London since the 17th century. This is made from English reed and supported by timber posts. Inside, the stage and seating galleries are crafted from oak. While adaptations for safety and building regulations were necessary, the Globe nonetheless stands as a testament to the enduring skill and artistry of traditional woodworking.