On a visit to Carpenter Oak’s framing yard at Buckfastleigh I’m struck by a somewhat enchanting stillness which greets me as I arrive.
Tucked away within winding Devon hedgerows and surrounded by picturesque rolling green fields, it’s almost a surprise to find the busy workshop in full flow, set against this backdrop of the quiet South Hams countryside.
The framing yard is where projects are designed, engineered, and skillfully brought to life. On the day of my visit, the enormous lengths of timber being delivered showcase the huge scale and expert skill that goes into each build.
The workshop and head office here in Devon - alongside its Scottish Yard - have been behind hundreds of projects, raising timber-framed buildings across the UK, Europe and beyond.
The company has pioneered the use of structural timber for sympathetic restoration work and has developed innovative techniques. It’s leading the way in the timber framing industry with its use of technical design, master craftsmanship and exquisite materials.
The Carpenter Oak team uses skills rooted in tradition. They’ve built bridges and great halls, TV and film props, medieval war machine replicas and everything in between. Their work has also featured on Channel 4’s Grand Designs.
In 2023 Carpenter Oak was recognised by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) for two projects it was involved in.
It designed and built the complex octagonal roof structure for an extension to the historic chapel at Radley College in Oxfordshire. The project won RIBA regional awards before going on to become a RIBA National Award winner.
Picking up RIBA’s Small Project of the Year accolade was a Japanese-inspired boathouse alongside the River Cam in Cambridgeshire. The owners wanted the boathouse to be as sustainable as possible, whilst also being beautiful and practical. It was built using Devon larch and was inspired by authentic Japanese timber jointing.
Carpenter Oak’s managing director, Luke Copley-Wilkins says: ‘The clients didn’t want to include any mechanical fixings in the frame, so this was done by using intricate jointing methods that don’t need any screws or nails in the frame – all joints are secured with either drawn round pegs or square pegs in round holes.’
Carpenter Oak is an employee-owned business, and the team is at the heart of its success, says Luke.
‘We’ve always been committed to creating a collaborative and creative working environment, which is such a key part in the story of Carpenter Oak. The company has come a long way from our early years when it started with four directors and a small team of carpenters.
‘Back in 2017, we took the step to become an employee-owned business, as we felt the company “in the hands of many” was particularly important within an ever-changing building industry. The investment of the team and, vice versa, the company’s investment in them is, we feel, crucial to the success of each project.’
‘Over the last 35 years, Carpenter Oak has always steered away from a faceless corporate approach with our clients, so the move to employee ownership felt a natural step. In 2023, we went from being 10 per cent employee-owned to 51 per cent, which was a significant step forward for us.’
Last year was the company’s busiest yet, he says.
‘Every day brings with it new challenges and in equal measure, amazement at the incredible knowledge, passion, and craftsmanship we have in the team.
‘The variety of projects we work across pushes us to harness the potential in both traditional and contemporary timber engineering and construction. At the heart of the success is our team, the people that create the amazing designs and stunning frames.
‘From the designers to carpenters and project managers, our reputation is built on the strengths in our team. As we look ahead to 2024 and beyond, the move to become 51 per cent employee-owned - teamed with being an officially accredited Real Living Wage Employer - has made those foundations even stronger.’
As my visit draws to a close, it doesn’t feel such a coincidence that the creators of handcrafted, built-to-last timber designs are so focused on upholding and sustaining the future strength of the company.
The finished designs may be a visible testament to their skill and workmanship, but it’s clear that the people behind the scenes of this Devon business are what sets them apart.
carpenteroak.com
