In-person classes
Make a Windsor-Style Stool
5(22 reviews)
Learn how to make a classic Windsor-style stool in this fun and proactive course in London with Ben Willis Woodcraft!Crystal Palace
In-person
£225 pp
2 session course
Beginner
What happens in this class?
Things to remember
Latest Reviews
5(22 reviews)
Ophelia - 24 March 2024
Ben was a really patient teacher, and not only showed us how to use the relevant tools, he also provided very interesting and informative background on green wood working. He struck a great balance between not being hand-holding, whilst being always available for us to ask questions / help when we needed it. Even though I was a bit apprehensive going into the course, and this was definitely outside of my comfort zone, this was a fantastic experience and truly suitable for a complete beginner. Thanks so much Ben and we'll definitely be sending family & friends your way!
Mike Ribton - 25 February 2024
This was bought as a Christmas present and I did a two day course making a Windsor Stool. It was amazing: Ben is a great teacher and has a boundless well of patience. The final product is stunning and every student there were 7 of us) went home proud of our achievements. I cannot recommend highly enough.
Kim Slade - 22 October 2023
This course truly deserves 5 stars. Ben is an excellent teacher whose vast experience and knowledge makes this a pleasurable course. Ben demonstrates each stage of the stool making process and then lets his students practice those skills on their own stool. He only intervenes if asked to do so by his students. I have learnt skills and practiced methods out of my comfort zone and enjoyed every minute of it in a friendly and non pressured environment. I will definitely look to do another course with this master craftsman and recommend this course to all budding woodworkers and curious craftspeople.
Booking Options
two session course2 classes
£225
Book for a large groupAre you looking for a large group/private event?
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Class Location
Studio
Crystal Palace
3 Stoney Lane
SE19 3BD
London
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Reviews
Ophelia - 24 March 2024
Ben was a really patient teacher, and not only showed us how to use the relevant tools, he also provided very interesting and informative background on green wood working. He struck a great balance between not being hand-holding, whilst being always available for us to ask questions / help when we needed it. Even though I was a bit apprehensive going into the course, and this was definitely outside of my comfort zone, this was a fantastic experience and truly suitable for a complete beginner. Thanks so much Ben and we'll definitely be sending family & friends your way!
Mike Ribton - 25 February 2024
This was bought as a Christmas present and I did a two day course making a Windsor Stool. It was amazing: Ben is a great teacher and has a boundless well of patience. The final product is stunning and every student there were 7 of us) went home proud of our achievements. I cannot recommend highly enough.
Kim Slade - 22 October 2023
This course truly deserves 5 stars. Ben is an excellent teacher whose vast experience and knowledge makes this a pleasurable course. Ben demonstrates each stage of the stool making process and then lets his students practice those skills on their own stool. He only intervenes if asked to do so by his students. I have learnt skills and practiced methods out of my comfort zone and enjoyed every minute of it in a friendly and non pressured environment. I will definitely look to do another course with this master craftsman and recommend this course to all budding woodworkers and curious craftspeople.
Diana - 22 April 2023
Ben was extremely patient and spent time with each of us. He is very knowledgable, which made these two days a great opportunity to learn something new whilst having a great time! Highly recommend his courses.
Laura D - 26 February 2023
I really enjoyed this workshop. Ben was very knowledgeable and really easy to understand. All of us were really pleased with the stools we made!
David - 23 February 2023
I am doing Ben's Make a Windsor-Style Stool course, and I recommend this to anyone - even if you think that you will never do any of this type of woodwork again - as a fun and satisfying project with a beautiful end product that you can keep.
Ben makes a great teacher - patient, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and helpful all day long.
A nice sized group as well - enough people to feel busy and keep conversation going, small enough that nobody lacks help and attention.
Sue - 8 February 2023
Really enjoyed this two day workshop; using traditional hand tools to make a Windsor stool. Ben's teaching and guidance was constructive and positive, and the level of support just right for me to feel confident gaining new skills and creating a rather lovely product.
Zoë - 29 January 2023
Fantastic two day course. Expertly run by Ben who has so much skill, expertise and patience. So proud of my end product that will have pride of place in my kitchen. Thank you !
Nick - 26 November 2022
Absolutely fantastic course where I've learned so many new skills and tools, and made a piece of furniture I'll treasure forever. 👌
Christina - 30 October 2022
Can’t recommend Bens course enough.
I’ve always wanted to do woodwork and Ben is brilliant at explaining and showing each step before setting the group off.
Quite possibly too many positives to sum up, but here’s a few
- I’ve made a beautiful stool!- I love craft but the end result is normally a bit embarrassing, this stool however is beautiful and I’m tempted to do the course again to make more
- Ben is great at guiding. Leaves you to it, but helps out if needed
- it’s pretty much 100% hand crafted - no machinery involved - from axing the wood trunk to make the legs all the way to finer details
- it’s over two weeeknds - for me this works well practically, but also found as I was using muscles I’m not use to - so the rest was welcomed
- amazing to use so many different tools and learn so much about the process
Highly recommend!
Matthew - 25 September 2022
It’s great. Ben is a fabulous and enthusiastic teacher. It’s straight into the basics of green wood working with traditional tools. Can’t recommend this highly enough.
Rob - 6 June 2022
I had a fantastic weekend on this course & would highly recommend anyone thinking about it to dive in.
This was my first taste of woodwork since school & Ben was a superb teacher, taking us through every aspect of the process in a very personable, informative & relaxed manner. I learnt new skills & gained an ever bigger appreciation for the craft. And got to take a home probably the most beautiful piece of furniture I’ve ever owned! In fact, I will be looking to book another course soon. The chair making course in particular looks fantastic.
Rob - 6 June 2022
I had a fantastic weekend on this course & would highly recommend anyone thinking about it to dive in.
This was my first taste of woodwork since school & Ben was a superb teacher, taking us through every aspect of the process in a very personable, informative & relaxed manner. I learnt new skills & gained an ever bigger appreciation for the craft. And got to take a home probably the most beautiful piece of furniture I’ve ever owned! In fact, I will be looking to book another course soon. The chair making course in particular looks fantastic.
Vicki - 9 February 2022
A thoroughly enjoyable course. Ben is a great teacher - everything was explained clearly and he instilled confidence to use completely unknown tools. I am delighted that my amateur craftsmanship made such a wonderful stool, I would highly recommend the course!
Kitty Warnock - 3 February 2022
Excellent teacher, clear and helpful, plenty of individual attention. I hadn't expected I would manage to make the stool, but did in fact turn out something quite impressive-looking.
Gaby - 2 February 2022
In this 2 day course I built a windsor stool. The course was extremely rewarding and fun. It was incredible to start with a fresh log and refine it (you also get a bit of a workout in the process) into to pieces of a stool and then finally assemble the end product. I am really happy with the outcome! Ben is incredibly skilled, as well as a really patient and passionate teacher. Would definitely recommend this class and am hoping to take another one of Ben's courses soon!!
Cath Rylance - 31 January 2022
This course was absolutely wonderful. As am absolute beginner I was amazed at how doable all the tasks were, the instruction very clear and easy to follow, lots of support when it was needed, and the whole activity just flowed beautifully. I had a few constraints due to health issues, but this didn't matter at all. Ben was extremely accommodating and I am delighted with my stool. I can't wait to do another course. The workshop is a lovely place to be for a couple of days to immerse in the woodcrafting!
Paul King - 18 October 2021
Ben is an intuitive and skilled teacher. He has just the right balance of instruction and trust in you to help you learn in an enjoyable and safe way. The course itself is a joy and incredibly satisfying. There is something elemental about working with wood with all the old tools and the fact you come away with something beautiful is almost incidental.
Anonymous - 28 June 2021
Fantastic course and Ben is a great teacher making all the techniques really easy to follow and fun, although you might discover muscles you didn’t know existed aching the next day! The best bit is taking home a great looking stool you made pretty much all by hand.
Frazer - 19 March 2020
Fantastic two-day course, nice small class and Ben provides a great balance between teaching, helping and letting you just get on with it. Couldn't recommend it any higher. Great value for money and you come away with a genuinely nice looking piece of kit that you're (hopefully) somewhat proud of!
Bee - 4 November 2019
This was one of the best courses I've done. Ben is a brilliant teacher, the course is so hands on, and I'm so very proud of my stool. It's so good in fact, my dad has said he'll pay me to do the course again and make him one! I can't recommend it enough, no matter how much experience you do or don't have in woodworking.
Emilie - 27 March 2018
I booked this for my husband as a gift and he has such a nice time. He's done some woodworking before but found the techniques in this class quite special, using no machine tools. The result is a lovely stool which we're very excited to use!