Whilst visiting one of our Cathedrals:

Many of them are within a 100 mile radius of Southampton. I came across this gem of a repair to a 16th Century door which serves as the main entrance door to the Ladies and Gents toilets. Most folk tend to photograph religious artifacts or such like when visiting. I know I do as I am very interested in stained glass , eclastical furniture items and any  doors or windows that are wooden.

So I decided I would like to take some images of this repair which is not easy when there is a constant stream of people going into and out of the toilets. 

I did wonder if some of those who passed this guy on his knees taking photos of a door may well have thought that’s a bit odd! Perhaps but I really wanted those photos.

What I find so interesting is the fact that a door so old can be salvaged, reclaimed, restored, and reused, so that it can continue its life as a functioning door.

The method involved in this particular repair involved cutting out the rot in a pattern that is pleasing to the eye. The 45degree angles are there for a reason as well as that allows the maximum area of timber and the least end grain, end grain doesn’t hold very well . The  introduced replacement parts are cut with a tongue which lays into a corresponding tongue cut out on the main door In essence a halving joint . This is then held together with fastenings or possibly pegs. An elaborate jigsaw puzzle of scarfing and joining. 

I have seen this method before in France and I did something very similar but that was in pre internet days and I did not record the outcome.  

I would like to emphasize  the skill involved in doing this repair I would also like to emphasize the fact that these skills are being lost I know of only one or two carpenters/joiners who can do this type of work there may be private schools of furniture makers who could take on such a repair but certainly NO ONE who attends a college course on carpentry would be taught. A 2nd Year carpentry student I know who paid their own way through college told me that for most students the route forward from college was to operate CNC machines that manufacture stuff. That involves inputting data into the machine and pressing a button to start the manufacturing process. I am not saying that there are no skills in doing this but does that skill really belong in the realms of carpentry/joinery?

Indeed you can for around £3000 purchase yourself a self guiding router that is connected to the internet as well as a satellite where you input the data or select a template from the internet and once you press start it will manufacture incredibly accurate joints inlays and mouldings .

My gripe and I know I may be a bit of a Luddite is that  the knowledge and hand skills to undertake elaborate restoration or repair work could be lost.  Knowledge does not exclusively dwell in books or online. I believe that there is such a thing as knowledgeable hands and a knowledgeable process .  

Knowledge and skills were once passed down from generation to generation. I can remember my father showing me how to repair a puncture on my bicycle and my mother making clothes for us kids as my parents could not afford to buy new clothes every time we grew out of the ones we had . Imagine my disbelief when I went to the local tip to dump off some rubbish and was confronted with perfectly good bicycles stacked against the fence and when asked was told that they were dumped because a lot of them had punctures!!! Or the clothes which looked ok to me just bagged up and dumped.

The ‘man’ doesn’t mind this state of affairs because it means we all continue to consume and keep the status quo however it’s that status quo that is killing the planet.

There is a turning tide I am convinced of with this status quo.Some people including myself are taking the time and effort to repair rather than chuck out and get a new one of whatever it is.

There is a growing group of young people who could be described as’ generation change’ who are embracing the reality that we cannot just continue with business as usual  and along with some older people it gives hope to the future. Gretta Thumberg says time and time again to listen to science. 

The mantra of Growth is so last century.

 My wife has said many times to me that the collapse of our way of life is inevitable, it is just not sustainable so get ahead of the curve, adapt and learn new skills. She should know as she is the author of several books on this very subject.

What has any of this got to do with you? As you consider if you should contact me because you have rotten windows or a door that needs draught proofing 

I would say that the very fact that you are desiring to have items restored or repaired is a step towards that sustainable future. 

Without a doubt the skills involved in undertaking the repairs and the restoration of joinery take many years to acquire with some failures along the way -we all learn from our mistakes.But I do hope that when you ask me or any other ‘old timer’ to do some work you appreciate that you are not only paying for the job but also for the investment in the way of time- lower wages in the beginning- and persistence  that we skilled tradespersons  have put in over many years to arrive at where we are.