Paul Kirkup
Founding Director
Joined Carpenter Oak: 1990
Interview with Paul Kirkup
Bio chemistry, field officer, artist, photographer, master printmaker, father, carpenter, cyclist, runner of sorts, frame designer, company director and married to the wonderful Sarah, this is my serendipitous journey so far. For me its all about the building of and nurturing trusting relationships, within and without the company, and knowing that wood is good.
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Tim Greaves
Team Leader
Joined Carpenter Oak: 2010
Interview with Tim Greaves
Best project you have worked on and why:
Toller Fractrum – It was a really interesting and challenging project
When not in the yard what do you like doing:
Printmaking
If stranded on a desert island, which three people would you take and why:
Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King (both have well-balanced views) and Picasso for his playfulness
Which three people would be in your dream Carpentry team and why:
John Kempski, Pete Isla and Steve B
What is the most embarrassing job you’ve ever had:
Stacking yoghurts at happy shopper
What do you enjoy most about working with oak/wood:
The ever-changing material
Music:
Bonnie Prince Billy
Best comedy film ever made:
Big Lebowski
Favourite Quote:
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are” Theodore Roosevelt
Favourite place in the world:
Devon
Biography
I’ve had a few jobs over the years but always within craft – these include mannequin making and the creation of a concrete boat! Prior to timber framing, I was a scenic carpenter for theatres then 12 years ago I moved to Bristol and became a timber framer.
Image: Ellie Walpole
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Iain Stevenson
Carpenter
Joined Carpenter Oak: 2018
At the age of 20 I went on a carpentry training course, allowing me to be self employed for 30 years before moving to Carpenter Oak in 2007.
Interview with Iain
What is the best project you have worked on and why?
Brixton Department Store – everything about the project was awesome and the end result was one of a kind.
When not in the yard, what do you enjoy doing?
Listening to music and cooking
If stranded on a desert island, which three people would you take and why?
Jack Dee for obvious reasons, myself to build shelter and Bear Grylls to do the hunting for food.
Which three people would be in your dream Carpentry team and why?
Jesus (he was a carpenter!) Noah (he built and ark so probably pretty good) and Tommy Walsh from Grand Force
What is the most embarrassing job you’ve ever had?
Delivery driver
What music do you listen to?
Rock, reggae and blues
What is the best comedy film ever made?
The Guard
What do you enjoy most about working with oak/wood?
Job satisfaction
Where is your favourite place in the world?
My garden
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Ben Hancock
Architectural Services Manager / Carpenter
Interview with Ben Hancock
If you had to pick one, which is your favourite Carpenter Oak project and why?
Bedales School Theatre, due to the collaborative relationship between the school, the architects and ourselves leading to a fantastic project.
When not in the yard, what do you enjoy doing?
Playing piano
What is the best comedy film ever made?
The Riviera Touch
What do you enjoy most about working at Carpenter Oak?
The Team
Biography
As well as being a carpenter at the company, I also have a background in architecture. It’s therefore my job to work with the company’s design departments and aid our relationships with other architects and keep up Carpenter Oak’s high standards in design.
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Matt Ralph
Carpenter
Joined Carpenter Oak: 2015
Interview with Matt Ralph
Which is your favourite Carpenter Oak project?
Husabost/Bennett – built an interesting roundall roof, great site location on the Isle of Skye with some ace clients
Do you have a favourite quote?
‘Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen’ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Biography
Surrounded by timber framed buildings as a child growing up on my parent’s farm in the Weald of Kent made a lasting impression on me. Moving into timber framing seemed like a natural choice aert completing a City and Guilds qualification in 2014. Great people, interesting work – I feel lucky to have found Carpenter Oak.
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Charley Brentnall
Founder
Joined Carpenter Oak: 1987
Interview with Charley Brentnall
It’s no exaggeration to describe Charley Brentnall as a recognised leader in the UK’s oak framing industry. Charley helped to drive the current renaissance in timber-framing in the UK.
When Charley established Carpenter Oak over thirty years ago, many of the skills of traditional timber framing had been lost to history. Those medieval skills had to be rediscovered – and the best way to do this was to undertake conservation work on many of our oak frame buildings, using almost forensic techniques to uncover evidence of past construction methods so that we could relearn those forgotten skills.
Charley’s conservation work included returning many derelict barns into use – often as homes. As those buildings became less available, it was natural for Charley to turn to creating new ‘barn-like’ houses for those who wanted them. From this, today’s Carpenter Oak was born.
Charley is a Make Tutor on the Design Make programme with Dartmoor Arts and a visiting lecturer at the Universities of Bath and Dartmoor Arts. A member of the Timber Framers’ Guild, Carpenters’ Fellowship, ICOMOS and SPAB, he is also a past member of BWF British Standards committee. In recent years, Charley has been involved in the Studio In The Woods project, with architect Piers Taylor. This is an education programme which promotes the exchange of architectural knowledge and skills through both experimentation and direct experience. Charley has led some of the UK’s most important oak-frame conservation projects, including the restoration of the ceiling at Windsor Castle and the restoration of Shackleton and Scott’s huts in Antarctica.
Image: Ellie Walpole
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