Adam Milton

Joined Carpenter Oak: 1987

Interview with Adam Milton

Favourite thing about working at Carpenter Oak?

Constructing great buildings, with a great eclectic bunch of people in the most beautiful part of the world.

When not in the yard, what do you enjoy doing?

Sailing on the river Dart and walking with the family and dog.

What is the best project you have worked on and why?

Bedales School Olivier Theatre in Petersfield, Hampshire: great design and a wonderful team.

What is the most embarrassing job you have ever had?

Selling beef burgers at university and having a dyslexic moment when I put up a sign saying “Beef buggers for sale!”

Biography

I have been in the timber/design world since leaving school. I gained a BA (Hons) in Furniture Design in 1984 and then trained as a fine cabinet/furniture designer and maker producing highly finished pieces. In 1987 I joined Carpenter Oak and Woodland as a structural framing carpenter. The work was mainly restoration and conservation of historical timber frames, culminating in the major repairs at Windsor Castle after the great fire of 1992. I gained huge knowledge of building conservation, running skilled teams of carpenters and project management. In 1995 I had the opportunity to set up a new yard in Devon with my colleague Paul Kirkup, becoming Carpenter Oak Ltd. It was an inspiring time, building a new team, alongside living and raising a family in the beautiful South Hams. Carpenter Oak has grown from a small team to fifty odd carpenters, all highly skilled and loyal timber framers and of course our dedicated and talented office staff. I passionately believe in our craft of timber framing. I find it heartening that we use skills developed over a hundred years ago, as well as cutting edge contemporary methods to create stunning timber framed buildings. This is what gives me the buzz.