This is what has kept us distracted… 
We are now the proud owners of this little chunk of rural Lincolnshire. The aerial photo is from around 1978 shows the buildings looking a little rough around the edges and things have only gotten worse since.
We’ve definitely got our work cut out but this is going to be a long a fruitful journey. The site comes with planning permission for mixed residential and commercial use so along with becoming our home it is also the new and extensive digs for The English Woodworker.
This little blog is having a face lift and will emerge bigger and better than ever. You can expect our usual posting and woodworking rants together with two new focuses;
– A diary of events on the slow and steady renovation together with our daily lives.
– A new focus on producing woodworking videos from our new and enlarged hand tool workshop.
It all sounds simple spread on to those two lines but this is going to be anything but. Getting to this stage has already meant our lifetimes without holidays, without luxuries and constant 5am starts, and this is just the beginning.
We’re running mainly off shear determination and enthusiasm and should likely be considered mad, but then that’s exactly what this is going to take.
The ambition – to create a celebration of the craft, the skills and the lifestyle of ‘The English Woodworker’.
Further details coming soon…
Congratulations, best of luck
Congratulations to you both. I wish you the best of British!
Congrats to you both! What a fantastic opportunity. I can’t wait to see how things evolve.
Ben, what’s happened to your youtube Channel? really enjoyed your videos
Looks an ideal location for a Wadkin workshop!!!
Jimi
Hi Helen & Richard,
Well all I can say is that’s some rather impressive digs you have there!
I suppose sorting all of that out is a good excuse for keeping us in the dark for a short while…I’m quite excited for you both! What an adventure your are about to embark on.
Good Luck!
Stephen Halliday (proud owner of one of Richard’s pre-Lincolshire Landowner Benches!)
So, in a way, you did get a new baby.
Well Done !
You can do it,we did,and in France, just don’t try to do much at one time, we also did “the no holidays for 40 years bit”,but it is worth it in the end just so that it does not burn you out too soon,you will not need the services of the local Gym! that’s for sure.Also make sure you keep a record of your work on film/photo’s,it does you good to look back on them when you feel that you are getting nowhere.
All Best Wishes for the Future,
Chris & Jacquie,
France.
Well done !!
There seems to be a bit to do?
Best wishes,
David
What a wonderful new beginning for you both. Very best wishes Barry
And so begins a great adventure. My best to you both!
Nothing comes easy, which makes the successes that much more sweet. Good on you both.
As Chris and Jacquie stated, you can do it, we too have and are doing it in the US.
Yes do keep a journal of pictures and records to refer back to. This will definitely give you some fuel to keep going, so when you look back you will then be able to say “Remember when we……”.
I used to say all the time we have so much to do, and after several times when Terri said to me “Yes but look at all we have done” I finally let it sink in and looked around and realized where we are and where we started, WOW!.
I for one would love to follow along on your journey, so please, keep us all in the loop. You have a great support group out here.
Laurence
Fabulous news you two! Good luck and I look forward to reading all about it.
Nice one….Vic
Congrats! It looks like a historic preservationists dream come true. Best of fortune, and I hope you find lots of hidden treasures.
Jim
Hi both,
Crazy? Yes! But I love that kind of crazy. If I lived closer you would have to get a restraining order to prevent me from helping. I love it when old buildings are given purpose, not just truned into dewellings for people who don’t know or appreciate the history. I am also an old machine nut, rstoring old machine tools is my other hobby. So those Wadkins are like a magnet to the iron in my blood. It’s a great place for you and your business to grow and flourish. I am extremely envious, as you may have guessed. I wish you both all the best. I hope you will have enough time to keep us up to date with the progress.
Kindest regards, Mark.
Fantastic news and my very best wishes for the future.
The world is your lobster!!!!!!
Keep the faith
Dave
Wow!
Is this ” the perfect barn to install newly restored line shaft machinery” you mentioned a while back?
Congrats to both of you a lot of work in front of you. Good Luck 😉
I would love to work on a renovation project like that.
That looks like an awesome place to live in, work in and restore. To spend all your moments in, awake and sleeping, I guess 🙂 Congratulations to you both!
Wow. This is some journey you’re on! All the very best of luck! Your blog and tutorial videos have given me the kick I needed to start to learn more about tools you don’t always have to plug in! Can’t wait to see what’s coming up next!
Brilliant, exciting news! Best of luck to you both and for the record, you don’t sound mad at all – just passionate, and that nourishes us all!
Amazing! Congratulations – really looking forward to hearing more.
There’s libel to be some head scratching, hair pulling, and ohbloodeyfantastics, going on. The end results will be worth it. The best thing of all it’s yours. Have fun and hang tough. Gary.
Took one look at the picture of your new digs and said to myself – it fits you and Helen like a well broken in glove. Congrats and look forward to following your progress. My mind’s eye had no trouble whatsoever seeing the Wadkins machinery happily humming along.
Looks like it has a ot of potential for a great place.
Wish you were closer: I would bring my old tools and help.
Best of luck ans blessing gto you.
Rex
Congratulations and you have my deepest sympathy. You have embarked upon one of life’s most rewarding and deeply troubling experiences.
I think it’s just perfect. A great romantic place for the work you
are doing. wishing you many blessings.
Barry Oborne
Hi both,
I think you may have found paradise!
I can just imagine it in a few short years – the hum of line shafts running, the sweet smell of newly planed timber and the idyllic surroundings providing a superb backdrop.
Am I jealous?
You bet!
Very best wishes to you both – you deserve all the success you can get.
Ian
Helen & Richard,
What a gem! I whish the both of you all the luck in the world with restauring this property and having a sound way of living as well.
What’s the expression?? Crazy does it??..Well there you have it!!
All the best,
Mac
Us Suffolk dwellers would like to wish you every success with this project. We have no doubt you will turn these buildings into a beautiful home and place to work. Good luck. Mike
This is going to an amazing environment to work in. You’ll be able to build yourself a huge workbench that will be the envy of all.
Good luck, looking forward to seeing what happens.
David
Looks like paradise to me, congratulations !
congratulations to you both i’m very jealous that looks like a dream come true GOOD LUCK
Exciting times!! I wish you all the best with your venture and look forward to reading about it.
Good luck! Best wishes for the future.
i stand and applaud as you begin the trek of a new home for self and for the business, how wonderful it is, im so happy for you both, and very excited, i look forward to going forward with you on this new journey…..Merry Christmas….
What a great thing to undertake! Makes me wish I’d had more imagination when such opportunities were around for me! Good luck with it all, and when are you doing the guided tour? 😉
Blimey what a site! There’s lots of space there….i think the European Woodworking show were looking for a new venue. Love to know what your plans for it all are going to be. Good luck, now deep breath and get on with it!
Congrats! I think that it is great that you have such a great place. My great grandfather came from the Lincolnshire area. I may have to cross the pond and take a look as to where my family came from. Good luck with the work.