Traditional Carpentry course - Build a Shipyard Capstan
June 15th – 19th 2026
The Buckler’s Hard Shipyard Trust welcomes historic wood craftsmen Henry and John Russell back to the village to run a 5 day ‘make a shipyard Capstan and Sheerlegs carpentry’ course. They are leading experts in historic timber structures, fellows of the Carpenters Fellowship and passionate to keep endangered craft skills alive.
This project aims to authentically recreate and investigate the sort of technology and infrastructure which would have been found at the Buckler’s Hard historic Shipyard.
Capstans and winches were vital maritime dockland machines before the age of steam, diesel and petrol. Prior to the widespread use of cast and wrought iron, they were predominantly made of wood. They were the way big heavy objects were lifted and moved.
Crucially the natural ropes used in industry, construction, ports and on ships and boats was stronger if NOT kinked or knotted. Blocks and tackles work vertically but can perform badly with very heavy loads. They don’t work well when used horizontally. So capstans and winches allow great loads lifted or moved safely using friction and leverage. In addition, the addition of various types of ratchet mechanism reduces the danger of any catastrophic release and reversal of motion – another hazard when using blocks and tackles.
It is certainly the case that these were used all over the Bucklers Hard Shipyard and we have archaeological evidence to demonstrate this.
We plan to make 2 different Capstans and a pair of large Sheerlegs from local timber using traditional tools and methods and demonstrate them at the end of the course.
Course content
This a fun and engaging hands-on workshop on the banks of the beautiful Beaulieu River in the historic village. We will introduce you to traditional carpentry skills such as hewing and 'pit sawing' with local timber. We will learn historic scribe rule carpentry skills, the precise marking up of green oak and softwood timbers, the cutting of standard timber frame joints such as mortice, tenons and laps/housing and dovetails. We aim to turn some of the timbers on a large human powered lathe and introduce you to the wonders of wooden lifting technology.
There will be opportunity to visit local historic timber buildings and enjoy entertaining talks on historic wooden machines, the museum at Buckler’s Hard and historic shipyard.
Booking
Booking details online at www.bhshipyardtrust.org.uk/
Please email info@bhshipyardtrust.org.uk for booking form.
Or call 07850 667238 for any additional details.
