The Workshop

A converted dairy building on the edge of Salisbury, kitted out for one thing: turning oak logs into furniture that will outlast us all.

How We Got Here

The Oak Craftsman was founded in 2014 by Tom Harding, a cabinetmaker who spent ten years working for larger workshops in Bath and Dorchester before going out on his own. The original workshop was a single-car garage behind a rented cottage in Wilton. Tom's first commission was a pair of bedside tables for a neighbour, built from an oak beam salvaged during a barn conversion.

In 2017, Tom moved into a former dairy on Wilton Road. The building had high ceilings, a concrete floor, and double doors wide enough to get full-length planks through. Today the workshop includes a machine room with a bandsaw mill, planer-thicknesser, and table saw, plus a hand-tool bench room where the joinery happens. Tom's wife Sarah handles design consultations and business operations. The team grew to four in 2022 with the addition of two bench joiners.

Interior of a traditional woodworking shop with hand tools hanging on the wall

Woodworker using a hand plane on a wide oak board at a workbench

From Log to Furniture

We buy English oak in log form from woodland managers in Wiltshire, Hampshire, and Dorset. Each log is assessed for figure, defects, and grain direction before it goes through the bandsaw mill. After milling, the boards are stacked and stickered in our drying shed for a minimum of 12 months per inch of thickness, then moved to a dehumidifier kiln to bring the moisture content down to 8 to 10 per cent.

This process takes time, but it means we control the quality from the outset. We know the provenance of every piece of timber in the workshop, and we can match boards from the same tree for colour and grain consistency across a tabletop or set of doors.

The Commission Process

Every project follows the same route, whether it is a single side table or a full kitchen.

Consultation

We visit your home, measure the space, discuss your requirements, and look at timber options together. No charge for this stage.

Design & Quote

Sarah produces scaled drawings and a material specification. We provide a fixed-price quote within ten working days.

Build & Delivery

Build time is typically 6 to 12 weeks depending on the piece. We deliver and install ourselves within a 50-mile radius of Salisbury.

Visit Us

The workshop is open to visitors by appointment, Monday to Friday. We are happy to show you around, let you see timber in stock, and discuss ideas for your project. Saturdays by arrangement.

Address: The Old Dairy, Wilton Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 6BN

To book a visit, call 01722 410 236 or email [email protected].