Below are links to people and organisations you may find useful
QEST – The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust
As the charitable arm of the Royal Warrant Holders Association, QEST was set up to award scholarship and training grants to British craftspeople seeking to forward their careers and to help secure a future for their chosen crafts. QEST have provided awards to over 400 crafts people since it was set up in 1990 to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen Mother’s 90th birthday and to mark the 150th anniversary of the Royal Warrant Holders Association.
I am very proud to be a QEST Scholar having received my scholarship award in 2013.
Leather Resources
Links to leathercraft training establishments and to suppliers of leathercraft materials and equipment I have personally used and can recommend.
- Capel Manor College – Enfield. (Where I got a start in leatherwork) Tutors Line Hansen and Christer Dahlberg have infectious enthusiasm for their craft, they provide expert saddlery training and craft leatherwork courses. They pass on their skills in an impressive Victorian stable block school set in the beautiful 13 acre grounds of Capel Manor Gardens.
- Neil MacGregor and Valerie Michael – Tetbury. Neil and Valerie are amazing craftspeople who have a gift for teaching. Also see Valerie’s excellent book The Leatherworking Handbook ISBN 10: 1844034747
- The Saddlery Training Centre – Salisbury. Run by Master Saddler Mark Romain, the centre provides expert tuition in all aspects of saddlery and harness including full apprenticeship training. Project courses are also available here.
- Metropolitan Leather – Northampton. High quality leather with expert, friendly advice.
- Thomas Ware & Sons – Bristol. English tannery that has been producing beautiful leather since 1840
- J T Batchlors Ltd. tel: 0207 254 2962 – London. Leather, buckles, tools and accessories. Still one of the best places to visit for help, advice and an occasional hint of sarcasm – just remember to bite back!
- Le Prevo Limited – Newcastle. Suppliers of tools, leather, fittings, buckles and equipment. No online check-out so it is all done via their order form or telephone – this is a bit frustrating but they do stock nearly every fitting you could need.
- Artisans Custom Stamps – Shropshire. Highly detailed stamps cut from brass or high impact acetal.
- Chalco Stamp & Die Company – Northampton. Hand cut and engraved metal stamps and dies.
- Laser Master – Cornwall. Laser cut metal from digital files, ideal for templates.
Other Resources – in no particular order
Please let me know if you feel you should be included in this list
Leather manufacturers and suppliers
- J & FJ Baker & Co Ltd – Devon. Britain’s only remaining traditional oak bark tannery.
- J & E Sedgwick – Walsall. Long established leather manufacturer and supplier.
- S C Hall & Sons – Sussex. Wide range of leathers including exotics.
- A W Midgley – Somerset. Leather suppliers.
- Marcus Gear – Walsall. Leather supplier
- J Hewit & Sons Ltd. – West Lothian, Scotland. Leather manufacturer and supplier.
- The English Leather Company – Worcestershire. Leather supplier.
Leather tools, fittings and machinery
- OPUS Fixings – West Sussex. Very large selection of fasteners, fixings and tools.
- Abbey – Cheshire. Well established supplier of tools, materials and fixings primarily for the saddlery/equestrian trade.
- Bowstock – Devon. Leatherworking supplies.
- H Webber & Sons Ltd. – Dorking. Tools and supplies.
- Laederiet – Denmark. Tools and supplies listed in English or Dansk, prices in DKK.
- Artisan Leather – Devon. Leatherworking supplies.
- Goods Japan – Japan. Good selection of tools and supplies. Worldwide shipping.
Craft Organisations
- The Leathersellers’ Company. Ancient City of London Livery Company providing and promoting education and funding for the leather trade.
- Heritage Crafts Association. News, resources, information, events and links for all kinds of crafts.
- Crafts Council. News, features, events and craft directory.
- The Society of Master Saddlers. A very good resource for those wishing to follow a career in saddlery or associated equestrian trades.
- The Worshipful Company of Saddlers. Setting and keeping the standards of quality within the saddlery industry.
- Craft Scotland. News, resources, information, events and links for all kinds of crafts.
Leather and General Information Sites
- The Museum of Leathercraft. The history of leather, its uses and the people who have worked with it.
- The Leather Connection. Large research and reference resource.
- All About Leather. Online information.
- UK Leather. News and information for the leather industry.
- UK Sale of Goods Act 1979. UK Government site detailing (you guessed it) An Act to consolidate the law relating to the sale of goods.