The Marchmont Workshop
The Marchmont Workshop
The Marchmont Workshop was founded by award-winning designers Richard Platt and Sam Cooper, who trained under master chairmaker Lawrence Neal in 2018. As one of the last remaining homes of the rush-seated chair, the workshop is dedicated to preserving and evolving this endangered heritage craft. Building on the legacy of Ernest Gimson and Phillip Clissett, Richard and Sam continue a lineage that stretches back through six generations of master to apprentice.
PROCESS
Every piece produced at The Marchmont Workshop begins with the fundamentals of traditional woodworking. Materials are carefully selected and harvested by hand, then shaped using time-honoured techniques, including turning, steam-bending, and hand-finishing. Each chair is crafted to last a lifetime, using native timbers for their strength, beauty, and character. While deeply rooted in the Arts and Crafts movement, the workshop's designs also embrace a contemporary sensibility, offering a modern take on a timeless craft.
