Bookbinding and Restoration

17/05/2026

Have just set up the studio at Higham Hall, Cumbria for 5 days Bookbinding and Restoration. I can't believe it's my 25th year of teaching here. Looking forward to meeting everyone in the bar later.

02/05/2026

I have just got home from teaching an enjoyable first of two days workshops on book restoration (cloth rebacks) for the SOB & DB joint workshops organised by Wanda and held at the Yardley Arts centre in pretty Yardley Hastings. Things are progressing really well for my 6 crafters from as far away as Edinburgh, Yorkshire, Norfolk, Sheffield, Bedford and London. Roll on Sunday.

01/05/2026

Bookbinding sessions have begun once more at the Frogmore Paper Mill in Apsley, Hemel Hempstead, held on Tuesdays 10 till 4. We are now into our 7 week but that doesn't matter as you can come to one session and go home with a completed book or more sessions to learn different binding styles as you hone your skills. To find out more, here is the link to enquire. Looking forward to meeting you all.

Our Philosophy Frogmore Paper Mill is proud of its artisan heritage and fully supports the need to keep endangered crafts alive. Our heart is in paper but paper has evolved hand-in-hand with print. Paper is all about communication through marks, symbols and the variety of forms it can adopt. The mil...

22/04/2026

Here is the water wheel at Frogmore paper mill. Powered by the River Gade. An impressive piece of kit. I took this yesterday while waiting for students to sew their books.

21/04/2026

Another good day at Frogmore paper mill. 3 multi section casebooks completed and 2 library style bindings started. Well done everyone. Here’s some examples of the styles.

30/03/2026

Brilliant Bradel binding course finished today and everyone managed to complete two versions of this very strong case binding.

27/03/2026

The first bookbinding workshop this year started today at Higham Hall Cumbria, I have 8 lovely crafters attending this 3 night course on making a Bradel Binding. Tonight after dinner we made up our endpapers and marked up the sections for sewing tomorrow. This one will be a rounded and backed version with a leather spine.

24/03/2026

Bookbinding sessions are going well and today was the second one of several to come at the Frogmore Paper Mill. So far we have made a hard case binding, a Pricking Cradle from 3mm waste greyboard and are two thirds of the way into making an 8 section exposed spine coptic stitched sewn board binding. 10 lovely crafters came today.

16/03/2026

On Tuesday 17th March Bookbinding sessions will once again start. It's been a long time since the arson attack but it is now open to hardhat tours and craft sessions. Bookbinding will happen every Tuesday for about 5 weeks to begin with and will cover various styles of bindings. No previous experience is required and you can book as many days as you want. They will be run by myself (a retired book & paper conservator from the British Library). Have a look at the website to discover it's history and how to enquire.

Discover the world’s oldest mechanised paper mill, still in making artisan papers in the heart of Hertfordshire. At Frogmore Paper Mill, history comes to life through engaging storylines, hands-on workshops, and industry in action. Explore our unique heritage site, where paper has been made since ...

06/02/2026

I know I have been a bit quiet on this page but it is the horrible season of the year. I have been busy though with the occasional private commission, practicing by making models of book structures that have appealed to me and making phase boxes from some lovely hand made cartonnage board from a paper-making windmill in the Netherlands and of course preparing materials for several workshops lined up this year beginning in March with a Bradel style book model up in the Lakes. Bookbinding workshops will also begin again at the Frogmore Paper Mill on Tuesdays beginning in March also (yes it's finally happening after several years of building repair work due to an arson attack), So watch this space.

24/01/2026

A brilliant day at Linton today when fellow bookbinders got together for our East Anglia regions Society of Bookbinders AGM and social shindig. One of our biggest attendances too with a few new members too. Lots of tables with show n tell, beautifully bound books by binders, goodies of all sorts in the silent auction, Paul’s bench of Hewitts materials and tools, Victorias beautiful marbled and paste papers and Marks Harmatan and Oakridge leathers. Lots of food provided by the members for lunch and a quiz in the afternoon. Loved catching up with old and new friends. Huge thanks to you organisers.