About us

Maurice started his career within youth training, personal development and outdoor education but it was whilst working within environmental education for Gateshead’s Education Department that Maurice Pyle first discovered the joys of working with green wood using a few simple hand tools. The original woodcraft courses he organised for the local community in Gateshead were very well received and seemed an excellent vehicle to get people of all backgrounds involved with woodlands and woodcraft.

For the last 15 years he has enjoyed running a business which combines many aspects of conventional woodland work and traditional woodcraft.

The business has grown over the last few years in all departments but our biggest development recently has been the setting up of The Woodsmith's Store. A complete service offering the best tools and books for the green woodworker and traditional woodworker. The buy on-line website - www.woodsmithstore.co.uk was launched November 2006

In 2007 Maurice and Claire purchased an idylic wooden house in a remote valley in the mountains of eastern Norway, a base from which inspiring woodcraft expeience holidays could be run

He is a trustee of the Bill Hogarth Memorial Apprenticeship Trust, regional contact for the Association of Pole Lathe Turners and member of The Carpenters' fellowship.