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Willow Coffin Course
May 19th - 23rd 2025
Devon

WORKSHOP DETAILS:

This workshop is ideal for people wanting to make a coffin for themselves in advance, for a loved one, or just for the fun and curiosity of it.

 

Each workshop is for 5 days and is taught by experienced coffin weaver Sophia Campbell-Shaw. 9:30 - 5pm each day, Monday 19th - Friday 23rd May 2024. The total course cost is £700.

Participants will learn/practice the skills of waling, english and french randing, adding rope handles, rod border, plait lid edge, clasps - among other techniques.

The average retail cost of a willow coffin is between £700-800, and of course you'll be taking your coffin away with you to sell/use. You'd have to courier or drive it home.

 

Also included will be a pre-course "meet and greet" intro zoom session to familiarise yourself with the other course participants and ourselves. This will be an evening about three weeks before each course, and will be decided on the availability on the group. The group size will be 5 or 6 participants in total, so a healthy student to tutor ratio. There'll be an optional evening pub gathering with the group during the week, and delicious refreshments will be on tap.

No prior experience is necessary of weaving with willow. However, we advise, if possible, to attend a beginner's basketry short course to get a feel of the material. It is important to have some level of strenth in your hands as the willow is fairly thick - if you're unsure, get in touch and we can have a chat about it.

 

TRANSPORT:

 

The location is Sophia's barn workshop in the beautiful East Devon hills at Higher Moorlands Farm Luppitt, East Devon, EX144SY. The barn is also 30 minutes drive from the Jurassic coast. Google Maps link here.

 

The nearest train station is Honiton which is a direct line from London Waterloo. Honiton is 12 minutes drive from the Farm workshop. Closest international flights tend to be from London Heathrow or Bristol Airport.

 

A cheaper but slightly longer duration option if travelling from/ through London, is the Megabus coach from London to Exeter Bus Station, and then a few stops from Exeter St Davids train station to Honiton.

 

ACCOMMODATION:

 

There are various options locally on airbnb. Higher Moorland Farm where the workshop is located have a gorgeous campsite and little food stall, there is also a lovely airbnb across the road from the farm and they may have bikes too  lend: https://tinyurl.com/4stsrbhs

 

The closest shops are Honiton town and Dunkeswell village (the latter has a shop, cash point, post office, and restaurant).

 

PAYMENT:

 

The course costs £700.

 

Two payment options to secure your place:

- A £100 deposit now and £600 remainder two months before the workshop start date (19th March 2025).

- Full payment of £700 upfront 

Please get in touch with any questions you may have, we look forward to hearing from you.

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