Bookbinding and Restoration

18/06/2026

A huge thanks to Helen (hand made books) who hosted my book restoration taster day yesterday at her studio in Comberton, Cambridgeshire. We had six lovely crafters who managed to complete one project each (some even two projects). I was kept very busy so I forgot to take photos. As always Helen kept us all going with hot drinks, cake and chocolate.

11/06/2026

My very first miniature Birthday book repair. possibly 1906. A challenge as several pages had been repaired with Sellotape. Most of it came off easily dry, new adhesive tape came off when I wet-lined some pages with J*p and wheat starch paste which I was pleasantly surprised about as the heat method earlier did not work.
Still learning after 50yrs at it.

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.