Furniture school history
A vision for fine furniture making and design
In 1985 one of the UK's leading furniture designers, Anselm Fraser, bought a crumbling farm steading in the heart of the East Lothian countryside, near Edinburgh in Scotland. His vision was to transform the 19th century stone barn into one of the world's leading independent furniture making schools and furniture design schools.
Stone by stone, joist by joist, he and his wife Antonia slowly transformed the neglected farm building into a world-class school of furniture recognised for its dedication to high quality furniture design and making skills.
From acorn to oak - A world class school passionate about cabinet making and design
The school grew steadily, with three or four students a year, but as its reputation for excellence in traditional and modern furniture making spread, so numbers increased.
Today, up to 20 students each year go on our professional furniture making course that runs from October through to early June. Graduates from this full-time course have gone on to run their own woodworking businesses, design and make furniture, teach or work in museums and much more.
There are five full-time Furniture School staff and a host of visiting experts from furniture design and practical backgrounds. Commercial bench space for school graduates who want to start their own business are also available to rent after the course in our Chippendale Incubation Centre.
Anselm also runs an award winning kitchen design, furniture making and restoration business alongside the school and is an inspirational speaker on the history of furniture design and woodworking.
Want to find out more?
Read about some recently graduated Chippendale Furniture School students and what they are doing now.
Find out about our furniture making courses.