Olive Ash

(Fraxinus Excelsior)

The ash is a common tree, self propagating in most parts of the UK. The wood has excellent properties so long as it is kept dry. The heartwood of the ashtree often develops brown or olive coloured figuring as the tree grows old.

 

 

Rippled Ash

(Fraxinus Excelsior)

Rippling is not uncommon in white or olive ash. As white ash furniture ages it gains a honey colour.

 

 

 

 

English Elm

(Ulmus procera)

The rich brown tones and feather-like grain pattern are common to elm woods. There are many species and variations with a species. The wood is not naturally stable but with skilful joinery it makes lasting furniture. Most trees of any size have been destroyed by Dutch Elm disease, which created a surplus of wood in the past but makes it rare now.

 

Common Oak

(Quercus robur)

English oak has for centuries formed the structure of buildings, ships and furniture. Most oak is now imported and straight grained but some traditional English oak is still planted and converted for furniture. It is sometimes streaked with brown or 'tigering' caused by a natural defence against bracket fungus.

 

 

 

 

Rippled Brown Oak

(Quercus robur)

Rippled oak is much sought after, so is brown oak. To find both together in one board is lucky.

 

 

 

 

Fiddleback Sycamore

(Acer Pseudoplatanus)

Sycamore trees are common in the UK but good sycamore wood is not.

It takes careful selection and drying to preserve the iridescent colouring. Often used in the past for fine violin backs, the fiddleback rippling is a variation caused by natural environmental stress in some trees. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

English Walnut

(Juglans Regia)

 

Walnut trees have been planted in England since they were brought by the Roman Empire. Walnut grows slowly here, so the wood has been available in small quantities for centuries. Its use was replaced by mahogany in the eighteenth century so there have been less planted in recent times. The slow growth gives English walnut a special fine character and colouration.

 

 

Naturally Figured English Walnut

(Juglans Regia)

Figuring like this occurs naturally where there is stress in the tree such as around a crotch or fork in the trunk. Most figured walnut comes from burrs, man-made by grafting onto rootstock. Nearly all of it is turned into thin veneers because of its high value.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yew

(Taxus baccata)

Although technically a softwood, yew is harder than many hardwoods. It was the only wood tough and flexible enough to make English longbows. The trees  are fairly common but live to a great age so are not often felled and the yield of useful timber is small. Yew has subtle colouration and figuring and is mostly converted to veneers.