Student Life

Set in the heart of rural Sussex but only 1hr from London and 20 minutes from Brighton, the workshops are perfectly situated for easy access to the M23 (10 mins), Wivelsfield Station (10 mins bike ride/20 mins walk for the keen!) and Gatwick airport 25 mins.

Bankside Farm is an 18th century Grade II listed farmstead set on Ditchling Common.  Teaching takes place in the original Sussex Barn with views over the Sussex countryside.  On summer days our dogs laze around in the sun, there are ponies in the fields and free range hens sometimes pop their heads around the workshop door. Eggs are usually for sale too!

Our students get so thoroughly engrossed in what they are studying/making that they regularly choose to work very long days – the workshops are open from 8am – 7pm , tea breaks and the occasional homemade cake are therefore an important part of the day as is a break for lunch in the courtyard on sunnier days! Regular visits are taken to timber yards and veneer suppliers as well as outings to established furniture designer/makers such as The Barnsley Workshops, who are kind enough to host our students for an educational visit each year.