Last month, I took a trip to England to visit with family. Being originally from England, but having lived most of my life in the US, we try to go back as often as we can. While there, I went in search of some English woodworking magazines.
A couple of years ago, I picked up one called “British Woodworking” I quite liked it and was hoping to pick up a current issue. No luck, I couldn’t find it anywhere. Since returning home, I’ve looked online and found the magazines web page www.britishwoodworking.com. Unfortunately, it says that their most recent issue is November 2014. I’m guessing that means they have gone belly up. Too bad.
At W.H. Smiths (an English book shop similar to the US’s Barnes and Noble, though much smaller), I did manage to find some other woodworking magazines.
- The Woodworker & Woodturner
- Good Woodworking
- Furniture & cabinetmaking
I wasn’t too impressed with the first two. They weren’t bad, but not something that I would subscribe to. Ironically, they both have the same website http://www.getwoodworking.com, so I assume that they are put out by the same publishing company.
The third magazine, Furniture & cabinetmaking was very enjoyable to read and is definitely something that I would subscribe to. It is a larger magazine with nice glossy cover and pages similar to Fine Woodworking in the US. I think that Fine Woodworking has a certain theme and feel to it that is unmatched by any other woodworking magazine. However, that is where the similarity ends as the content of “Furniture and cabinetmaking” reminded me much more of the US magazine “Popular Woodworking”. Since these two US magazines are my favorites, “Furniture and cabinetmaking” felt like a great blend of the things I like most.
The cover article was great and it showed what appeared to be a cross grain dovetail. In reality it was a very clever “trick joint” that would be excellently used on the pull out lid supports of a drop front secretary desk.
A selection of magazines that I picked up on my recent trip.
I was also pleasantly surprised to see an article about Woodworking in America 2015 by Anne Briggs-Bohnett of the website Anne of All Trades. I don’t know Anne, but I like her website and enjoy reading another woodworking blogger living in the same part of the country as me. She has a farm about an hour our two away from me. Check her site out.
Anyway, enough prattling on! I’ve still got a chicken coop to finish. Hopefully, my next post on the chicken coop will see that project complete and I can get on with some much over due tool restoration projects.
– Jonathan White
Anne is an interesting lady.
Hi. I too liked BritishWoodworking and was a subscriber. But unfortunately the owner/editor of the magazine, Nick Gibbs was involved in a accident. He was cycling and was hit by a car. As a result of his injuries he has not been able to continue. Regards Mike.
Hello Mike,
That’s awful, I hope his recovery goes well. I thought it was a good magazine. Thanks for the information,
All the best,
Jonathan