3 minute read
St Ives Farmers’ Market
A chat with Graham Morris of Graham’s Wood Craft
What did you before you started your business?
My background is in engineering, and I was a workshop foreman in Birmingham before I moved to St Ives 37 years ago. I wanted to get out of the rat race, and I bought a restaurant in Fore Street, which I ran with my parents for eight years – they cooked, and I did front-ofhouse. After I met my wife, Ann, I went to work in her family’s newsagent business for a while, and then I worked at Tesco in Camborne and Carbis Bay.
What led you to start working with wood?
I needed something to do when I retired. I’ve always been fascinated by computers, and I rebuilt about 500 of them for charity – we took three ambulances and a mobile dental unit to Moldova, which is the poorest country in Europe. But I needed a hobby which didn’t involve sitting down all day. My mother-in-law had logs in her garden, and I decided to see what I could do with them.
How did you decide what to make?
I started making trinket boxes, and boxes with drawers in them. I went on to make shapes which I thought children would like – butterflies and dolphins – and then I set myself the challenge of making a lighthouse. I’ve done several lighthouses since then, and also a VW campervan, and an E-type Jaguar – as I couldn’t afford a real one! I started to fill the house, and my wife said: “Either you stop making these things, or you sell them – so I decided to sell them! We now have stalls at events like Stithians Show, and Christmas fairs, and I do some commissions.
What are the most important tools of your trade?
I have a bandsaw with a 9-inch cut, an electric planer, and a 42-inch belt sander, which I designed and built myself. I also use a laser cutter to make jigsaws.
Where do your source the wood?
It comes from a stair maker in Hayle, and it’s all wood that would otherwise go for burning. I use mahogany, oak and pine. I make candle holders and bird huts out of offcuts – nothing goes to waste if I can help it. It takes about 12 hours to make a lighthouse, but I don’t charge for my time, only for the materials I use. If I bought wood from a timber merchant, my prices would have to double - and I want people to be able to afford the things I make.
Contact Graham on 07723 923843, annethlowen@yahoo.co.uk or Facebook: @GrahamWoodCraft
Belgian Inspired Licensed Café
Here at the family run Bier Huis, we are passionate about sharing the authentic dining and drinking rituals that Belgium has to offer! This hidden gem, tucked away in the St Andrews St Hideaway Quarter, offers the largest Bier collection in St Ives with over 75 bottled and 7 draft belgian varieties. Open daily from 12pm-10pm, you can expect to enjoy lunch or dinner with a relaxed atmosphere in grand surroundings. Our knowledgeable and friendly team are on hand to guide you through your journey of Belgian discovery! Bookings recommended through our website, takeaway Bier available all day.
01736 797074
16 St Andrews Street, St. Ives TR26 1AH
