As part of our collection here at the Museum, stands the Joiners’ Shop from Witley. While a fascinating building in its own right, the Joiners’ shop also gives us an interesting insight into the industrial world around it. The story of the Mullard family and their workshop not only provides a window into the working practices of the time but also helps us appreciate the vital role such workshops played in shaping local communities.
The Origins of the Joiners’ Shop
The Joiners’ Shop belonged to the Mullard family, a local firm based in Witley, Surrey. Initially, the shop functioned as a carpenter’s and joiner’s workshop, providing essential services to the community by producing wooden components for various building projects. Whether it was furniture, doors, window frames, or the intricate woodwork that adorned homes and public buildings, the shop became a vital part of the local infrastructure. The business employed a team of skilled craftsmen who worked at three sturdy workbenches within the workshop.
As was typical of many family-run businesses of the time, the Mullards were highly skilled in a variety of trades. The shop’s initial focus on general building work, carpentry, and joinery allowed the firm to meet the needs of an ever-growing population in rural Surrey, where the demand for both new construction and repairs was constant. A dozen men would have worked inside the shop, each performing specialised tasks at the benches, creating both functional and decorative pieces that contributed to the local economy.
Transition to Monumental Masonry and Coffin Making
As the years went by and the needs of the community shifted, the Mullard family gradually adjusted their business model. The shop eventually moved from general building work to focus specifically on monumental masonry and coffin making. This transition highlights an often-overlooked aspect of a traditional joiner’s shop – a shift in the trades it served. While many such workshops began with carpentry and construction, the Mullards’ decision to specialise in coffin making shows the significant and often somber role these workshops played in the life of the community.
One of the most distinctive features of a Joiners’ Shop was the ‘coffin bench’, located closest to the fire. This bench was used for the construction of coffins, which were typically made from solid timber and required specialised tools and techniques. Benches of this style would have contained a small cubby-hole, which would have been used to store a pot of pitch, a heat-resistant material often used to seal and reinforce the coffins. The pitch would have been heated over the fire, making it pliable enough to coat the coffin, ensuring its durability and protecting it from the elements. This seemingly small detail speaks volumes about the practicalities and human element behind every piece of work done in the shop, reflecting the delicate balance between craftsmanship and the needs of the community.
Practical Features of the Shop’s Design
Beyond the craftsmanship of the workers, the design of the Joiners’ Shop itself offers a glimpse into the practical considerations of working in such an environment. The shop features large double doors alongside the windows, a design element that was crucial for managing the large and often cumbersome pieces of joinery that were worked on in the shop. These doors were strategically placed to allow craftsmen to move massive pieces of wood and completed work easily between the interior and exterior of the building.
These doors also provided the ability to fill carts without damaging the materials. The carts would have been quite tall, meaning that the products could be moved from the workshop and into the cart without too much distance to drop. Similarly, it made it possible to load without having to try and go from the ground up. This made transportation easier.
To manage the size and weight of these heavy materials, a system of ropes and a block and tackle would have been employed. This ingenious method allowed craftsmen to lower and raise pieces of joinery with ease, making it possible to handle even the heaviest and most unwieldy items. This system was particularly useful when working with large beams or finished products that had to be lowered to the ground carefully without causing damage to either the work or the workshop itself.
The design of the shop, with its spacious interior and strategically placed windows, would have also allowed natural light to flood the workbenches, providing optimal conditions for detailed work. Good lighting, both natural and artificial, was crucial for the precise tasks that joiners and carpenters undertook, especially when creating finely crafted items that required attention to detail.
The Role of the Joiners’ Shop in the Community
The Joiners’ Shop at Witley is not just a preserved building; it is a window into the everyday lives of the people who lived and worked in rural Surrey during a time when craftsmanship was a crucial part of the local economy.
In many ways, workshops like the Joiners’ Shop were self-sustaining units that relied on the skills of a few key individuals and a strong connection to the local community. The Mullard family, for example, would have developed close relationships with their customers, who relied on them for not only building materials and repairs but also for more personal services, such as coffin making. This connection between the craftsmen and their customers is an essential part of understanding the significance of such workshops within the fabric of rural life.
As with many small businesses of the time, the Mullard family’s shop was both a place of work and a place of deep personal involvement. Whether it was a cabinet maker crafting furniture for a newly married couple or a joiner building a coffin for a beloved member of the community, each piece of work that left the shop had personal significance, reinforcing the idea that craftsmanship was not just a job – it was a way of life.
A Window into the Past
This building, like many of its kind, played a crucial role in sustaining local economies and supporting the daily lives of the people who depended on the skill and dedication of the craftsmen who worked inside. It stands as a tribute to the past, showcasing the resourcefulness and ingenuity of those who built and shaped the physical world around them. By preserving such a building, the Weald & Downland Living Museum ensures that we can continue to appreciate the craftsmanship and hard work that have been integral to our history.
As part of our commitment to preservation, we also maintain, conserve and interpret these buildings to give visitors a glimpse into the past. In 2025, we underwent an extensive conservation project on the Joiners’ Shop. From fixing the chimney to rebuilding the stairs, our expert team of staff and volunteers have successfully repaired and restored this building into one that has longevity and demonstration built in. Plans are in motion for this Shop to become a working building once again. Our team of carpenters, joiners and carvers will use this building as their workshop, revitalising the Joiners’ Shop and giving visitors a powerful glimpse into what it would have been like all those years ago. You can stay up to date with this project on our social media and on our website!
