Tom Westgate (left) and Paul Nickless (right) with the spireTom Westgate (left) and Paul Nickless (right) with the spire
With traditional building craft techniques in decline across the UK, two skilled carpentry students from Central Sussex College have been offered the unique opportunity to build a hand-cut, scale version of a church steeple at the College’s Crawley campus.
Paul Nickless, 22, and Tom Westgate, 20, both study for one day each week at the College on the Advanced Apprenticeship programme, and were both due to complete their Level 3 Construction Diplomas in Site Carpentry this summer, but worked exceptionally hard throughout the year, finishing the course in January. As a result, Woodtrades Lecturer, David Hartsilver, offered the pair the opportunity to try something different, and the idea to build the steeple came about.
David explains: “This is the first time students at the College have attempted a project like this, and Paul and Tom have been working really hard for about four weeks to make sure they get the structure perfect. They’ve both had to have some additional training on the lathe, and used chisels and a turntable to make the decorative finial, rather than any mechanical tools. The steeple itself has taken shape really nicely – it features two steep angles – a sixty degree pitch on the lower section and an eighty degree pitch for the main slope – this is basically as steep as it can go. Once finished, the structure will be kept by the College as a display piece.”
Tom, who lives in Copthorne, and works for Atlantic Contracts based in Borehamwood, was thrilled to be asked to take part, saying: “This project has been a real learning curve for Paul and me, as neither of us have done anything like it before. In our day-to-day jobs, we tend to work on modern pitched roofs, and even modern churches don’t tend to use steeples in their design.”
Paul, who works for J L O’Rourke based in Slough, and lives in Crawley, added: “This was a real opportunity for us to keep some of the traditional building techniques alive, which I think is very important for our generation. It’s been so satisfying to see it all come together, and we appreciate all the support we have received from our tutor David at every step of the way.”
Tom and Paul have now been offered the chance to attend a Building Conservation Masterclass which will be held at the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum, near Chichester this October, by Sussex Heritage. The places on this course have been sponsored by one of Sussex Heritage Trust’s trustees, David Cowan, of Cowan Architects, and will focus on the conservation and repair of timber.
Paul Nickless working on the decorative finial
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