New Permanent Workshop in Rushden

The new permanent Workshop location from May 2025 will be at Fitzwilliam Street, Rushden, Northamptonshire.

The last year at the Corner Barn in Whittlebury has been a great space to work in, and especially meeting all the new and also quite a few past Makers at the Workshop.

However the owners of the large commercial site are now progressing with approved plans to redevelop the site into executive style residential homes. So I’m moving out and relocating to Rushden.

This is not the first time I’ve had to move the Workshop due to a commercial site being redeveloped into prime residential.

I think we all agree on the demand and need for a major house building programme in the UK but unfortunately for me that usually means industrial/commercial sites are a relatively easy target for developers.

So here we go again! Yet another Commercial work space being converted into Residential.

Over the last couple of years I’d been thinking about trying to start some kind of campaign to essentially SAVE OUR WORKSHOPS, (similar to past campaigns to save local pubs).

If we keep losing Workshops to Coffee shops and residential homes, then where do we make stuff?

Commercial Workshops are good news for local areas, we keep areas used, can employ local people, bring trade to other local businesses etc etc.

But, thats a fight for another day!

So I’ve decided to bring Leather Craft Workshop Days back to where it all started back in 2017…. to the garden Workshop.

A new big garden Workshop with great natural light, insulated and power along with heating and air conditioning.

Rushden is easily accessible via the M1, A1, A6, A45 & A14 and also with free local parking and cafes.

I’ve also decided to now run my Workshops and 2 Day Courses with a maximum of 2 people attending, so you’ll get even more personal tuition making your leather goods in a comfortable making space.

Thanks for reading and hope to meet you at the new Rushden Workshop.

Best, Richard