Bookbinding Courses

There are now very few places where the art of bookbinding can be learned and the skills of the binder passed on to future generations

Passing on these skills is very close to our heart and therefore for two evenings every week, our skilled bookbinders are available to help you learn the art of bookbinding.

The courses are for novices to the art and for those who already have skills they wish to improve.

We also have a range of tools, materials and equipment which we can sell you.

Starting Again in January

Once again we are starting our courses with two distinct opportunities.

• A six week course for the Book Dealer
• A six week course for the Interested Amateur

These are by popular demand and have been planned carefully after listening to what our “students” want. We promise to be practical, not theoretical and at the end of the courses, the Book dealer student will know how to deal with the cleaning, repairs and care required for books they wish to sell. The interested amateur will have bound a book and a slip case to hold their new treasure!

Book Dealer course

These classes start on Wednesday February 9th and will be each Wednesday for six weeks. The time will be 6.30 - 8.30. The cost of the six sessions will be £180.00 + VAT.

The courses are largely constructed by the books you bring yourself and we will provide the tools and expertise to help you achieve your goals. Tools and equipment can be purchased for you at discounted rates if you wish.

The course will include general advice on repairs and will cover the following:

• Strengthening of joints in spines
• Repairs to endpapers
• Minor paper repairs with correct materials
• Sello-tape and label removal
• Tipping pages in and dealing with loose sections
• Strengthening corners on cloth and leather books
• Leathering colouring and leather preservative
• Stain removal techniques

For more information on what will be covered please email Dieter

Interested Amateur

These classes start on Tuesday January 25th and will be each Tuesday for six weeks. The time will be 6.30 – 8.30. The cost of the six sessions will be £210.00 + vat

For this price you get the following

• Instruction by our Senior binder Dieter Rader who has one of the best reputations for fine binding and restoration in the UK
• Weekly sessions over a period of 6 weeks. Our research shows this is a fantastic way to learn and retain what you learn
• Hands on learning with s sequence to understanding and a common sense approach to the subject.
• The basic tool kit which any serious binder needs.
• The use of machines and tools in a real bindery, NOT a class room
• Materials for binding

At the end of the course, you will be able to bind a book from the start or rebind a book you have. The basic cloth binding and rebinding and repairs. You will be shown how to label the spine using your own computer and paper.  You will also make a slip case to hold your book

For more information on what will be covered, please email Dieter

Bespoke Courses

We are always pleased when somebody wants a one to one session with Dieter on any aspect of binding whether this be edge gilding, leather paring, tooling, split boards etc. Prices are on application but start at £100 per session. We recommend these courses to anyone who is serious about becoming skilled in the art of bookbinding and restoration

For more information on what will be covered, please email  Dieter

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Updated 1-March 2011