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A Day of Contrasts – Morgan Furniture and Edward Barnsley Workshop visit
By Gil Carter, liveryman
Liverymen were treated to a day of contrasts during a visit to two furniture companies on the Hampshire – West Sussex border, Morgan Furniture and the Edward Barnsley Workshop.
Morgan Furniture was first on the visit where Paul Jones, managing director, and liveryman Rodney McMahon, chairman, guided us round the manufacturing process from raw material through to final dispatch. Although no photography was allowed they openly shared the key elements of the manufacturing process developed over the last 30 years. Impressive was the implementation of the award-winning Lean and continuous improvement programme and the passion for sustainability adopted by all the workforce we met as we toured all departments. At every workstation visual evidence of the absolute adherence to quality standards was apparent.
In the showroom surrounded by Morgan products it was clear how the company had become a leader in the field of high-end contract furniture production.
Lunch was taken in the Ship Inn at Langstone, originally an 18th century wharf-side warehouse handling grain, with spectacular views across the waters of Chichester Harbour.
We then moved on to the Edward Barnsley Workshop, where in the centenary year of the Barnsley Workshop being established in 1923, we were able to see fine furniture being hand crafted much as it was in Edward’s day. Liveryman, James Ryan, himself a past apprentice of the Workshop which he now runs, gave a guided tour with the emphasis on training apprentices utilizing the traditional hand skills, but now being supported by some more recent ‘’electrical tools’’ to ensure less time is spent on laborious tasks like planing and sawing. In the listed building drying sheds local timber was awaiting some future use. A new machine workshop was under construction in traditional style to replace a listed building which had been moved to an adjacent location, but much of the Workshop looked as it would have done in the early days with hand-tools unchanged. In the small showroom where we were able to view a sample of finished pieces a lively discussion took place on the value of the training of the apprentices.
All agreed it had been an excellent day with grateful thanks expressed to Rodney McMahon and James Ryan for hosting us.
Barnsley Workshop tour images
