The Building Crafts College was founded in 1893 by the Carpenters’ Company as the Trades Training School.

Today, the College is a government-sponsored centre of vocational excellence and teaches a wide range of fine woodworking, stonemasonry and leadworking skills as well as related subjects such as conservation and restoration. It also offers apprenticeship schemes, and qualifications in specialist areas such as bench joinery, shop fitting and architectural stone carving. Evening classes are also available.

Dynamic and forward-looking, the College accepts students of all ages and from all walks of life who wish to pursue excellence and outstanding craftsmanship in their chosen field. It is based in state-of-the-art facilities in Stratford, East London.

Courses

The College offers City & Guilds diplomas in Fine Woodwork and Stonemasonry, apprenticeship schemes and NVQ/Construction Awards courses in Bench Joinery, Shopfitting, Banker Masonry and Architectural Stonecarving, with conservation options and various short courses. Visitors are always welcome. Contact the College to make an appointment to look around and talk to an Instructor.

History of the College

Originally located in Great Titchfield Street between Oxford Street and Regent's Park, on opening the College was the only establishment in London offering instruction and training in building crafts to young men.

During the Second World War, over 3,000 servicemen were trained as carpenters, blacksmiths and sheet-metal workers at the College. However, by 1947, the school had reverted to training apprentices for the construction industry and was known as the Building Crafts Training School.

The original building, rebuilt in 1968, became outdated and too small for the requirements of technical training in the 21st century. A new, purpose-built College was established on land owned by the Company in Kennard Road, Stratford and opened in 2001.

Visit the website of the Building Crafts College for more details.
Enquiries should be made to:

The Director
Building Crafts College
Kennard Road
Stratford
London
E15 1AH

Telephone: 020 8522 1705
Fax: 020 8522 1309
Email: info@thebcc.ac.uk

For inquiries about the history of the College contact the Carpenters' Company archivist at info@carpentersco.com