The Carpenters' Fellowship is an organisation that represents the interests of those involved in Structural Post & Beam Carpentry. Often known as "oak framing" or "green oak building" this also includes the use of other hardwood and softwood species but can be defined as heavy structural, jointed carpentry: The process of designing and creating buildings entirely in wood using and evolving the traditional jointing techniques found not only in the UK but worldwide.
Our diverse membership is drawn globally and includes engineers and building designers as well as oak framing companies and carpenters both professional and amateur.
We have made it our business to create training and qualification opportunities in oak framing and this vital area of our activity has resulted in NVQ's at level 2 and 3 as well as a two-year Specialist Apprenticeship Scheme.
We are represented on the European Structural Timber Advisory committee and we aim to provide a range of technical resources to our membership including results from ongoing structural research into the use of heavy timber framing.
We meet every year for our conference, "Frame" at which the important business of catching up with each other and sharing our views on the world in general is interspersed with lectures, workshops, practical demonstrations and fun activities.
We hope you will be inspired by what you will find in this website, and that you will be persuaded to join us and contribute to the ever-growing oak framing community.