Preserving a Craft Passed Down Through Generations

Tom Quinell runs the Quinell School of Blacksmithing in Leatherhead, Surrey, offering blacksmithing courses and experience days for the general public. A fifth‑generation blacksmith, Tom is part of a family business that has been based on the same site since 1932.

“It’s a family business. We’ve been here since 1932, so coming out for 94 years now. I’m fifth generation, and on this site we’ve got the blacksmithing school as well as working workshops producing commissioned pieces – public artwork, handrails, gates and railings.
We also have an art gallery representing our own work, alongside other UK blacksmiths and makers from all over the country.” 

Set within 57 acres of surrounding woodland, the workshop offers a unique and inspiring environment for students learning a traditional craft.

The Challenge: Weather Exposure Impacting Teaching

The main teaching area is housed in an open‑sided shed, allowing plenty of light and views across the woodland – ideal in good weather. However, during winter months, exposure to wind and driving rain began to significantly affect working conditions.

“When the weather is nice it’s really lovely. However, during winter months it gets quite windy, with prevailing driving rain coming straight in from the side.
If you’re standing at your forge or working at your anvil, you get wet. It meant we were very restricted as to when we could work out there.”

Tom needed a solution that reduced weather ingress without fully enclosing the space or blocking the view that makes the workshop so special.

Finding the Right Balance Between Protection and Openness

After researching available options, Tom contacted the Galebreaker team to find a solution that could protect the teaching area while maintaining airflow, visibility and the character of the space.

Galebreaker Spanscreens are available in four different fabric options, making them suitable for a wide range of visibility, airflow and weather‑protection requirements in commercial and industrial buildings.

The Solution: Galebreaker Spanscreens

The Spanscreens were installed at the start of 2024 and quickly made a noticeable difference.

“We installed the Galebreaker SpanScreens and it’s really solved a whole host of issues. Primarily, it was to stop the wind and the rain, but we’re also south‑facing here.”

An unexpected benefit soon became clear. Students working for long periods at open forges were struggling with glare and heat from direct sunlight.

“Participants standing at their forge with red‑hot metal in their hands were working in bright sunshine for eight hours a day.
The unexpected benefit was that the Spanscreen shades the sun and has reduced the temperature in the building quite dramatically.
It’s just made working here all‑round much more comfortable.” 

Proven Performance in a Demanding Environment

Given the close proximity of the Spanscreens to working forges, heat resistance was a key concern.

“The team at Galebreaker probably thought it was an odd request because I phoned them up and asked how heat‑retardant they were.
They sent out a sample and I did some ‘destructive testing’ – putting it up near the heat to see how it would perform.” 

The results exceeded expectations.

“They’ve been amazing – not marked or damaged at all.” 

Spanscreen material is fully stress‑tested to commercial standards, making it suitable for demanding industrial and workshop environments.

The Result: A More Comfortable, Usable Teaching Space

The installation has allowed the Quinell School of Blacksmithing to operate more consistently throughout the year, protecting students from wind, rain and excessive sun while retaining the open feel of the workshop.

“I’d definitely recommend them. They provide excellent weather protection and also help contain the working area.”