A year of Cartmel Conservation in unprecedented times. What a year!
Little did I know that when I handed in my notice at English Heritage, and agreed to extend my notice period until 31st March 2020, that half the country would be stopping work the week before me.
After 43 years in full time employment the transition to running my new business, Cartmel Conservation, proved more challenging than first thought due to Covid-19 and lockdown. Whilst it was a slower start, my daughter, Maria, joked about how smoothly I settled into lockdown life enjoying long walks, cycling, sailing and the odd beer!
As ever, things have picked up and I’ve found myself busier as the year has gone on. So, without the structure of setting an alarm to manage a busy working week what have I been up to over the past year…
First Lady (a 24-foot sailing boat)
Ever since I moved to the Lake District, over nine years ago, I have talked about getting a boat. Well as some of you may know, I may have mentioned it once or twice, I finally bought one.
First Lady is a Beneteau First 24 sailing boat and was built in 1984. Two careful owners had looked after it before me, but it had been sat around for 18 months and needed some work to restore it to its former glory. Working from the original handbook the aim from day one was to restore it to its original retro look.
The woodwork was stripped and varnished, the deck and hull cleaned and polished, the rigging checked and re-rigged. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed lining and sign writing until I hand painted the name and original linings back onto First Lady. While it was a bit of a slog stripping the anti-foul paint from the hull and filling and repainting this area, it was satisfying to see the end results.
Before 
During
She came out of the water for the winter and after a bit of TLC, she was relaunched on the 30th March. After a heavy weekend of rain, Windermere was as high as its been this year. Perfect for relaunching! My book and a pen on board, this is the perfect office with a view for Cartmel Conservation!
Replacement Tiller
Unfortunately, the original Tiller on First Lady, or as my daughter calls it, ‘the Boat steering stick thing’, went missing before I purchased her. After unsuccessfully searching for an original tiller to replace the missing steering stick I decided to make my own tiller. On one of my walks, during daily exercise in lockdown 1, I rescued a broken branch from an Ash tree and started to season this piece of timber. Using draw knives, spokeshaves and chisels I worked and shaped this into a bespoke tiller that fits both the rudder on First Lady and the hand of her navigator.
Bird Table
In 2002 Maria asked for a bird table for Christmas. By 2020 this bird table was looking very sad and neglected.
Lockdown allowed time for a bit of conservation to restore it back to A1 condition. Using seasoned yellow pine, rescued from reclaimed beams from a demolished textile mill in West Yorkshire, the rotten pieces have been replaced. It is now very solid again and will last for many more years to come. I have also added some metal strips to keep out the pesky squirrels.
Before 
During 
After
Composting toilet
In Autumn 2020, an unusual request came our way. For an 80th birthday present to himself, a friend and neighbour has always dreamt of having his own composting toilet on a hill… a slight twist on a room with a view!
After years of trudging up and down the steep winding steps from the summer house to go to the toilet, this slightly unusual request was going to make a real difference for him.
When John moved to South Lakeland, 9 years ago, his neighbours presented him with a black glitter toilet seat. He then sourced a glamorous composting toilet to match from Strumpet and Trollop in Skipton. Check them out for all your “floozy” needs.
With his 80th Birthday fast approaching, my son and I did the groundwork and built the shed to make him his very own composting toilet. We’ve now made the door into a stable door, so it really is a loo with a view!
Front 
Back
Inside 
View from the loo!
Cupboard doors
When the glue fails on the laminate covering on the modern (20 year old) kitchen doors, nowadays you would look to replace them. I don’t like to throw things away so even though it takes a bit of doing why not repair rather than replace? So when 17 doors fail, lockdown allowed the time to repair them one by one!
Before 
During 
After
Good as new and saving the home owner money at the same time.
Garden Bridge
Small repairs were required to a garden bridge. The two main beams were rotten, so the beams were replaced and we added some sturdier hand rails.
Before 
During
Wooden Street Sign – 3 Finger Post
After a local horse bolted, the wooden finger post was the only thing that stopped it! The finger post came off worse than the horse and needed some work.
The main oak post was replaced with locally sourced timber from the woodland across the road. A big thank you to Jack Holden from Mountain Oak Woodcraft for supplying the oak post at short notice. The three fingers were cleaned, repaired and painted. The slots were cut in the new post and the original fingers refitted, pointing in the right direction.
During 
After
A hole was dug and the post securely fitted into the mini roundabout. The horse has been warned to be careful, as if it comes back for round 2 it has a much sturdier opponent!
After 
After
All my old colleagues at English Heritage will smile – I just can’t get away from signage!
New House
To modernise a 1980s kitchen, we reused as many of the original units as possible. By adding modern worktops, a new hob, sink and flooring, we have a beautiful new kitchen!
Before 
During 
After
After project managing new bathrooms being fitted, walls being painted, new floors fitted and everything else that goes with it, the cottage was ready to move in. It was a big move, approximately 15m across the courtyard, but we are now settled into our new home.
Cartmel Conservation Workshop
To do the conservation work I’ll be doing at Cartmel Conservation, you need a good workshop! Plenty of time has been spent on getting the workshop spick and span so that every tool has a home.
Fully insulated for the cold Cumbrian winters! 
Every tool has a home
Where possible, everything has been recycled. This includes wood from an old cattery and a beautiful oak block generously donated by Brenda, George and Henry. A clean and an oil was all the block needed and it now forms the desk in my new workshop.
No workshop is complete without a space to make a brew 
New Oak top for my desk
A Great First Year of Cartmel Conservation
A slower start to the first year of Cartmel Conservation than anticipated gave me plenty of time to get out on First Lady and perfect my paddle boarding skills!
I’ve had a busier end to the first year and am looking forward to more exciting opportunities in 2021. You can contact me on mick@cartmelconservation.com for any enquiries or just to catch up.
Roll on year 2!
Mick