The Tool House is a collaboration between Walthamstow Pumphouse Museum and The Fixatorium

A new community workshop in Walthamstow is aiming to “pass DIY knowledge on to the next generation”.

The Tool House opened its doors for the first time to the public earlier this month. Local people can now access woodworking machines, 3D printers, electronic tools and a fully-stocked workspace of DIY facilities for free in exchange for their time as a volunteer at the space – or for a fee of £25 per day.

The project aims to provide a creative space where anyone can come and learn new skills, work on their own projects, or collaborate with others.

The Tool House was created in collaboration between the Walthamstow Pumphouse Museum and design studio The Fixatorium. It was also made possible by the support of Maureen Blunden, with The Tool House dedicated to the memory of her husband, Charles Blunden.

One of the goals of The Tool House is to pass down the knowledge and skills that the existing Walthamstow Pumphouse Museum volunteers have to a new generation of craftspeople, makers, designers and creatives.

Museum volunteers have been preserving and restoring the industrial heritage of Walthamstow and the surrounding area for many years and “have a wealth of engineering expertise and experience to share with younger generations”.

The community-minded project will conduct sessions where experienced volunteers from the museum will teach and mentor the new members on various aspects of woodworking, carpentry, 3D printing, electronics and general DIY.

Abdullah Seba, CEO of Walthamstow Pumphouse Museum, said: “Running a community workshop at the museum has been something that I’ve wanted to do for a while.

“Whilst many museums have maintenance workshops, these are often hidden back-of-house spaces and are not accessible to the public.

“The Tool House has been a huge collaborative community effort which enables us to pass down the knowledge and skills that the existing museum volunteers have to a new generation of craftspeople, makers, designers and creatives.”

Sean Rodrigo, founder of The Fixatorium, said: “We believe that making things is not only fun and rewarding but also good for the environment and our community. We want to create a space where everyone can feel welcome and supported to explore their creativity and potential.”

The Tool House is located at 10 South Access Road in Walthamstow and will be open every Thursday and Sunday from 10am until 4pm. To become a member or find out more about volunteering opportunities:
Visit thetool.house

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