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In September 2004 Gerald Cole telephone with the information that the National Trust had contracted him seeking the assistance of TATHS. A large collection of tools, associated materials and documents had been donated to the NT by the daughter of Bryan Saunders, a woodcrafter who had practiced selected my name from the register of members as the person who lived closest to Coggeshall. I am by no means an expert on woodcarving, my background being cabinetmaking, but I agreed to meet representatives of the NT at Coggeshall Grange Barn, a restored medieval barn owned by the Trust. The National Trust reps outlined their plans for the conservation and display of the collection and explained what assistance they were seeking from TATHS.
From the time of Bryan Saunders’ death until early 2003 the workshop was organized as a private museum by the Saunders family. A change of circumstances meant that alternative arrangements for the preservation of the collection had to be made. Miss Saunders, Bryan’s daughter, generously donated the collection to The National Trust. The NT prepared a basic inventory, photographed the collection and transported it into storage. The long term aim of the NT is to
convert an existing building adjacent to Grange Barn in order to
house a new interpretation and display area. As well as explaining
more about the history of the barn and Coggeshall, there would be a
display of the Saunders Tool collection. The current intention is to
display the collection in the manner of the complete workshop,
together with details of Bryan’s life and work. In addition it is
hoped to show how Bryan lived within a community of woodcarvers
based in Coggeshall. The building work needed will require
considerable fun raising and will take some time to achieve.
This display is to be situated in Grange Barn and the NT hopes to have this installed by the late spring 2005. The NT are seeking the assistance of TATHS in selecting materials for this initial display and are hopeful of further help in the long term in evaluating the collection for its future comprehensive presentation. The collection, which represents a whole working life, comprises all of Bryan Saunders’ hand tools – he appears not to have used machinery – together with pattern books, patterns, drawings and a large number of examples of his work. There are invoices, receipt books, estimate books and other paperwork related the business, which when collated will give a detailed insight into his life’s works.Bryan Saunders began his career in 1907, when at the age of fourteen he was apprenticed to Samuel Marshall, a Master Carver of Bridge Street Coggeshall. He completed his
apprenticeship in 1914 having impressed his master sufficiently for
him to write him a glowing reference. The First World War intervened
and he was unable to set up business until after it was over. He
volunteered for military service but was rejected on medical
grounds. He began trading after the war in what were very difficult
economic times.
His reputation and craftsmanship traveled as far as America. During the sixties his health declined and he increasingly was forced to undertake only light work, but continued this until only weeks before his death in 1973. (I have obtained these brief bio details from the excellent books "Bryan Saunders" by Dodo Rose, a copy of which, if still available, I hope to obtain for the TATHS library).
The National Trust has sought the assistance of the society and their aim to preserve the collection, complete and in the town where it was used, is to be applauded. They have provided me with a CD containing several hundred images together with a cross-referenced basic inventory and have given written permission for this information to be shared with other members. The basic inventory contains very brief descriptions of each item and the National Trust would be very grateful for assistance with improving the level or detail for each inventory entry.
© Trevor Winter,
All Rights Reserved. Footnote – For any member not familiar with this part of Essex. Also in the town of Coggeshall is another National Trust property, Paycockes, a magnificent medieval timber framed wool merchant’s house, and within a few miles are the Temple Barns at Cressing. These are wonderful cathedral-sized timber framed buildings, built by the Knights Templar, and are superb examples of carpentry at its best. All these buildings and Coggeshall Grange Barn are well worth a visit. Above are some of the 500-odd illustrations on the CD of the Saunders Collection. This will be placed in the TATHS Library for use by members for research and non commercial use. Copyright to both the pictures and inventory remain with the National Trust.
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To
enable Bryan’s work to be acknowledged more quickly the NT intend to
create a small, cabinet based, arrangement of tools, patterns and a
sample of carving, together with a graphical display, outlining some
biographical information and details of where his work may be seen
in the local area. 
At
first he found it necessary to accept any woodwork-related work he
could obtain but as his reputation grew he received private
commissions, and a large amount of ecclesiastical work both locally
and further afield. The late nineteen thirties was the period of his
finest work, but then again war intervened and carving had to be set
aside in favor or work for the national effort. Fortunately his
skills were recognized by the Marconi Company and he was employed
making special boxes for secret documents. After the war Bryan
resumed his trade and prestigious commissions continued to be
gained.
My
purpose in writing this article is not to describe the life and work
of Bryan Saunders in any detail but hopefully to arouse the interest
of other members so that we may use the collective expertise of
TATHS to help research this very important collection. 
