Overview
This course has been several years in the planning and provides a unique platform to explore the craft, history, and heritage of wooden bow making. Focusing on longbows, it traces designs from the earliest bows of Europe’s Mesolithic hunter-gatherers, through the powerful weapons of medieval warfare, to the rediscovered techniques and materials used by modern bowyers.
Students will not only learn the practical skills of construction but also gain a deeper appreciation of the role wooden bows have played in shaping life and culture across north-west Europe. Over the duration of the programme, participants will create several longbows of different designs and specifications, developing both technical ability and an understanding of archery heritage.
To complete the qualification, students must attend a minimum of five workshops and one final assessment. This can be achieved flexibly over a 24-month period, with the training delivered in three-day blocks to allow time for practice and consolidation between sessions. Some project work will also be required at home, and each participant will need a set of hand tools to continue their work outside the workshops.
Course Content
The programme guides students through every stage of bow making, beginning with the selection of suitable felled timber and the preparation of round wood for specific designs. Participants will construct a variety of longbows using different timbers, gaining experience in techniques that influence design, efficiency, and draw weight.
Attention is given to working with the natural character of wood, including knots, twists, lumps, and bumps, as well as the creation of specialist features such as arrow plates and horn nocks. Students will also learn methods for repairing bows and adapting designs to improve performance. By the end of the course, each participant will have produced a number of longbows and developed a comprehensive understanding of both the craft and its cultural significance.
Although not assessed, arrow making and string making will also be explored.
If you are unsure about entering the world of bow making you may be interested in our three day bow making course.
To make travel easier clients are welcome to arrive on the evening before each module starts
Course Dates
This course in run under license on our behalf by Phil Brooke, dates and further details are available HERE
Course Dates
Traditional Bow Making L4
Please read the following information before booking:
- Terms & Conditions – By booking on to our courses you agree
to our Terms & Conditions - The Course Kit List
Please note this is a self-catered course and camping is optional
You need to be over 18 years of age to attend this programme.
This course is written and quality assured by Woodcraft School and run under licence by Phil Brooke. The course location is near Hellingly, East Sussex
Traditional Bow Making 2024/25 Places
Course: Traditional Bow Making
Training: 2024/25
Location: Nr Heathfield East Sussex
Start Time: 8.30 am
Completion Time: 4.00pm
Course Leader: Phil Brooke
Course Size: 12 (maximum)
Cost Per Person: £2075 (Deposit £100)
Course Reviews
Scott Cairns
Wow, what a course. Phil is an excellent and very knowable teacher. And to say he is passionate about the subject would be an understatement. This course really pushed me to my limits. To say I was out of my depth would be putting it mildly. But with Phils patient guidance I managed to go from ruining all the bows I started to being confident enough to produce a number of different bow designs successfully. I would definitely recommend this course to someone interested in archery, military history or just outdoor skills in general.
Nick Chapman
he traditional bow making Level 4 course is amazing. I have learnt so much this year on my bow making journey trying to soak up as much information as possible from Phil’s vast knowledge. As a group we have made some awesome bows during the course, we may have made some mistakes too but these were all chances to learn extra skills while following Phil’s expert tuition to fix or mend our bows. If you have an interest in bow making and want to learn lots of new skills then I definitely recommend this course. Thank you Phil.
Joe Garnett
The Level 4 Traditional bow making course is a fantastic insight into the world of the bowyer. Phil is excellent at passing on his depth and breadth of knowledge to help you produce a range of bows, to a quality you never thought you could. The hands on nature along with the emphasis on self experimentation gives you the confidence to practice what’s been taught in-between sessions. In short, this course gives you all the opportunity you need to be able to produce bows that can be enjoyed for many years to come. Thank you Phil!
Stuart Barret
Having made a longbow on the Bushcraft Leadership course a few years ago I thought I would be well prepared for the Traditional Bow Making Level 4. However, be under no illusion this course was time consuming and hard work. At times I was frustrated, but the adage of ‘remove wood where the bow isn’t bending and leave it where it is’ eventually makes sense. Ultimately, the satisfaction of independently making bows from start to finish, bending to full compass is extremely gratifying.
I can’t imagine any other provider doing a better job than Phil Brooke. His knowledge, craftsmanship and personal interest in the subject is exceptional, this said, he won’t be making the bows for you! Please don’t start this as a certificated course if you don’t think you’ll have enough time to work on it independently at home.
Warren Frost
This is a fantastic course for anyone who wants to delve deeper into bow making than just the experience of making a single bow. From felling your own timber and splitting out multiple staves across several species, you’ll learn how to craft both functioning and beautiful bows. You will get a deeper understanding of the properties of wood and experiment (sometimes to the point of failure) how efficient a bow can be. Mastering not only the carpentry but also the skill of tillering along with fit and finish, by the end of the course you will have the skillsets to carry on making bows with a much deeper understanding of how to make them shoot well and last. This was a challenging course, which a level 4 should be, but very rewarding. Covering multiple styles of bow construction across varied woods I feel that I’ve not only got a new skill but am better connected to my ancestors and can appreciate just how knowledgeable and skilled they were.
