 Vincent Reed Furniture Ltd specialises in producing hand made oak refectory tables. We can make them to any size and you have a choice of leg, colour and nature of finish. We make the tables in two different styles.
Handmade at his workshop in the south of England at Keymer, East Sussex, the oak refectory tables are a stunning mainstay of Vincent Reed Furniture. Constructed with traditional techniques from ancient pit-sawn timbers (some as much as 300 years old), and finished with natural beeswax, each table is literally unique. |
What is a refectory table?
Refectory tables take their name from their use in the long refectory of monastic establishments during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. They have grown in favour since this time and continue to grow in popularity to this day. And so into the future, the refectory table will go on demonstrating its longevity as the heart of your home.
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What are pit-sawn timbers?
 Before the industrial revolution brought machine
saws into being, oak was planked using a pit-saw
(photo of pit-sawing technique). This involved
two men, one in the pit and one on top of the
log, operating a long saw vertically between them.
In the pit would usually have been the apprentice
(the ‘under dog’) who would have worked
down there getting covered in dust and muck for
up to five years before becoming the man on top
of the log (the ‘top dog’). This technique
leaves very irregular saw
marks in the wood, which Vincent Reed tries
to retain as much as possible. |
The Hand Making Process
The ancient timbers are very carefully selected as the character in
the wood chosen at this stage is the root of
the character of the finished piece. The timbers
are prepared using traditional hand tools, maintaining
as much of the unique surface character of the
wood as possible. The legs are carved or turned
depending on the individual customer requirements
and the rails and stretchers are cut to length.
The top is then jointed and the base erected
using traditional joints and techniques. Finally,
when structurally complete, the table is meticulously
finished using a natural beeswax.
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Refectory Table Types:
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Pit-sawn:
These are the tables that Vincent Reed specialises in. The most rustic of the two styles, they are constructed from ancient pit-sawn oak boards up to 350 years old. The character of each is determined by two men with a pit-saw, centuries of ageing then Vincent’s expert hands. With inimitable character, each of these tables is unique. These are limited edition tables and only 15 are produced in a year. |
New Oak:
These are constructed in exactly the same manner as the Pit-sawn tables, but with New Oak. These tables have a wonderful character created by the hand making process, while also having a flat and smooth surface for extra practicality.
View our Latest New Oak Tables |
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| Colour of Finish – the table can be finished to a range of oak colours, pale or dark |
| There are three choices of leg |
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| Stop-chamfer bevelled leg |
Skittle leg |
Turned gun-barrel leg |
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Our Latest Refectory Tables
These tables are currently in stock
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Table 1
This delightful example of a Vincent Reed refectory table is in stock and available for immediate delivery. It measures 13ft 6" x 3ft 5" and sits on skittle legs
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Table 2
This Vincent Reed new oak set of refectory table and benches is in stock and available for immediate delivery. It measures 8ft x 3ft 5" and sits on skittle legs |
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Table 3
This Vincent Reed refectory table is in stock and available for immediate delivery. It measures 6ft x 2ft 11" and sits on stop chamfer bevelled legs |
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Table 4
This Vincent Reed refectory table is in stock and available for immediate delivery. It measures 6ft 6" x 2ft 7" and sits on stop chamfer bevelled legs. |
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Table 5
This extending table is a beautiful one-off. The table extends from 4ft 10" to 6ft 4" (one leaf) or 7ft 10" (two leaves). It sits on stop chamfer bevelled legs. |
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Vincent Reed hand makes these tables to order – hence, if you have any requirements which are not outlined above, please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your options. |
