Paul Winstanley
Director
Paul Wistanley
Paul is an experienced cabinet-maker and antique furniture restorer from the UK.
Englishman Paul Winstanley the founder of The English Craftsman Ltd is the son of a respected craftsman bookbinder, Alan Winstanley. Paul grew up having an eye for attention to detail and a passion for conservation.
Paul put these skills to good use when he trained as a cabinet maker and antique restorer in England and soon set up in business on his own at the age of 18.
During the recession in the UK following the Dotcom bubble burst in the late 80’s/early 90’s, Paul joined the Fire and Rescue service as a part-time on-call volunteer, a paid service in England to subsidise his income. As the recession took hold, the antiques market declined, and Paul then joined the Police full-time, in his home County of Wiltshire, to enable him to support his family.
When Paul and his family moved to the Wairarapa in 2001 he wanted to use his cabinet-making skills again and embrace his heritage; Within a week of arriving, a local antique dealer knocked on his door and asked “Are you that English Craftsman I’ve heard about?” And so the English Craftsman Ltd was born.
Starting off restoring Antiques from his double garage, Paul’s innovation and determination for restoration products led to the development of his own brand of paint and varnish remover; Easy Strip. Realising a gap in the industry Paul entered the home renovation market with a paint stripping and timber floor restoration service.
However the biggest turning point for the company came after the installation of aluminium double-glazing into his 85 year old house.
Remarking that the new windows had “removed the soul” from the character of his home, Paul began another quest to bring a system of Retro-Fit Double-Glazing over from the UK. For the first time it allowed double glazing to be fitted into existing wooden joinery. Combined with the fitting of specialised draught seals and the restoration of timber windows, this service has proved very popular with home renovators who wish to maintain the character of their home.
Paul now employs a small team of skilled craftsmen, joiners, painters, and carpenters; each one personally chosen for their qualifications, attention to detail, and of course, passion for the industry. Vitally important to Paul is communication with the client, turning up when we say we will, staying on the job until it’s completed, and leaving the home tidy at the end of the day. All these little things make the experience so much better for their clients.
Paul and wife Katie also own and operate The Manor Country Spa and Retreat in Masterton, the largest Day Spa in the lower North Island together with a 7 room accommodation wing.
In keeping with his former Police career, Paul is also a licenced Private Investigator and Security Consultant with his own company Stealth Investigations
Paul Wistanley
Paul is an experienced cabinet-maker and antique furniture restorer from the UK.
Englishman Paul Winstanley the founder of The English Craftsman Ltd is the son of a respected craftsman bookbinder, Alan Winstanley. Paul grew up having an eye for attention to detail and a passion for conservation.
Paul put these skills to good use when he trained as a cabinet maker and antique restorer in England and soon set up in business on his own at the age of 18.
During the recession in the UK following the Dotcom bubble burst in the late 80’s/early 90’s, Paul joined the Fire and Rescue service as a part-time on-call volunteer, a paid service in England to subsidise his income. As the recession took hold, the antiques market declined, and Paul then joined the Police full-time, in his home County of Wiltshire, to enable him to support his family.
When Paul and his family moved to the Wairarapa in 2001 he wanted to use his cabinet-making skills again and embrace his heritage; Within a week of arriving, a local antique dealer knocked on his door and asked “Are you that English Craftsman I’ve heard about?” And so the English Craftsman Ltd was born.
Starting off restoring Antiques from his double garage, Paul’s innovation and determination for restoration products led to the development of his own brand of paint and varnish remover; Easy Strip. Realising a gap in the industry Paul entered the home renovation market with a paint stripping and timber floor restoration service.
However the biggest turning point for the company came after the installation of aluminium double-glazing into his 85 year old house.
Remarking that the new windows had “removed the soul” from the character of his home, Paul began another quest to bring a system of Retro-Fit Double-Glazing over from the UK. For the first time it allowed double glazing to be fitted into existing wooden joinery. Combined with the fitting of specialised draught seals and the restoration of timber windows, this service has proved very popular with home renovators who wish to maintain the character of their home.
Paul now employs a small team of skilled craftsmen, joiners, painters, and carpenters; each one personally chosen for their qualifications, attention to detail, and of course, passion for the industry. Vitally important to Paul is communication with the client, turning up when we say we will, staying on the job until it’s completed, and leaving the home tidy at the end of the day. All these little things make the experience so much better for their clients.
Paul and wife Katie also own and operate The Manor Country Spa and Retreat in Masterton, the largest Day Spa in the lower North Island together with a 7 room accommodation wing.
In keeping with his former Police career, Paul is also a licenced Private Investigator and Security Consultant with his own company Stealth Investigations
