In 1956 Stan Atkinson left school to start work as an apprentice joiner for George Browning's joinery business at Coach & Horses Yard in Barnard Castle. He served his time alongside his mentor, and friend to this day Ray Davenport.
In 1966 he purchased the business from George, and the name of Atkinsons Joiners was born.
Working mainly in Barnard Castle and the surrounding area of Teesdale, he rapidly built up a good reputation for quality workmanship.
In the mid 1980s his two sons Tony & Graeme left school and started their apprenticeships alongside their father and his employees.
The company went Limited in 2005 and in 2010 moved out of Coach & Horses Yard into a new purpose-built workshop on Montalbo Road.
With the greater workspace we are now able to take on larger projects that were not possible before.
In 2008 our apprentice Craig Dominick won the regional Skill Build competition and went on to compete in the national final in Birmingham.
In 2016 our latest apprentice Mathew Brookes also won the regional Skill Build competition, and the following year he got runner up and Highly Comended in the Federation of Master Builders Apprentice of the Year, Northern Counties section.
Up to now Atkinsons Joiners have trained ten apprentices in the traditional way, giving young people the chance given to Stan by George Brownng. (pictured below)
New Workshop
George Browning.