Visitors to Shrewsbury Library are being invited to enjoy a striking new piece of contemporary craftsmanship, following our donation of a bespoke wooden bench.

Commissioned by Chris Morris, Director at Morris & Company, the spectacular new bench has been handcrafted by our Joinery Workshop, led by Workshop Foreman Jamie Goffin.  The team of highly skilled joiners created the bench from a single piece of seasoned chestnut wood. The contemporary design features age cracks, wood knots and a large smooth seating surface enhanced by the incorporation of a brass plated cylinder, blending traditional craft skills with modern design and natural materials.

The bench has been donated to Shrewsbury Library to celebrate Morris & Company’s long-standing history of commerce in the town and their support of Shrewsbury’s cultural life. Positioned in the library’s reception area, beneath the portrait of Charles Darwin, the bench offers a welcoming and practical feature for visitors to enjoy.

The 156 year old Shropshire company was keen to create a piece that would stand the test of time and sourced a one hundred year old trunk of English chestnut, part of a sixteen foot length, from a specialist sawmill. Timber is usually kiln dried but due to the size of the piece, this specimen had instead been air dried for 20 years.

Chris Morris explained:

“The piece arrived with us as an extremely heavy, solid piece, and the first task was to carve out the outline shape. This took the wielding of a chainsaw before the skilled bench joiners could begin the lengthy task of sculpting, sanding and refining the bench curves before treating and varnishing.

“We are delighted to support the Library Service with this donation. The bench is a symbol of our pride in Shrewsbury and it reflects our values of using traditional skills, contemporary designs and high-quality materials. We hope it will be enjoyed by library users for many years to come.”

Katherine Berry, Library Operations and Development Manager at Shropshire Libraries was delighted to receive the gift which was allotted its place centre stage under the much-lauded portrait of Charles Darwin.

The donation highlights the valuable role local businesses can play in supporting Shropshire Council’s cultural assets, including sponsoring libraries, Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery, Theatre Severn, The Old Market Hall Cinema and the county’s country parks.

Councillor James Owen, Shropshire Council’s Portfolio Holder for Housing and Leisure, thanked Morris & Company for their support. He said:

“This is a fantastic example of a local business showing its support for one of our valued cultural services. Donations like this help enhance the experience for our residents and visitors and demonstrate how our cultural assets can be enjoyed by everyone. I would like to thank Morris & Company for their generosity and commitment to Shropshire.”