The Tool House is a unique community workshop concept developed, owned and funded by the Walthamstow Pumphouse Museum. The Workshop was created in partnership between the Museum and local social good design studio The Fixatorium. The space offers individuals the opportunity to pay an affordable fee for access to a fully equipped workshop or to volunteer their time for as much time as they wish to use. We aim to create a welcoming accessible and inclusive community-making space where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together to learn new skills, create, and collaborate.
The space offers woodworking, electronics, 3D printing facilities and more. Sign up to our mailing list to be kept up to date with workshops and the latest news.
Why The Tool House was created
Many industrial museums have workshops for maintenance and the Walthamstow Pumphouse Museum is no exception. These workshops are often hidden back-of-house spaces and are not accessible to the public. As part of the Museum’s business plan, opening up our facilities and making our resources available to the community were key objectives. Educating and encouraging creativity are also key objectives of the Museum’s business plan and The Tool House was the logical next step!
Getting the community and especially young people into engineering and STEM-based subjects is critical for industrial museums like the Pumphouse to be preserved long into the future. Whilst Walthamstow is a rich hub with many creative and art resources, we believe there is a lack of affordable and accessible spaces focusing on creative engineering and STEM.
Acknowledgements
The Tool House was created by many volunteers from the community. As well as the Museum’s dedicated volunteers and s, the space was created by volunteers from GoodGym, local residents, asylum seekers and work experience students from Waltham Forest College.
We would like to thank the following individuals in particular for their volunteering and efforts.
Sean Rodrigo (Fixatorium)
Sean Rodrigo is a well-known local artist and runs a socially focused technology and design studio known as The Fixatorium. Sean is best known locally for his mini food banks and libraries which can be seen around Walthamstow. The museum partnered with The Fixatorium to help create the space and without Sean’s help, The Tool House would not be what it is today!
Gail M Pearce
Gail created our logo and graphics as well as a lovely mural for our launch. Gail is known for her ‘Colour in Walthamstow’ book. Follow her on social media and buy her colouring book from the Pumphouse gift shop!
Gail M. Pearce (@gailmpearce) | Instagram
Chris Barrett (Thinkfound)
Chris runs a local sustainable furniture-making business and social enterprise known as Thinkfound. Thinkfound gives opportunities to young people to learn new skills and enhance their job prospects. Chris donated a lot of materials and helped to create our tool wall as well as giving lots of valuable advice.
thinkFOUND Furniture (@thinkfound) • Instagram
Maureen Blunden (Trustee)
The Tool House has also been made possible by Maureen’s generous contributions. The Tool House is in memory of her husband, Charles Blunden.
We would also like to say a big thank you to Cllr. Rosalind Doré (who is also a Trustee of the Museum) and Stella Creasy MP for their support.