About Us H&C Joinery
Bespoke timber joinery, handmade in County Durham
Specialist bespoke joinery workshop based in Stanley, County Durham
We design, manufacture and install handmade timber windows, doors, secondary glazing, internal joinery, heritage mouldings and one-off architectural joinery for homeowners, contractors, architects and developers across the North East and throughout the UK.
Every piece we make is built to order. Whether we are matching the original sash windows in a period home, manufacturing a new timber front door, creating bespoke internal doors, or producing specialist joinery for a commercial project, our work is shaped by the same principles: careful design, proper materials, accurate detailing and lasting craftsmanship.
We do not buy in standard products and try to make them fit. We manufacture bespoke timber joinery from our own workshop, giving us the control, flexibility and technical understanding needed for projects where off-the-shelf options are not suitable.
Our story: from construction experience to specialist joinery
H&C Joinery is led by Stuart Conroy, Director, whose background combines hands-on construction experience, formal construction training, Quantity Surveying and specialist estimating expertise.
Stuart started on the tools at 16, working alongside his father in the family construction business. There were no shortcuts. It was practical, day-in, day-out site experience, learning how buildings are put together, how projects run, and why quality matters long before a finished room, façade, window or door is ever seen.
Over the years, Stuart has worked across a wide range of construction projects, building up a strong practical understanding of materials, sequencing, site conditions, budgets and the small details that can make or break a finished project.
Alongside that experience, Stuart completed an HND in Construction and later a Degree in Quantity Surveying. His background also includes specialist estimating work through Osborne Estimating, helping builders and construction clients plan, price and deliver projects more effectively.
That combination of practical building knowledge, commercial understanding and technical joinery experience still shapes H&C Joinery today.
We do not look at joinery as isolated products. We understand how a window sits in a wall, how a door performs over time, how a moulding needs to match the fabric of a period property, and how important it is for contractors, architects and homeowners to get the details right before anything is manufactured.
How H&C Joinery began
In 2017, after completing his degree, Stuart came across a small bespoke joinery workshop for sale: Gateshead Joinery.
At the time, the idea was simple. The workshop would support the existing construction business by producing bespoke timber items that were difficult to source elsewhere. Stuart had spent years struggling to find skilled, small-scale joinery workshops that could manufacture properly bespoke products to specification, especially where standard off-the-shelf solutions were not suitable.
What began as a practical solution soon became something much bigger.
Demand grew. The workshop grew. And by early 2020, just six weeks before the Covid-19 pandemic changed everything, the business had outgrown its Gateshead premises. We moved into a new workshop in Stanley, County Durham, giving us around three times the space and a stronger base for specialist manufacturing.
That move marked a turning point. The business was rebranded from Gateshead Joinery to Heritage & Contemporary Joinery, known to most of our clients as H&C Joinery.
The name reflects exactly what we do: traditional craftsmanship for heritage and period properties, alongside clean, contemporary joinery for modern homes and commercial spaces.
Going all in on bespoke joinery
The years after the move were not easy. Like many businesses in construction and timber manufacturing, we faced serious supply chain disruption during and after Covid.
But rather than stand still, Stuart made a clear decision: to close the construction side of the business and commit fully to H&C Joinery.
Since then, the focus has been simple. Invest in the workshop. Invest in the team. Improve the machinery, finishing process and manufacturing capacity. Build a joinery business capable of producing high-quality bespoke work for homeowners, contractors, architects, developers and heritage projects.
Today, our Stanley workshop includes modern machinery, traditional bench skills and a fully equipped spray shop, allowing us to manufacture and finish bespoke timber joinery with consistency, accuracy and care.
What makes H&C Joinery different?
Many of our clients come to us because standard products are not suitable for their building, their specification or the original joinery they need to match.
They may have already been told they need to compromise, use a stock item, change the proportions, lose original detail, or accept something that does not quite suit the property. That is exactly the kind of situation where a fully bespoke workshop makes a difference.
“Where H&C is different is that we are not trying to make a standard product fit a bespoke problem. Everything we manufacture is made around the building, the opening, the detail and what the client actually needs.
Quite often, people come to us after being told elsewhere that something cannot be done, or that they have to accept an off-the-shelf solution. That is usually because most companies are limited by standard ranges, bought-in products or set systems.
Because we design and manufacture everything ourselves, we can look at the problem properly. That might be a sash window with discreet draught protection built into the design, a like-for-like replacement screen for a very old property, or a completely unique door or window detail that simply does not exist in a catalogue.
That is where bespoke joinery really matters. It is not just about making something a different size. It is about understanding the building, designing the right construction, and producing something that looks right, works properly and lasts.”
Meet the H&C Joinery team
A workshop is only as good as the people in it. At H&C Joinery, our team combines experienced joiners, specialist machining skills and a commitment to training the next generation.
Stuart Conroy
Director
Stuart leads H&C Joinery, bringing together practical construction experience, Quantity Surveying, estimating expertise and a genuine passion for high-quality timber craftsmanship.
His background gives H&C a wider understanding of how bespoke joinery fits into real buildings and real projects. That matters whether we are working with a homeowner on a period property, an architect on a specification, or a contractor managing programme, access, drawings and installation details.
Anthony Wade
Anthony Wade heads up our workshop. A highly experienced and skilled joiner, he joined H&C in late 2020 after working in some of the region’s respected joinery workshops.
Anthony plays a central role in maintaining the quality, consistency and attention to detail our clients expect, from bespoke doors and windows to more complex heritage and architectural joinery.
Andrew Heppel
Andrew Heppel is our experienced machinist and joiner. He brings precision, reliability and practical skill to the workshop, helping turn detailed specifications, drawings and timber sections into finished joinery that looks right and performs properly.
Andrew has been part of the H&C team since 2022.
Samuel Houfe
Samuel Houfe was H&C’s first apprentice and has come through his training with the business. That is something we are genuinely proud of.
Training Samuel has helped us build skills within the workshop and pass on the standards, habits and attention to detail that bespoke joinery depends on.
James Middleton
James Middleton is our second apprentice and represents the next stage of our commitment to developing skilled joiners in County Durham.
For us, apprenticeships are not just about recruitment. They are about protecting proper craft skills and making sure the next generation understands how to work with timber properly, from accurate machining and assembly through to finishing and installation.
What we make
We manufacture bespoke timber joinery for homes including period and listed properties, high-end residential projects and commercial schemes.
Our work includes:
- Bespoke timber windows, including sash windows, casement windows and heritage window replacements
- Secondary glazing for period homes, listed buildings and commercial properties
- External timber doors, including entrance doors, French doors, bifold doors and sliding timber doors
- Internal joinery, including bespoke doors, shelving, panelling, skirting, mouldings and fitted furniture
- Commercial joinery, including timber doors, windows, screens, shopfront-style work and specialist joinery packages
- Restoration and like-for-like replacement where original timber details need to be preserved or carefully replicated
From our workshop, we still believe in doing things properly. We manufacture by hand, use high-quality hardwoods, softwoods, engineered and modified timbers, and finish our work carefully so it is ready for real homes, real buildings and real use.
Heritage detail, modern performance
Many of our projects involve buildings where standard joinery would either look wrong, perform badly or fail to respect the original character of the property.
A period home may need sash windows with the correct proportions, glazing bars, horns, beads and mouldings. A listed building may need secondary glazing that improves comfort without changing the external appearance. A contractor may need bespoke doors, screens or windows that match a specification and arrive ready for installation.
This is where H&C Joinery is at its best.
We can replicate original profiles, match traditional details and use modern improvements where appropriate, including discreet draught protection, specialist glazing, secure locking systems, factory-applied coatings and durable timber choices such as Accoya, Abodo, Sapele, European oak, Douglas fir, European redwood and engineered timber.
For external joinery, we often recommend modified timbers such as Accoya because of their stability, longevity and suitability for painted windows and doors. For natural finishes or traditional grain, hardwoods such as oak or Sapele may be more appropriate, depending on the project.
The result is joinery that respects the building, improves comfort and performs as it should.
A workshop built around bespoke work
Bespoke means made for the project, not adapted from a catalogue.
We work from site measurements, drawings, templates, photographs, samples and specifications. Where required, we match existing mouldings, sightlines, timber sections and finishes so new joinery sits naturally within the building.
This is especially important on heritage, period and listed properties, where small details matter. A sash window, timber screen or external door may need to match original proportions, replicate existing mouldings, work within uneven openings, or improve comfort without changing the character of the building.
Our workshop setup allows us to control the process from manufacture through to finishing. With our spray shop, we can factory finish windows, doors and joinery items in carefully applied paint or stain systems, helping achieve a consistent result before the joinery reaches site.
That control matters. It helps reduce site disruption, improves finish quality and gives clients confidence that the final product has been made with care from start to finish.
Who we work with
We work with private homeowners, architects, contractors, developers and commercial clients.
For homeowners, especially those with period or character properties, we offer guidance on what is possible, what will look right and how to improve performance without losing the feel of the building.
For contractors and developers, we understand drawings, specifications, site pressures and the need for reliable communication. Stuart’s construction and estimating background means we appreciate programme, sequencing, costs, materials and the importance of getting details agreed before manufacture begins.
For architects and conservation-led projects, we can help turn design intent into practical, buildable timber joinery, with close attention to sightlines, mouldings, materials and finishes.
Examples of our work
Our projects range from single bespoke doors to full window and joinery packages.
Recent and past work includes:
- External doors and windows for a luxury flat refurbishment in St John’s Wood, London, including sliding sash windows, fixed glazed screens, flush casement windows and detailed mouldings matched to the original property.
- Bespoke Accoya doors for a traditional-style new-build property in County Durham, including arched beadwork, ornate mouldings and a main entrance double door with curved fanlight.
- A large glazed Accoya screen and French doors in Monkseaton, Whitley Bay, designed to retain original period features while introducing double glazing, draught proofing and secure locking.
- Bespoke internal doors and a panelled surround for a renovation project in Corbridge, created to match original mouldings and continue sightlines through the opening.
What we stand for
Craftsmanship
We care about the detail because the detail is what makes bespoke joinery work. Profiles, proportions, joints, finish, ironmongery and installation all affect the final result.
Honesty
We will tell you what is practical, what is worth doing and what needs more thought before manufacture begins.
Heritage knowledge
We understand period properties, listed buildings, conservation-sensitive work and the importance of preserving character while improving performance.
Modern standards
Traditional craftsmanship does not mean outdated performance. Where suitable, we integrate better glazing, draught protection, secure locking, durable coatings and modern timber technology.
Long-term thinking
Our aim is to make joinery that looks right, works properly and lasts. That means choosing the right materials, building with care and finishing each piece properly before it leaves the workshop.
Our Most In Demand Services
FAQs about H&C Joinery
Who owns H&C Joinery?
H&C Joinery is led by Stuart Conroy, Director. Stuart combines hands-on construction experience, an HND in Construction, a Degree in Quantity Surveying and specialist estimating expertise, giving the business a practical understanding of both bespoke joinery and wider building projects.
Where is H&C Joinery based?
H&C Joinery is based in Stanley, County Durham, at Unit 17 Morrison Industrial Estate North, Annfield Plain. From its North East workshop, the company works with local clients and supplies bespoke joinery projects across the UK.
What does H&C Joinery specialise in?
H&C Joinery specialises in handmade timber windows, doors, secondary glazing, heritage joinery, internal joinery, commercial joinery and bespoke timber products for period, listed, residential and commercial properties.
Does H&C Joinery make everything bespoke?
Yes. H&C Joinery manufactures bespoke timber joinery from its own workshop. The team does not rely on standard bought-in products where a made-to-measure solution is needed. This is especially useful for older buildings, unusual openings, like-for-like replacements, heritage details and projects where stock products are not suitable.
Does H&C Joinery work on listed and period buildings?
Yes. H&C Joinery regularly works on heritage and period properties, including projects where original mouldings, sash window details, door profiles, sightlines and traditional timber features need to be matched or preserved.
Can H&C Joinery improve draughts and performance without losing original character?
In many cases, yes. Depending on the building and the condition of the existing joinery, H&C can design solutions such as discreet draught protection, secondary glazing, specialist glazing, improved seals, careful restoration or like-for-like replacement. The right option depends on the property, the existing windows or doors, and any heritage or planning considerations.
Can H&C Joinery work with contractors and architects?
Yes. H&C Joinery works with homeowners, contractors, architects, developers and commercial clients. The team can manufacture to drawings, match existing details and support bespoke joinery packages for wider building projects.
Does H&C Joinery install as well as manufacture?
Yes, H&C Joinery can manufacture and install bespoke timber joinery. For some larger, specialist or contractor-led projects, the exact scope can be agreed at enquiry stage depending on location, access, project type and site requirements.
Contact Us
If you have any questions regarding our services please contact us:
Telephone: 0191 482 3792
Email: [email protected]
Address: Unit 17 Morrison Industrial Estate North, Annfield Plain, Stanley, DH9 7RU
