In the Summer months, Witley Jones Furniture completed the installation of bespoke boarding accommodation furniture at Bishop’s Stortford College in Hertfordshire.

They worked closely with the College, through the tendering process, to understand their requirements before embarking on creating a detailed plan of works and design.

“I was particularly impressed with the fact they listened to our requirements carefully before planning. They didn’t try to tell us what would work, they adapted our views into a workable design and we were provided with ‘mood’ boards which helped project the vision to others.” commented Adrian Hathaway, Grimwade Boarding Housemaster and Senior Teacher (Operations) in the Prep School.

They designed a ‘pod bed’ which includes everything for each pupil: the normal bed, a headboard and wardrobe unit with shelving and a lockable cupboard for valuables. Power, a USB socket and LED reading lights were also part of the headboard design.

Witley Jones Furniture manufactured and installed 28 ‘pod beds’ for the two dorms. The beds are divided with bed division panels to give pupils more privacy and integrated into these panels were vinyl wrapped noticeboards for the children to attach photos of family and friends. They also used vinyl so the children can attach the pictures with Blu Tac without causing damage and to eliminate the use of drawing pins by the beds.

The furniture was manufactured in oak veneered MDF to strike the right balance between traditional, in keeping with the ‘Arts and Crafts’ boarding house but also modern in keeping with the demands of today’s boarding pupils.

Witley Jones Furniture will be completing Phase 2 of the dormitory refurbishments in 2020.