Handcrafted timber.
Built on heritage.
Oak bridges are one of the purest expressions of what can be achieved when craft and engineering work hand in hand
Oak Bridges
From simple footbridges to historic
reconstructions, Green Oak Carpentry
delivers expert craftsmanship.
With over 30 years of experience and a record three Gold Wood Awards, we design and handcraft oak bridges to your exact brief, creating a resilient, attractive oak bridge. We bring decades of craft and knowledge to every project, working with you from the first drawing to the final assembly to create custom-built oak framed bridges.
Why use oak for bridges?
Why use oak for bridges?
Bridges require a material that is resilient, suitable for submersion and able to withstand occasional impacts from boats or heavy loads.
Freshly sawn green oak is one of the most resilient and dependable natural construction materials, formally classified by TRADA (Timber Research and Development Association) as durable. For this reason, it has been the preferred material for building external structures, such as oak bridges for many hundreds of years, and we continue to support its use.
Custom oak bridge designs
Commissioning an oak bridge
is an exciting moment and we will
work with you to design a bridge
that meets your brief, however complex.
In addition to designing a bridge that looks attractive, our designers will ensure it is resilient. We often pair oak with yet more durable species of timber, such as FSC Teak or Greenheart, which are particularly suitable for demanding situations like shoreline groynes and piers.
Never repeated. Always remarkable
Every Green Oak Carpentry bridge is
an original – we don’t work to set
design templates, nor do we build the
same thing twice.
We’ll work with you to create an oak bridge that complements its surroundings while ensuring good drainage, avoiding water traps and maximising longevity. Our designers will make sure your new oak bridge is not only a thing of beauty, but also resilient and easy to maintain, ensuring a safe crossing everyone can appreciate.
Our fully bespoke approach accommodates your site’s idiosyncrasies – taking advantage of opportunities while managing any constraints. And, as you’d expect, we’ll work in line with local planning considerations and respect your budget.
Quality & craftsmanship
without compromise
Enjoy an unsurpassed level of continuity throughout the design, build and installation of your oak bridge. We guide you through your entire project, allowing you to enjoy the unique process of commissioning an oak frame bridge.
Design & architectural development
Our in-house draughtsmen and frame designers bring your vision to life, combining structural integrity with architectural beauty. Our designers readily accommodate unconventional ideas and specific features, and can incorporate any number of custom-designed features.
If you’ve already commissioned an architect, we’ll work with them and can adapt existing drawings to ensure your plans are suitable for oak framing.
Planning support
Our trusted planning consultants are here to support your planning permission application and are particularly experienced in heritage projects and sensitive sites.
Our materials
Oak is a popular choice for bridges, but it isn’t always the best choice for a project. We work with you to choose the right materials, based on your site, aesthetic goals and engineering requirements. We only use sustainably sourced materials.
Fabrication
Each oak bridge is handcrafted from start to finish by our same team of award-winning carpenters. Using skills practised since the Middle Ages, they scribe the naturally shaped components together, making each frame unique.
Build & installation
After dry-fitting your oak bridge in our workshop, our carpenters deconstruct it and deliver it on-site before personally assembling it. Using the same team throughout build and assembly creates a rare level of consistency, giving your frame unsurpassed care and respect.
Bespoke finishes & specifications
We’ll work with you to agree on the best finishing options and specifications for your finished oak bridge. This will allow you to appreciate the beauty of this celebrated natural material while complementing your aesthetic.
The Green Oak Carpentry guarantee
All our frames carry a warranty against defective workmanship and materials for six years. Problems are very rare, but if they do occur, we take them very seriously and do our utmost to ensure all is well.
Commission your oak framed annexe
Learn more about beginning your oak bridge with Green Oak Carpentry. We work around you and your needs, whether using your drawings, quoting on a reconstruction or guiding you as you begin your journey from scratch.
A naturally
sustainable choice
Oak is a natural, renewable material with exceptional longevity. When properly detailed and crafted, an oak framed bridge matures beautifully, developing an individual character and long-standing structural integrity.
A Green Oak Carpentry bridge is built with sustainability at its core. All wood – whether oak or another hardwood – will be sustainably grown and harvested. Crucially, it will meet PEFC’s strict chain-of-custody certification requirements, demonstrating our sustainability commitment.
Experience our oak
framed buildings for
yourself
Join us at one of our open days or events – they’re the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of oak framing, see our oak frames up close and ask our knowledgeable team as many questions as you need.
Why choose us for
your oak bridge?
There’s no shortage of oak frame building companies to work with. So why choose us?
One-of-a-kind
Every project is a one-off – you won’t see a single templated design on our website or in our office. Whether a domestic porch or a high-profile commercial build, we begin every project the same way – by taking your brief and designing to your needs.
Integrity, longevity
Oak trees can live for hundreds of years. We honour these gentle giants by building structures that will last for generations to come. Our team skilfully designs, fabricates and assembles each structure to achieve structural integrity and a positive, lasting impact.
Transparent & available
It’s not just about the buildings we make. We’re good to work with, too. We’re readily available and happy to accommodate our clients throughout their projects. We work transparently and will be open about your project’s progress and any potential challenges.
Deep expertise
Having been in business since 1996, we’re timber framing experts, training up the next generation of carpenters in our business. Our renowned timber restoration experts allow us to support highly specialised projects.
Professionalism assured
We partner with architects, contractors and developers to create modern and traditional timber structures of all sizes.
Industry recognised
Our timber structures have been recognised by numerous awards, and we’re the only company to have been awarded the prestigious Gold Wood Award three times. No other company has achieved this more than once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Planning your oak bridge
What types of oak bridges can you design and build?
We have designed, fabricated and assembled various bridges – including public and domestic oak bridges. Some of our most notable bridges are the National Trust Croombe Court Bridge and Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons.
How do you ensure your oak bridges are durable and sustainable?
All our bridges – whether made with oak or another wood – are designed with longevity in mind. This includes ensuring section sizes are durable and that the correct materials are used to fabricate the bridge, depending on location and other requirements.
How long does it typically take to design and build an oak bridge?
It’s typically faster to design, engineer, fabricate and assemble an oak bridge than a traditional oak-framed building. You can expect a timeline of around 8-10 weeks from the date of deposit.
Every project is a one-off
No templates. No repeat designs. Every frame
we have ever made has started from scratch.
Never repeated.
Always remarkable
Explore our project gallery to inspire your oak frame building project. Take your time; each Green Oak Carpentry structure is unique and hand-built – you’ll never see the same project twice.
“The Green Oak Carpentry team have done a wonderful job and the oak frame looks terrific. Something of which we can all be very proud.”
Deborah
Great builds
begin with a chat
If you are considering an oak bridge and would value a thoughtful, design-led approach, we would be pleased to explore this with you.
Oak craftsmanship is best appreciated in person, so we welcome you to our workshop near Petersfield, Hampshire, where you can meet the team, see our carpenters at work, and catch a glimpse of the skill and care that go into every build.
