Below are messages left by some of my customers. If you've previously had work undertaken by the Leather Workshop please email me with your comments .
Hunting sandwich case 08 January 2013
WOW!
Martin, thank you so much – you’ve done a fantastic job (again) and needless to say I am absolutely thrilled!
I couldn’t recommend you highly enough.
Very many thanks once again
Best regards & a Happy New Year
Gladstone Bag Refurbishment 15 December 2012
Martin,
I am pleased to report that the bag arrived safely yesterday.
You kindly sent me photographs of the finished bag but it was even better than I had anticipated when I unpacked it.
Thank you very much indeed for your skilled and sympathetic refurbishment of the bag.
Being more than 100 years old, it was in a very sad and neglected state with holes, splits and very dry and cracked leather when I sent it to you.
Your careful refurbishment has ensured that the bag will have a new lease of life, hopefully for the next 100 years or so!
Thank you for getting it back to me within the very tight time scales requested, particularly at this busy time of year for you,and on budget, indeed, slightly under estimate!
Thanks again Martin and all the best for Christmas and 2013.
Regards,
Chris
Custom Made Filofax Covers as seen on my facebook wall 15 November 2012
Martin,
I wanted to write to you and let you know how happy we both are with our diaries. Everyone who has seen them together has commented on how nice they are. From the first time we talked, I was sure you could make what I was picturing in my head. I suspect you were ready to bang your head against the wall trying to get it from me to your workbench, but you never let it show! I wanted something timeless. Those diaries could have been made in 1812 or 2012. What else can I say other than you nailed it.
I really have enjoyed working with you. I also want to thank you for keeping track and never calling or emailing when my wife was around. It is this standard of service that is disappearing in the world today. It has been so nice to work at a distance with someone and still have the personal touch in the service.
Thanks Again,
Paul
Ladies Leather Jacket refurbishment 09 October 2012
Hi Martin,
The refurbished jacket arrived today and I am writing to let you know that we are both very pleased with the finished product, we were also delighted with your progress report and advice on how best to proceed. Good customer relations.
Thank you very much from a very satisfied customer.
Best wishes and Kind regards from,
Mavis & Jim Jackson.
Doctors Glastone Type Bag 09 October 2012
---Message From ML Workshop Web Site---
I am a general practitioner on the Isle of Anglesey. After 15 years of intense use my beautiful leather doctor's bag, presented to me by my wife on the occasion of my graduation from medical school, began to show definite signs of wear and tear. The leather handle broke, the metal closing mechanism no longer worked properly and the sides of the bag had become saggy and the leather here was beginning to crack.
For some time I had been looking for someone who could repair/restore my bag. I went to various shoemaker repair shops, but none had the expertise needed to restore my bag.
I then did a search on the internet for leather workshops and to my surprise found one right on the Isle of Anglesey, only 10 miles from the practice!
I contacted the propietor Martin Ashworth and went to see him in his workshop. I knew right away that I had found the right person to restore my bag.
I explained to him what I wanted and within a week he had the job done.
He had repaired the leather handle using pieces of new, sturdy leather, but in such a way that you could not see the difference. He had replaced the metal closing mechanism with one taken from an old Gladstone bag. It looked magnificent and worked beautifully. He also gave the saggy sides a face lift and treated the whole leather bag with a conditioning cream developed by himself, which perfectly matched the colour of my bag.
I was stunned by the quality of his work. My bag looked better and the leather more beautiful than on the day my wife purchased it for me!
It is now two months since the restoration of my bag and I am so happy and proud of my doctor's bag.
The bad was originally purchased in Amsterdam. Many people comment on it, telling me that it was a long time since they last saw such a nice old fashioned looking doctor's bag.
Thanks to the expertise of master craftsman Martin Ashworth my bag is fit for another 15 years of service.
For all those who are looking for someone to have their leather bag or any leather item restored/refurbished I can recommend no better craftsman than Martin Ashworth.
Contact Name: Ben Alofs
Fathers WW2 items and Gladstone Bags 10 September 2012
I contacted Martin Ashworth at the Leather Workshop, as he looked like he had the expertise I had been seeking. I had from my late father two Gladstone bags that needed more than a rescue. On talking to Martin I explained I had my father World War 11 flying jacket, boots and gloves as well as a rare box from a Flying Fortress Bomber that had housed instruments to fly by navigating the stars. All items looked beyond repair. I sent him photographs and he said he could repair them all
I boxed them all up and Martin had all the items collected.
Throughout the restoration, I was sent photographs of the progress and talked several times on the phone to Martin to discuss the work and particular details of the repair
The Gladstone bags look perfect, including the clasps that needed repair. The flying Jacket looks better than I ever remember it, including a new, but authentic, Zip Fastener. The boots look like new not seventy years old
I will be honest to repair all the items was not cheap, but the result show that it was money worth spending and such craftsmanship is unique
Martin thank you
Victorian Top Hat Box 23 August 2012
Hello Martin
Having just received the restored and now fully functioning lock and clasp on my Victorian hat-box, I must thank you for a superb finish.
Beautifully repaired and sympathetically restored in a way that no-one could tell the new from the original lock.
Im sure this hatbox will now last another few generations and become an heirloom of sorts.
It's great to see what I imagine to be a lost craft, skill and profession being so passionately carried out to such a high standard, you clearly love what you do and that comes across in your communication and certainly in the end result.
Thank you again, I know Ill be sending further items your way to bring them back to life and won't hesitate in recommending your services to anyone that needs them.
All the best.
David.
