[HBP#30] - Nathan Goss - Coffins, Castles, & Conservation

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Welcome to another episode of the Heritage Buildings Podcast.

Host Vincent Reed speaks with conservation carpenter and surveyor Nathan Goss about his unconventional journey from leaving school at 15 with dyslexia into a carpentry apprenticeship in South Wales, early work crafting coffins and staircases, and later restoring historic buildings across the UK including projects at Windsor Castle and Hereford Cathedral.

Nathan also shares how television opportunities arose through his friendship with Griff Rhys Jones, his transition into a building surveyor role with the National Trust after a rugby injury, and international conservation work with the World Monuments Fund.

Topics covered include:

• Starting a carpentry apprenticeship at 15 and early work crafting coffins

• Restoring major heritage sites including Windsor Castle and historic buildings across Wales

• Life as a travelling carpenter working on castles, cathedrals, and historic halls

• How a friendship with Griff Rhys Jones led to television and heritage documentaries

• Retraining as a National Trust building surveyor after a career-changing rugby injury

• International conservation work and training projects in Ethiopia and Sierra Leone

Perfect for conservation carpenters, heritage professionals, craftspeople, building surveyors, and anyone passionate about traditional building skills and historic building restoration.

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Below is a more detailed breakdown of the video with relevant timestamps

Click the time on the left to jump straight to that section

00:00 Welcome and Catch Up

00:29 School Struggles and Apprenticeship

03:17 Early Joinery and Bonus Wages

05:20 Coffin Making Mindset

09:06 How Coffins Were Built

14:20 Glue and Finishing Touches

16:18 Leaving Joinery for Restoration

21:16 Windsor Castle and Hand Skills

24:24 Heritage Projects Across Wales

27:27 Life as a Traveling Carpenter

29:33 No Photos Back Then

31:10 St Fagans Museum Work

31:42 St Fagans Church Restoration

33:32 Museum Repairs and Fire Rebuild

34:45 Royal Visits and Moving On

35:22 Meeting Griff Rhys Jones

37:59 Pembroke Slate Roof Dilemma

42:39 Friendship and TV Opportunities

44:06 Pilgrims Walk TV Adventure

46:44 More History Shows and Research

51:40 Rugby Injury and Business Collapse

53:39 National Trust Surveyor Path

59:57 Luck Mindset and New Contacts

01:02:18 Ethiopia Palace Project Hook

01:06:20 Mindblown Heritage Moments

01:07:33 Ethiopia Palace Training

01:10:42 Funding Shift Fallout

01:12:53 Family Travel Juggle

01:15:30 TV Work Reality Check

01:21:39 Sierra Leone Timber Rescue

01:26:03 Mahogany Termite Surprise

01:30:03 Future Plans and Wrap

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Connect with Nathan Goss and learn more:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-goss-18a0b792/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathangossconservation/

Email: [e-mail]

Website: nathangoss.co.uk/

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Learn more about the Heritage Buildings Association:

https://heritagebuildingsassociation.com

Join the conversation:

https://heritagebuildings.forum/share/dDYOnkLWJAkaA5xE?utm_source=manual

#Coffinmaker #WindsorCastle #Ethiopia