The Wheel Deal: British Apprentices Work With Colonial Williamsburg to Save a Dying Trade

If you stop into the Wheelwright shop right now, you’ll get to talk with two 19-year-old apprentices visiting us from across the pond. Not only are they working here, they’re also living with Master Wheelwright John Boag and his wife during their stay. So what’s it like for two teenagers to travel all the way to America for such a unique opportunity? We sat down with them to find out.

Joe Fredricks and George Richards arrived in Williamsburg on March 15 and they will be here through April 11. They’re here as a part of a unique opportunity granted by their government. British officials recognize certain trades are in danger and are now sponsoring three-year paid apprenticeships. Given our strong relationship with the Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights, two different shops reached out on behalf of their apprentices. They thought the young men would gain invaluable knowledge shadowing our experts. It’s one thing to read about colonial methods and tools; it’s another thing to witness for yourself the historic context of where the trade was 250 years ago and where it stands today.

I asked each how he became interested in this occupation and what he thinks of working in a modern shop versus an 18th-century one. Joe says in his shop back in England, they don’t do any pit or frame sawing given the time it would take for such laborious methods. He said he’s always loved making things with his hands and was actually originally looking into engineering. But that’s when he learned of the apprenticeship opportunity and decided to shift his focus.

George also brought up the pit sawing and mentioned he’d heard about it but never actually seen it done in person. He is a seventh-generation carpenter back home and in addition to wheelwrighting, he is also taking a joinery course. I found it particularly interesting that the shop where he’s employed does all the work for the royal household!

Since they’ve been here, the duo has worked on an ox cart axle, chopped out fellies from planks, fixed a wheelbarrow for the brickyard, and made a new leg for a stool at the Armoury. All of that, and they tell me they’ve managed to only get a couple splinters.

Of course, this trip hasn’t been all work. John has seen to it that they get a real American experience while they’re here. He took them to Wintergreen for a weekend in the mountains where Joe said he saw powdered snow for the first time. They also spent some time hiking Crabtree Falls and even visited the Frontier Culture Museum. Later this week, they’ll make the trek to Mount Vernon to see a wagon our wheelwrights made that’s now on display. Both told me they plan to vacation here again in the future and can’t get over all there is to do in Virginia alone.

We actually ran into a group from the Wheelwrights last week at Rick’s Cheese Steak. It sparked my question about how they’re enjoying the food here. It turns out, they love it! Joe says John makes a mean spaghetti with Bolognese sauce. He particular liked that we eat meatballs on top of meat sauce. As for George? He’s grown fond of the pulled pork barbecue John picks up from Paulie’s Pig Out in Nelson County.

Neither of them mind wearing their costumes although George told me at first he thought his boss was joking when he told him he’d have to wear one. Joe admitted he can now wear it to the grocery store without a second thought. If you live in Williamsburg, that’s how you know he’s no longer a rookie!

I asked about the funniest questions they’ve encountered from guests and both of them chuckled. It appears some people think their accents are fake. One person went so far as to say Joe needed to work on his a bit! The children however are captivated by their cadence. A little boy playing RevQuest: Save the Revolution! even asked if they were British spies. No doubt they’ll have plenty of fun stories to share when they get back home!

What questions do you have for George and Joe? Leave them here and I’ll pass them along!