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SIMON GILBOY tradition and innovation go hand in hand to create the finest beeswax
I
n a glorious spot, nestled between the River Dart and Staverton Station, sits an Aladdin’s Cave of rich antique furniture, chandeliers and fine art.
Tis is the home of Gilboy’s, brainchild of professional
French polisher and furniture restorer Simon Gilboy. And also former contributor of ‘Waxing Lyrical’ in By Te Dart magazine. Simon and his team have been at the site for a year and
have totally transformed the place. Te showroom is beautifully lit and arranged with lovingly restored pieces and the workshop is a hive of activity. Moving his business here has completed a perfect circle
for Simon, who worked his apprenticeship in the same spot when it was Staverton Joinery. Owned by Dartington Hall Trust, the joinery was famed for its large-scale bespoke furniture, oſten shipped out to Middle Eastern markets. Simon said: ‘It was during the time British craſtsmen were
known as some of the best skilled around the world. ‘I started my four-year appren-
ticeship with Dartington Trust within a week of finishing school in 1987, on £1 an hour! I could choose between wood machinist, joiner or French polisher and went for French polisher. Tere were 70 to 80 men in the workshop and it was an intense learning process. ‘But aſter I finished my appren-
ticeship I knew I didn’t want to be stuck in the same company for life so moved on.’ Aſter a summer gardening for South
Hams Council, Simon signed up for a two-year traditional sign-writing course at South Devon College, to add to his skill set. He said: ‘Whilst at college I worked at
opened it with the help of a bursary and business grant from Te Prince’s Trust, with whom I also had business mentoring for the first two years. My very first job was finishing furniture for Kuwait University aſter the first Gulf War. ‘Within two years I had my own apprentice and a few
years later employed my second, Will Arscot, in 1998. Will has been with the business ever since and is now a senior partner.’ Te name was changed to Gilboy’s in 1997. Using his
sign-writing skills Simon designed the logo, in gold to signi- fy the luxurious nature of the antique and polishing trade. Simon added: ‘We moved to Riverford farm in 2001 and
during this time the business slowly grew. With the help of a ‘secret millionaire’ we opened our small antiques showroom beside the workshop. ‘In 2015 we had the opportunity to relocate our premises
to where it all began at Staverton Joinery’s old works, now owned by KJ Tulborn. Kevin Tulborn offered the building to me over a pint in a pub. I mulled it over with Will and we decided to go for it. ‘We could’ve stayed at Riverford
Farm quite happily but needed to take the chance and establish ourselves further. ‘It was a shell of a building,
having been used as a mechanical engineering workshop. We totally
‘So we set about creating the best polish for our
home in the evenings and weekends from my parents’ shed, French polishing small pieces of furniture for friends and family at first and later for local cabinet makers. ‘In January 1994 I opened my first workshop beside the River Dart in Staverton and named it SG Wood Finishing. I
customers, made from the purest pine turpentine and triple filtered beeswax direct from the bees at Buckfast Abbey.
transformed the place within six months and were open for business last summer. ‘We now have a showroom with period
chandeliers sourced from France and northern Europe, fine art from around the world, and antique furniture which has been hand selected and restored by us. ‘We restore furniture as well as fine art
for customers throughout the South West and the UK. We’re expanding into foreign markets and have just sent a restored piano
to Hungary and other items to France and the US. ‘Recently we have been working on a restoration
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