A little bit about us and where to find us.
ASGARD CRAFTS, Jim and how it all began ...
Jim started making reproduction artefacts in 1999. Whilst working at the world-renowned Jorvik Viking centre he got to spend a long time looking at the original finds and wanted copies of these for his re-enactment hobby. Alas, many of these wonderful items were difficult to obtain, so he made it his own personal mission to learn how to make them for himself. He found his background in archaeology immensely helpful in undertaking his first project: a set of folding trader’s scales. Soon a toilet set and a ring pin followed and his new project was a Viking comb.
Through trial and error and a lot of hard work, Jim managed to make his first comb and in the process brought to life the ancient art of comb making. He has lost count in recent years of how many he has made, we estimate in excess of 100.
Soon, fellow re-enactors and colleagues from the Viking centre had seen his work and he was getting bombarded with orders to make more for them. And so, in 2002 we founded Asgard Crafts. Very quickly, it went from a part time hobby to a full time business. We realised very quickly that to do justice to our work, we had to be 100% behind the business and thus it took over as the “day job.”
So, here we are in 2011 with a great range of reproduction items. We have been very busy over the last few years and Jim has spent a lot of time learning new skills. Those of you who have been with us from the start will see that we now produce a range of Viking silver and that our range of pewter is growing rapidly. Who’d have thought that a teenage passion for re-modelling war-gaming miniatures would come in handy in later years when carving intricate masters for all our cast items?
An exciting area of the business is museum work. It is such a wonderful experience to create a replica that will be seen by thousands of people. Our latest project involved a horse bridle, which is now on display in the Manx museum in the Isle of Man.
We have also undertaken work for a growing number of films and T.V programmes.
So, just how do you find Asgard Crafts...
Asgard is located on Broadford Industrial Estate on the Isle of Skye. We do not have a shop any more, but if you would like to pop into our workshop and see us then you are more than welcome.
We would ask that you call in advance as it is not always possible for us to receive visitors - especially if we're doing things that involve nasty chemicals that day.
You can contact us on: 01471 822422 or email sales@asgardcrafts.co.uk
We are usually open from 10.00 to 5.30 Monday to Friday.
As you drive from the south of Skye, pass through the village of Broadford - about 8 miles from the bridge. The turning to the industrial estate is on the right hand side of the road - opposite Jewsons building supplies just before you leave the 30 mph area at the far end of the village.
Once in the estate, take the next left. We are on that corner in the last unit, but you will need to take the next left into our area and the immediate left and drive along in front of our block of units.
There is no sign on the door, but we have one in the window. Or look out for the Land Rover that's usualy parked outside.