M.H.Southern & Co Ltd, Jarrow – Timber Importers and Sawmillers

Introduction to the company and sawmill

M.H.Southern & Co Ltd are timber importers and sawmillers. They are located at Berwick, and Church Bank Sawmills, Jarrow in the North East of England, adjacent to the historic St Paul’s Monastic Church for the Venerable Bede.

M.H. Southern was founded in 1913 and today is a fourth generation family business providing a high quality, flexible service to all construction and allied industries. Situated within easy access of the A1 and regional port facilities, M.H. Southern serves the whole of the UK as well as undertaking export orders.

The facilities at Jarrow and Berwick enables M.H.Southern to handles unusual timber requirements, so you will see some exceptionally large pieces of timber on your visit.

M.H. Southern have been very supportive of the Seed to Saw project, and have facilitated visits by schools to their sawmill at Jarrow, and welcome schools utilising their wood off -cuts in lessons.

What you will see on your visit

¨       Timber of all sizes from many parts of the world stored (e.g. Latvia, Canada and locally Kielder), waiting to be cut to size for specific orders

¨       The sawmill is particularly interesting for its’ large pieces of timber,

e.g. huge lengths of Douglas Fir are used to make bridge crossings

¨       timber being cut to order by various different types of saws, including occasionally, huge saw blades being changed over

¨       Wood being sanded and planed

¨       Growth rings on timber, so concept of growth and the effect of weather on timber growth can be seen and discussed

¨       Timber being pressure treated with organic solvents, so the processes of decay, weathering & the need for preservation of timber can be discussed

¨       Different types of timber, with diverse properties, so the idea of the end use of different timbers can be looked at, e.g. Honduran Pitch Pine is stored, milled and then sent off to Blackpool Pleasure Beach for use as timber decking

¨       Trends in timber – the sawmill has different types of timber in demand over a period of time, as influences such as TV programmes change the trend in timber use, e.g. more timber decking is demanded nowadays

¨       People being employed in different areas of work in the sawmill. Pupils will be able to get a feel for the type of work each person has to carry out

¨       Waste wood – the sawmill has off cuts, and is always pleased if schools are able to take some back to school to use during lessons

¨       Pupils are able to carry out a wood sorting exercise in the covered wood store area, in which numeracy skills are used

For further details about a site visit, contact:

M.H. Southern & Co Ltd, Churchbank Sawmills, Jarrow, Tyne & Wear, NE32 3EB

Tel: 0191 489 8231.