Granddad Rob Designs Ltd

Home
United Kingdom
Bakewell
Granddad Rob Designs Ltd

I have been a professional bird & animal house maker since 1979, so think I have got the hang of it. Even Kew gardens can boast a Granddad Rob dovecote.
(2)

Some old dogs don't need to learn new tricks
Specialist, expert, craftsman, professional all adjectives used today so liberally they have lost their worth. For forty one years my sole income has been derived from the designing and building of animal and bird housing. I can boast that from my Weald of Kent workshop I have sent builds to all parts of the United Kingdom and good many parts of our pla

net. I learnt very early on to listen to my customer. That to use cheap materials was penny wise and pound foolish, and that a good reputation is hard earned and easy lost. Specialist, expert, craftsman, professional, I have a proven track record, and after three decades this old dog is set in his ways. If you think I can assist you in your animal housing needs I would be pleased to talk
01233 822457 or email
[email protected]

03/12/2024

More CLEAR-OUT Products
Over time, we accumulate products that for reasons often forgotten get buried in the back store shed. I do remember that these came back from a craft fair. We gave them a ‘spruce up’, and want to sell as a ‘bundle’. (we have 3 bundles)

29/11/2024

The WHOPPER TORTOISE HOUSE is in a league of its own. It is a relatively new product from Granddad Rob Designs, created in response to requests from keepers with WHOPPER tortoises. As with most everything we make, especially in the initial builds, the design is always in flux as we tweak and re-tweak with a mind to fine-tune the build and functionality. This is both time consuming and costly. However, in our opinion, the greater cost would be to ignore customer feedback.
Just so you know, I also intend to make a WHOPPER KENNEL.

28/11/2024

This was sold before I could get it posted. I thought to post anyway, to highlight the CLEAR-OUT items.

CLEAR-OUT. TORTOISE MANOR + BURROWING BASEMENT. (painting by another)
For various reasons we accumulate products that have been buried in the back store shed. Periodically we have a CLEAR-OUT, give them a ‘spruce up’ and sell them off at a discount.
Total List Price . . . . . . .. . . £1069.00*
Total Clear Out Price . . . .£ 795.00*
Total Saving . . . . . . . . . £ 274.00
*Including VAT and UK Mainland Delivery

26/11/2024

THE ROBMOB
I’ve had it said that our website and Facebook portray Granddad Rob Designs as being just me in a shed, which is a misconception I need to address. Yes, I am an old-bloke in a shed; however, the shed also houses a small posse of lads and lasses, whom I call the ‘Robmob.’ They are skilled, diligent, trustworthy, and I can label them as friends. Friends who share my ethos, and have my back.

Tina (Assembler): Has no known OFF switch, hits the ground running, and stays that way.

Sally (Admin): The glue that holds us all together.

Bun (Man-Friday): Ironically, he doesn’t work Fridays.

David (Assembler, Sprayer, Fixer): If enthusiasm is a drug, then David overdoses hourly.

Chris (Cutting): Crazy memory, ‘I don’t need plans; we made one last year!’

Granddad Rob (Buck-stopper): Old dog, who now gets to choose what new tricks he needs to learn.

18/11/2024

Another CLEAR-OUT product
Over the course of a year, we accumulate products that for reasons sometimes forgotten, have been ‘buried’ in the back store shed. We take them out give them a ‘spruce up’ and sell them. This was requested by a customer who wanted one of our hibernation boxes adapted so she could use it as a house . We were about to finish when she asked if she could have a bigger one. We made her a bigger one, done the finishing touches to this and put it in back shed. I cannot recall what the bespoke aspect cost.

HIBERNATION BOX Listed Price £299.00
BESPOKE WORK. I cant remember, so call it FREE £0.00
CLEAR-OUT DISCOUNT £30.00
CLEAR-OUT PRICE £269.00 Including VAT, FREE Delivery, UK Mainland .

13/11/2024

CLEAR-OUT.
Over the course of a year we accumulate products that for reasons forgotten have been buried in the back store shed. We take them out give them a ‘spruce up’ and sell them.
This is our TORTOISE COTTAGE, which we have paired up with a bespoke BASKING PORCH (has bricked in end gable and a side door).
Sold as a pair. . .
TORTOISE COTTAGE £639* . . . . . . . CLEAR-OUT PRICE £495*
BESPOKE BASKING PORCH £390*. . . CLEAR-OUT PRICE £290*

Sold separately, please add £35 for separate delivery.
Collected, deduct £35 off each.
*Inc VAT & UK Mainland Delivery

11/11/2024

04/11/2024

Just go the go-ahead. for this a bespoke tortoise table, on casters, with ramp-doors on both sides. removable cat guard with full-length access doors in both flanks. A beam fitted under the ridge for mounting lamps. In an attempt to deter ‘catnapping’ over the lamps, we have set the roof at an no-napping pitch.

Please, SHARE, LIKE, FOLLOW. This is a proven way to help get us more work. Thank you G’Rob

24/10/2024

17/10/2024

This is a 14 sided dovecote, having 7 floors of 7 nests, providing segregated nesting for 49 pairs of doves. The removable sidewalls for cleaning access are yet to fitted, as are the balconies and the very top finial.
I get a wee bit nervous when having drawn and planned something, it final becomes real and we get to see how it looks in the flesh. Because of the sizes the roof and body had to be built separately, so this is the first time, thanks to a JCB, we have been able to see them together. ‘Yes’ I’m bias, but aesthetical and proportionately this works for ME. Which is just as well, because we have five more to make !
There will be better pictures later. I just wanted to share these with you ASAP.
( the real truth is I wanted to show off ! )

15/10/2024

This is a another first for us; our customer asked if we were able to make her tortoise table look a bit more furniture like, it appears we were able.

Please LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW .. thank you, G'Rob

11/09/2024

30/08/2024

Here is yet another bespoke build on its way to our customer. This customer wanted a double height BURROWING BASEMENT with the walls and floor to be insulated. The ‘knock-on-effect’ meant that the run also had to be 150mm taller, the ramp up to the house needed to be longer and taller, and the free ranging door in the end of the run required a pair of ramps.
Our customer also asked for the entire roof of the run to be glazed in our UV 92% permeable Perspex. I was not over keen of having a fully glazed roof, so we devised a way of fitting the other four sections with removable UV Perspex that sat over the wire. Therefore, if it got too hot, the customer can remove those extra panels.

Bespoke work is often the catalyst not only for new products, or as in this case leads to us being able to offer future customers options, like removable UV panels.

Please LIKE, FOLLOW and especially SHARE these posts. It does help us to reach new customers. Thank you

16/08/2024

When asked to quote for bespoke work, I ask the customer if they would do me a basic drawing, showing the dimensions and the required features. Some say they can’t draw, and give me verbal or written instruction.
I am dyslectic, or as its was known in the 50’s thick. I see the world in pictures, anything else stake me a bit longer to decipher. I will not be judgmental, no matter how basic they are, I prefer drawings.
This customer sent me her (she would agree) basic drawing and over several incarnations, we arrived at what she requires.

Please, LIKE, FOLLOW and especially SHARE our posts, it really can help us to find new customers. Thank you G’Rob…

13/08/2024

Having 10 sides, 4 floors and 20 nests, we always thought our Windsor Twenty Nest Dovecote could justly be described as being BIG.
https://granddadrobdesigns.co.uk/collections/doves/products/windsor-twenty-nest-post-cote
However, this bespoke 14 sided, 7 floor, 49 nest dovecote has now redefined BIG.

Please, LIKE, FOLLOW and especially SHARE our posts, it really can help us to find new customers. Thank you G’Rob

08/08/2024

The BASKING PORCH on our website is 66cm front to back. However, a customer recently asked if we could make a 150cm long BASKING PORCH, we could, so we have.
Having made, and liked, this longer option we now intend to add the BASKING PORCH 127 (127cm front to back WITH a hinged roof) to our ever-growing repertoire of animal and bird homes.

The projected price is £495.00 INC. VAT & UK DELIVERY (Highlands and Islands POR)
However initially we propose to offer the BASKING PORCH 127 for £445.oo a saving of £50 on all BASKING PORCH 127 orders placed and paid, until midnight 30-SEPT-24.

Please, LIKE, FOLLOW but especially SHARE our posts, because it really can help us to find new customers. Thank you G’Rob
https://granddadrobdesigns.co.uk/products/add-on-basking-porch

02/08/2024

We received a request to make a pontoon on which a swan could build its nest. My swan knowledge is limited to what I have gleaned over the years from a succession of customers.
If by chance you, or maybe somebody you know, can advise me on the nesting needs of a swan. Then in the interests of CI (Continuous Improvement) I would very much like to do a bit more 'gleaning'.

Please, LIKE, FOLLOW, SHARE. It really can make a difference.

‘

24/07/2024

It’s really appreciated when customers send us pictures, and the product looks far better in situ.
Bothy Tortoise House
+ Optional Burrowing Basement.
+ Optional 2m x 1.2m Run
+_Bespoke 1.2m x 1.2m run extension.

Customer reports that ‘Winston is a very happy tort’.

Please FOLLOW, LIKE & SHARE. It really does help us to get more work. Thank you G'Rob

Address

Bakewell
TN261JU

Website

http://www.granddadrobdesigns.co.uk/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Granddad Rob Designs Ltd posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Granddad Rob Designs Ltd:

Videos

The WHOPPER TORTOISE HOUSE is in a league of its own. It is a relatively new product from Granddad Rob Designs, created in response to requests from keepers with WHOPPER tortoises. As with most everything we make, especially in the initial builds, the design is always in flux as we tweak and re-tweak with a mind to fine-tune the build and functionality. This is both time consuming and costly. However, in our opinion, the greater cost would be to ignore customer feedback. Just so you know, I also intend to make a WHOPPER KENNEL. #Tortoisehouse #ukmade #handmadetortoisehouse #bigtortoisehouse #woodentortoisehouse #qualitytortoisehouse #bespoketortoisehouse #tortoisetable #bespoketortoisetable

The GRANDDAD ROB DIFFERENCE It has been suggested that I need to make videos on each of our product ranges. With the prime intention of highlighting the Granddad Rob Difference. Which in essence, is that unlike many, we still stubbornly continue to MAKE UP TO A STANDARD, NOT DOWN TO A PRICE. Please LIKE, FOLLOW and especially SHARE these posts. It does help us to reach new customers. Thank you #tortoise #tortoisehouse #insulatedtortoisehouse #hugetortoisehouse #tortoiseenclosure #tortoisesetup #tortoiselove #tortoiselife #tortoisesofinstagram #tortoiseforum #tortoiseforlife #handmadetortoise #handmadeuk #madeinkent #woodentortoisehouse #animalhouse #petsofinstagram #tortoises #tortoisesoftiktok #granddadrobdesigns #bespoketortoisehouse #tortoiserun #bespoketortisehouse #tortoisetable #tortoiserun #tortoisetable

HAYDOCK LARGE FOWL COOP. Our HAYDOCK range of four coops, have an optional LARGE FOWL MODIFICATION, which literally makes it more accommodating for larger chicken. Wider Ramp - Bigger Pophole Door- Bigger Nests- Low Perch. Please LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW it is proven to help us get us more work. Thank you, G'Rob https://granddadrobdesigns.co.uk/collections/poultry #hens #chickens #chicken #chickencoop #chickenhouse #woodenchickencoop #woodenhencoop #woodenchikenhouse #woodhenhouse #ukmade #bespokecoop #layinghens #backyardchickenkeeping #backyardhenkeeping #henkeeping #chickenkeeping #keepinghens #keepingchicken #chickenark #henark #poultryark #chickenrun #henrun #poultryrun #rarebreeds #rescuehens #largefowl #largefowl #buffoprington #lightsussex #cochin #leghorn #rhodeisland #plymouthrock

Customer wanted stacked TORTOISE TABLES, each with full length CAT GUARDS, STRIP LIGHT HOLDERS, and LAMP POSTS. Then, I discovered that our Lamp Posts can’t be fitted when a Cat Guard is being used. I had a little ponder, and came up with adding movable ‘branches’ to the Strip Light Holders, Which is a classic Granddad Rob ‘get out of jail‘ and it still gives our customer somewhere to hang the lamps. . #tortoise #tortoisehouse #insulatedtortoisehouse #hugetortoisehouse #tortoiseenclosure #tortoisesetup #tortoiselove #tortoiselife #tortoisesofinstagram #tortoiseforum #tortoiseforlife #handmadetortoise #handmadeuk #madeinkent #woodentortoisehouse #animalhouse #petsofinstagram #tortoises #tortoisesoftiktok #granddadrobdesigns #bespoketortoisehouse #tortoiserun #bespoketortisehouse #tortoisetable #tortoiserun #tortoisetable

Here is yet another bespoke build on its way to our customer. This customer wanted a double height BURROWING BASEMENT with the walls and floor to be insulated. The ‘knock-on-effect’ meant that the run also had to be 150mm taller, the ramp up to the house needed to be longer and taller, and the free ranging door in the end of the run required a pair of ramps. Our customer also asked for the entire roof of the run to be glazed in our UV 92% permeable Perspex. I was not over keen of having a fully glazed roof, so we devised a way of fitting the other four sections with removable UV Perspex that sat over the wire. Therefore, if it got too hot, the customer can remove those extra panels. Bespoke work is often the catalyst not only for new products, or as in this case leads to us being able to offer future customers options, like removable UV panels. Please LIKE, FOLLOW and especially SHARE these posts. It does help us to reach new customers. Thank you #tortoise #tortoisehouse #insulatedtortoisehouse #hugetortoisehouse #tortoiseenclosure #tortoisesetup #tortoiselove #tortoiselife #tortoisesofinstagram #tortoiseforum #tortoiseforlife #handmadetortoise #handmadeuk #madeinkent #woodentortoisehouse #animalhouse #petsofinstagram #tortoises #tortoisesoftiktok #granddadrobdesigns #bespoketortoisehouse #tortoiserun #bespoketortisehouse #tortoisetable #tortoiserun

Having 10 sides, 4 floors and 20 nests, we always thought our Windsor Twenty Nest Dovecote could justly be described as being BIG. https://granddadrobdesigns.co.uk/collections/doves/products/windsor-twenty-nest-post-cote However, this bespoke 14 sided, 7 floor, 49 nest dovecote has now redefined BIG. Please, LIKE, FOLLOW and especially SHARE our posts, it really can help us to find new customers. Thank you G’Rob #dovecote #dovecoat #birdhouse #columbary #dove #doves #fantails #squab #dovcot #doocot #columbarium #pigeon #cote #volary

Its a WHOPPER . . and this time I don't mean me. Once again, can I ask you please to LIKE, SHARE, FOLLOW, BEFRIEND us. I really does help us to get more work. Thank you from G’Rob

GAR-GAR ALERT It’s often said, ‘that someone who hasn’t made a mistake, hasn’t made anything’.. I can lay claim to having made LOTS of mistakes and LOTS and LOTS of anythings. Could I ask you to FOLLOW, LIKE, & SHARE our posts please. Because it is an effective way to help us get more work. Thank you G'Rob #tortoise #tortoisehouse #insulatedtortoisehouse #hugetortoisehouse #tortoiseenclosure #tortoisesetup #tortoiselove #tortoiselife #tortoisesofinstagram #tortoiseforum #tortoiseforlife #handmadetortoise #handmadeuk #madeinkent #woodentortoisehouse #animalhouse #petsofinstagram #tortoises #tortoisesoftiktok #granddadrobdesigns #bespoketortoisehouse #tortoiserun #bespoketortisehouse #tortoisetable #tortoiserun

Our customer ordered a BOTHY TORTOISE HOUSE with BURROWING BASEMENT, and a STANDARD RUN with a BESPOKE EXTENSION. Talking of extensions. I didn't realise just how stout I've gotten, what will my life-coach say? Please LIKE, FOLLOW, SHARE. Us little business need all the help we can get. Thank you G’Rob #tortoise #tortoisehouse #insulatedtortoisehouse #hugetortoisehouse #tortoiseenclosure #tortoisesetup #tortoiselove #tortoiselife #tortoisesofinstagram #tortoiseforum #tortoiseforlife #handmadetortoise #handmadeuk #madeinkent #woodentortoisehouse #animalhouse #petsofinstagram #tortoises #tortoisesoftiktok #granddadrobdesigns #bespoketortoisehouse #tortoiserun #bespoketortisehouse #tortoisetable

Thank you Ms M, for the delightful duckling video and our 5 STAR review.

We made this ‘Doveiary’ for an exceptional lady called Debs. I originally built her a ‘Doveiary’ way back in 2005. Sadly a few months ago Debs, was diagnosed as being terminally ill, and asked if I would make her another Dovairy the same as her original. Debs intention was to donate this, along with her doves to an animal rescue sanctuary, so ensuring her birds remain housed in the same surroundings to which they had grown accustom. As the Gods would have it, as I was writing this, I unfortunately had a call to say Debs had passed last night. If you watch the video, Violetta and Alfredo were two of Debs most favoured doves. My belief is that they will all fly forever.

Test building a CHESTER EIGHT SIDED AVIARY. This is done to ensure that it fits together. The roof in particular can be very ‘testing’. Being just a degree out either in the cutting or the assembly, when amplified across the eight roof sections, has the potential to have a grown man close to tears. . . but not this time. Please LIKE & SHARE #aviary