Walthamstow Tool Library

We are a tool lending library with the mission to create a community of sharing tools and skills, using our collective responsibility to take care of one another and our planet.

2a Priory Court, E17 5LS
Winter open times: Tuesdays 3pm-6pm & Saturdays 10am-1pm

WTL – How it started?

Borrow tools & green your community

JOIN US AS A MEMBER
BROWSE OUR TOOLS ONLINE

Walthamstow Tool Library (WTL) is a tool lending library in 2a Priory Court with the mission to make tools both accessible and affordable, while reducing the need to purchase new tools and consequently our impact on the environment.  We are delighted that the North London Waste Authority Community Fund have chosen to fund the project in 2024/25.

The project was developed by residents of William Morris Big Local, made possible by WMBL funding with premises provided by the London Borough of Waltham Forest and is run by Forest Recycling Project and volunteers of the local area.

Our aim is to become a vibrant community hub that connects people and ideas to make our lives and surroundings greener, healthier and more inclusive!

Subscribe to the Walthamstow Tool Library newsletter

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Our statistics for 2019

450

ActiveMembers

7952

Tool Loans

35500

kg of CO2 emissions saved by tool reuse

How does it work?

We offer a 1-year membership scheme enabling you to borrow up to 5 items at a time with no additional fees.

WTL – Borrow tools and green your community

Join our membership scheme

JOIN US AS A MEMBER
1

Create an account

Click the button "JOIN US AS A MEMBER" to register an account with us.
2

Read and sign our User Agreement

At the bottom of the sign up form you'll find a link to the Walthamstow Tool library User Agreement. Please read it carefully before submitting your form.
3

Choose your membership

We offer affordable membership options for you choose from. Once you're a member there is no additional fee to hire tools.
4

Verify your email address

You'll receive an email requesting that you confirm your email address.
WTL – How to borrow tools?

How I can borrow tools?

BROWSE OUR TOOLS ONLINE
1

Reserve your tools

Login to your account and browse our online inventory. Add items to your cart by choosing the dates you wish to borrow and submit your reservation.

On your first visit please bring your ID and prof of address. Please note that you can only reserve item up to 7 days in advance.

2

How many tools can I take?

You can borrow 5 tools at a time and keep them for 7 days - with the option to renew the loan for one week.
3

Returning tools

Return the tools clean & ready for the next user!

We are always looking for donations to stock and diversify our inventory. If you would like to donate any good condition tools, check our wish list below and email tools@frpuk.org.

We need cordless drills, any type of sanders, wallpaper steamers, pressure washers, battery powered gardening tools, if you have any to donate, please get in touch!

Please note, that we might also consider selling some donated tools if we have too many of one type, in order to raise money and help keep the library up and running.

We provide a tool sharpening service for both members & non-members. You can get up to 3 hand tools sharpened at one time. Members can simply book the “item” on the system. Non-members can book by sending an email to tools@frpuk.org and all will need to pay £3 per tool.

!NEW! Special offer for kitchen knives! Just £2 per knife, maximum 10 knives.

We’re aiming to sharpen your items within a week, if we need more time, we will notify you. We accept the following tools: secateurs, loppers, shears, and some lawn mower blades – it is best to let us know beforehand what tools you are bringing. Please be aware that we are not able to sharpen saws at this point!

Volunteers are very much the heart of our operation, we couldn’t do it without them! WTL volunteers mainly help out during our opening times as well as our events. The tasks vary from cataloguing items, fixing tools to running a workshop or a social media campaign…

As a WTL volunteer, you’ll become part of a lovely, supportive lil community, learn new skills, and get access to plenty of tools! Have a look at our different volunteer roles, and get in touch if you would like to get involved: tools@frpuk.org.

Currently we are looking for someone who helps out on social media as well as someone who’s got some experience in fixing tools! So please get in touch!

Our library is based at 2a Priory Court, E17 5LS. It’s the road’s smallest building with the largest & most beautiful mural, created by local kids and artist Lorraine Ward. Public Transport: Victoria line & Overground to Blackhorse Road, Bus W11 & 123 to Higham Hill Road (Stop S).
Send us an email to tools@frpuk.org, we usually check the account on Tuesdays and  Saturdays. You can also call us on 07933 710644 during our opening times. To receive regular updates and info, please join the Walthamstow Tool Library mailing list (click HERE) and follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

We are grateful to Waltham Forest Council for the use of the Walthamstow Tool Library building and all their support.

WTL Newsletter Archive

  • 23#1 – about pruning & changes in our team
  • 22#8 – about thermal cameras, Priory Court Resident Membership & saving seeds (again)
  • 22#7 – about our October workshops, our new shredder and kitchen knives sharpening service
  • 22#6 – about our 2. anniversary, September events, and current wallpaper steamer frenzy
  • 22#5 – about our July events, tea blending, and mini ponds
  • 22#4 – about our summer activities (part I), tool donors, and three sisters
  • 22#3 – all about our new summer activity grants
  • 22#2 – about Green up Priory Court Spring Fair and William Morris Birthday Celebrations
  • 22#1 – about gift economies, our seed saving workshop & community bike pump
  • Winter 2021 – about WTL Gift Cards, wildlife habitats & bike maintenance
  • October 2021 – about COP26, bulbs & our new crowdfunder
  • September 2021 – about our first anniversary, our new fruit press & about saving seed
  • Summer 2021 – about winter seeds & cuttings, regular sharpenings & finished murals
  • June 2021 – about our mural & sharpening service pilot, seedling swap house, tomato care, natural fertiliser & greening up Priory Court
  • May 2021 – about consumables, our 1. seedling swap, planting out, slug control & making compost
  • April 2021 – about hardening off seedlings, preparing beds, “NoMowMay” & our extended team
  • March 2021 – about WMBL’s grand sunflower competition, sowing seed (part 2) & how to build windowsill planter

Walthamstow Tool Library Wish List

Garden Hand Tools

  • garden secateurs, snips
  • topiary shears
  • loppers, long lopper
  • pruning saw, pole/tree pruner
  • bow saw with dry blades, bow saw with wet blades, brush saw
  • patio knife
  • hand trowels, hand forks
  • shovels, rabbit spade 
  • mattock, wrecking bar, post banger
  • small axe, splitting axe, two handed axe
  • dutch hoe, garden hoe, spud hoe
  • soil tiller, hand soil tiller
  • sythe, hand sickle
  • lawn edger, lawn edge cutter
  • moss roller, remover
  • bulb planters, seeder
  • fruit picker  
  • mesh riddle
  • hose reel and hose

Carpentry Tools & Power Tools

  • impact driver & battery drills (e.g. Makita, Dewalt, Bosch, Black & Decker)
  • battery & corded saws: jigsaw, circular saw, plunge saw
  • battery small angle grinder & router
  • biscuit joiner
  • cordless grass trimmer, cordless hedge trimmer
  • chisels, squares, marking gauges etc
  • sledge hammer, lump hammer, rubber mallet, pick axe 
  • hand saws: tenon, panel, rip
  • long spirit levels, string levels 
  • clamps: G or F-clamps, sash clamps

Other Items for the Library

  • electrical bench grinder
  • socket set, extension cable on reel

Please contact us if you have any other items that you think would help or if you have a specific tool wish. Thank you for your support!

Too Library WTL
Walthamstow Tool Library

Winter opening hours

Tuesday: 3pm – 6pm
Saturday: 10am – 1pm

Address:

2a Priory Court
London E17 5LS

Google Maps: Google Maps Directions

Tel: 07933 710644

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