Watch remarkable skills at UK's 'last' traditional jigsaw puzzle maker in Derbyshire

This footage shows the incredible skill of workers at a Derbyshire firm thought to be the UK’s last surviving traditional children’s jigsaw puzzle maker.
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The speed at which stacked puzzles are manoeuvred around the sharp blade cutting them into shape has elicited a mixture of admiration and disbelief at how such precision can be achieved without the loss of any fingers.

The video was shared by Just Jigsaws, which is based off Salcombe Road in Alfreton, has been run by the same family for some 47 years and is proud to call itself Britain's only remaining specialist handmade children's wooden jigsaw puzzle manufacturer.

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The family firm was founded in 1973 by John and Jacqueline Trowsdale, who started the business in a shed in Luton and moved to Derbyshire in 1989.

Tony Trowsdale works one of the band saws to cut out a unique jigsaw puzzle at his Just Jigsaws factory in Alfreton, DerbyshireTony Trowsdale works one of the band saws to cut out a unique jigsaw puzzle at his Just Jigsaws factory in Alfreton, Derbyshire
Tony Trowsdale works one of the band saws to cut out a unique jigsaw puzzle at his Just Jigsaws factory in Alfreton, Derbyshire

Their son Tony and grandson John have since joined the company, where Tony’s wife Vanessa has worked in the factory since 1999.

“All the other companies have either gone bust, moved abroad or are making cardboard puzzles, rather than wooden ones,” explains John.

“It’s a very specialist manufacturing process. Not many people can cut them by hand, but it gives a unique fit which you don’t get when they’re laser-cut or stamped out.”

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Today the firm employs eight people and churns out anywhere between 1,000 and 5,000 puzzles a week, ranging in size from two pieces to 80, most of which are destined for schools or nurseries.

Tony Trowsdale with some of his family members and staff at his Just Jigsaws factory in AlfretonTony Trowsdale with some of his family members and staff at his Just Jigsaws factory in Alfreton
Tony Trowsdale with some of his family members and staff at his Just Jigsaws factory in Alfreton

Despite competing against the likes of TV, video games and social media for youngsters’ attention, John says traditional jigsaws have been enjoying a resurgence in recent years as parents try to cut the time their children spend staring at screens.

“They're a great teaching resource and the best way to engage both sides of the brain at once because they’re testing your problem solving and hand-eye coordination,” says John.

The firm makes more than 250 different puzzles but its most popular are still the ‘life cycle’ series it has been manufacturing for some 30 years, which show the different stages plants and creatures including frogs, acorns and ducks go through.

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