Furnace was started by Joel Gascoigne and Daniel Adams, two former Blake and Bull employees with a background in the electrical industry.

We’d been working together on and off for years, starting when Daniel became Joel’s apprentice at an electrical firm all the way back in 2015. It’s been a few years since then and we’ve both learned quite a lot from each other during that time.

We’ve always enjoyed tinkering in workshops and restoring and creating things, so when an opportunity to work in a technician's role refurbishing and converting Aga range cookers arose we both jumped at the chance. 

A smiling man wearing a black and white striped sports jersey, with a group of people in the background at a social event or gathering.
Black and white photo of a smiling man with facial hair and curly hair, wearing round sunglasses and a patterned shirt, outdoors with a background of a building and other people.

Fast forward 6 years through various different engineering and management roles, an awful lot of late nights and long drives and between the two of us there is very little of the UK which remains unseen and even less of the inside of an Aga.

Unfortunately, for one reason or another, Blake and Bull went into liquidation and we found ourselves without a job at the start of 2025.

Given the enjoyment we get from restoring these beautiful cookers, driving around the country and meeting lots of interesting people, the only natural path from there was to create Furnace.

Back of a work van filled with construction tools and materials, including a box labeled Insulfrax LTX, a plastic crate, wooden shelves, and various hardware supplies.
A black gate with an arched top set into a stone wall, with the word 'FURNACE' written on a black sign at the top. Two concrete blocks are placed in front of the gate.

It’s taken us a little while to get the basics set up, but we’re now happily pottering around the UK in our built-for-purpose van, using our modest workshop as a base.

We can convert and/or refurbish your Aga with multiple different systems and methods, but even if you’re looking for something else, we can probably advise or point you in the right direction so definitely give us a try!

We take our job very seriously, we know that your cooker is important to you and we don’t take the responsibility lightly. The utmost care is taken no matter how big or small the job we’re undertaking is.

Although we’re still in the early stages of this journey, we’re excited to see what comes of it and we’d love to be able to help a few of you along the way!

We hope to hear from you soon!

Joel and Daniel

Furnace