Wentworth Wooden Puzzles

Wentworth Wooden Puzzles, formally also known as The Wentworth Wooden Jigsaw Company, is a British puzzle maker specializing in wooden jigsaw puzzles with individually designed pieces shaped to reflect the subject of the image. The company was established in 1991 by Kevin Wentworth Preston on a dairy farm near Pinkney, a village close to Malmesbury in Wiltshire’s Cotswolds. The business emerged from the farm’s need to diversify after milk production became economically difficult. Existing farm buildings were converted for industrial use, creating a small manufacturing site that also accommodated other businesses. A defining turning point came in 1994, when founder Kevin Wentworth Preston developed and refined a laser-cutting process for wooden puzzles. Traditional wooden jigsaws were commonly cut with thin, flexible blades, a method requiring considerable manual skill and patience, particularly when producing intricate shapes. Laser technology enabled more consistent and elaborate cutting while allowing the company to retain the visual character of traditionally made Victorian-style puzzles. Wentworth’s designs consequently became associated with “whimsy” pieces: irregular, pictorial shapes that echo animals, plants, objects, or other motifs connected to the image being assembled. The brand’s puzzles are made from approximately 3-millimetre wooden boards sourced from sustainably managed forests. They are generally supplied in a sturdy box made with recycled material, together with a cotton drawstring bag for storage. Customers may choose whether to have a reference image printed on the box. Omitting the image adds difficulty and creates a reveal as the completed picture emerges. The wooden construction is positioned as more durable than ordinary cardboard, while the unusual cutting patterns distinguish the products from mass-market jigsaws. Wentworth’s range includes traditional wooden puzzles in common formats from roughly 100 to 1,500 pieces, personalised puzzles made from customer-supplied photographs or artwork, and difficult tessellation puzzles built around repeated shapes or patterns. It also produces children’s puzzles with larger pieces and simpler imagery. Some difficult designs deliberately minimize conventional visual or structural clues, including puzzles with repeated plant motifs or animal-shaped pieces. Personalised products can incorporate messages for occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries. The company has presented puzzle-making as both a craft and a technology-enabled manufacturing discipline. Its design team creates cuts for individual designs rather than relying only on generic interlocking patterns. The laser process supports production at a scale reported as exceeding 250,000 puzzles annually, with distribution to more than 35 countries. Despite this international reach, the brand’s identity remains rooted in British manufacture, wooden materials, Victorian-inspired whimsy pieces, and premium gift-oriented presentation. Wentworth experienced a major demand surge during the COVID-19 restrictions. In March 2020, as many consumers stayed at home, orders reportedly increased by nearly 400 percent compared with the beginning of the pandemic, placing pressure on the Wiltshire factory’s ability to keep pace. The company also used puzzles for social-impact initiatives. In 2020 it introduced a rainbow-themed puzzle as a gesture of thanks to people working against the coronavirus, and in March 2021 it reported raising nearly £12,000 for a local coronavirus charity. During Mental Health Awareness Week in May 2021, it launched Mini Mindful puzzles and donated proceeds from sales during the initiative to Mind, a UK mental-health charity. The business relocated from Pinkney to South Marston, Swindon, in May 2025. Its present positioning is centered on premium wooden jigsaws, distinctive themed craftsmanship, personalization, durable materials, and the mindful or social qualities associated with puzzle-solving.

Wentworth Wooden Puzzles was founded in 1991 by Kevin Wentworth Preston as a diversification venture on a dairy farm near Pinkney in Wiltshire. The farm’s milk-production business had become difficult to sustain economically, so some agricultural buildings were converted for industrial use. The resulting estate hosted a number of businesses, including the new puzzle enterprise. The company’s core distinction developed in 1994, when Preston invented and perfected a laser-cutting approach for wooden jigsaw puzzles. Conventional wooden puzzles had generally been cut with thin flexible blades powered by bandsaws. Although effective, that technique required significant manual dexterity and could make intricate, repeatable production laborious. Laser cutting offered speed and precision while enabling the brand to preserve the character of older wooden puzzles associated with Victorian-era hand cutting. Wentworth used the technology to create individually designed “whimsy” pieces. Rather than using only conventional interlocking shapes, its puzzles can contain pieces depicting animals, plants, objects, or other forms connected to the image. This approach became a central part of the brand’s identity. The company’s products are made from roughly 3-millimetre wooden boards derived from sustainably managed forests and are packaged in a box with a cotton storage bag. Recycled materials are used in the box, and customers may select a printed reference image or assemble the puzzle without one. The product portfolio expanded beyond standard themed puzzles. Traditional ranges were offered in sizes including 100, 250, 500, 1,000, and 1,500 pieces. Personalised puzzles allowed customers to submit photographs or other images and add messages for occasions such as birthdays or anniversaries. Tessellation puzzles provided a more demanding format by using repeated or nearly identical shapes, sometimes incorporating motifs such as deer, ivy, or holly. Children’s puzzles used larger pieces, simpler designs, and age-appropriate imagery. The company’s laser-enabled process allowed it to combine small-scale design variety with substantial output. Production was reported at more than 250,000 puzzles per year, with products sent to customers in over 35 countries. Its market position developed around premium presentation, durable wooden construction, British manufacture, unusual cuts, and the relationship between each puzzle’s piece shapes and its picture. The COVID-19 period produced an exceptional increase in demand. In March 2020, orders reportedly rose by nearly 400 percent as restrictions encouraged indoor activities, creating difficulties for the Wiltshire factory in meeting demand. Wentworth also connected its products with public-facing charitable initiatives. A rainbow-themed puzzle was released as a thank-you to people fighting the coronavirus, and by March 2021 the company said that nearly £12,000 had been raised for a local coronavirus charity. In May 2021, during Mental Health Awareness Week, it launched Mini Mindful puzzles intended to promote mindfulness and wellbeing, with proceeds from the week donated to Mind. In May 2025, the company relocated from Pinkney to South Marston in Swindon. The move marked a change in operating location but not in the central proposition: specialist wooden puzzles using modern laser technology to produce designs influenced by historic whimsy-piece craftsmanship.

• 2025

  Relocation to South Marston

  [1]Wentworth Wooden Puzzlesen.wikipedia.org

  The business moved from Pinkney near Malmesbury to South Marston in Swindon.

• 2021

  Mini Mindful puzzle series released

  [1]Wentworth Wooden Puzzlesen.wikipedia.org

  Wentworth released Mini Mindful puzzles during Mental Health Awareness Week and donated the relevant sales proceeds to Mind.

• 2020

  Pandemic demand surge and rainbow initiative

  [1]Wentworth Wooden Puzzlesen.wikipedia.org

  Orders rose sharply during COVID-19 restrictions, while the company launched a rainbow-themed thank-you puzzle and supported a coronavirus charity.

• 2008

  Recognition for children’s puzzles

  [1]Wentworth Wooden Puzzlesen.wikipedia.org

  The company received recognition for its work in the children’s puzzle segment.

• 1994

  Laser-cutting process developed

  [1]Wentworth Wooden Puzzlesen.wikipedia.org

  The founder developed and refined a laser-cutting process that became central to the company’s production of intricate wooden puzzles.

• 1991

  Company founded

  [1]Wentworth Wooden Puzzlesen.wikipedia.org

  Kevin Wentworth Preston established the puzzle business as a diversification venture on a dairy farm near Pinkney in Wiltshire.

Premium British wooden jigsaw puzzles combining laser-cut manufacturing, Victorian-inspired whimsy pieces, durable materials, bespoke imagery, and gift-oriented presentation.

• Wooden jigsaw puzzles

  Traditional wooden puzzles

  The core range uses approximately 3-millimetre wooden boards and includes themed whimsy pieces whose shapes relate to the image. Common formats range from about 100 to 1,500 pieces. Puzzles are supplied in a box with a cotton drawstring storage bag, and customers may choose a box image or assemble the design without a visual reference.

• Custom image puzzles

  Personalised puzzles

  Personalised puzzles are produced from customer-provided photographs or other image designs. The format is available in multiple piece counts and can include added wording, making it suitable for gifts and occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries.

• Difficult wooden puzzles

  Tessellation puzzles

  Tessellation puzzles are designed as a more difficult alternative to conventional jigsaws. Their pieces are often similar or nearly identical in pattern, reducing the usual visual and structural clues. Some designs use repeated animal, plant, or geometric motifs.

• Children’s wooden puzzles

  Children’s puzzles

  The children’s range adapts the wooden-puzzle format for younger users through larger pieces, simpler imagery, and less complex cutting patterns. The company received recognition for its production in this market in 2008.

• Mini wellbeing puzzles · 2021

  Mini Mindful puzzles

  Mini Mindful puzzles were introduced during Mental Health Awareness Week in 2021. The compact format was promoted as an accessible activity associated with mindfulness and wellbeing, with sales during the initiative supporting Mind.

• 2021Mini Mindful puzzles for Mental Health Awareness Week

  United Kingdom

  A series of mini puzzles was launched on 6 May 2021 to highlight puzzle-solving as a mindfulness and wellbeing activity during Mental Health Awareness Week.

  Outcome. Sales proceeds from the initiative were donated to Mind, a UK mental-health charity.

  Source
• 2020Rainbow thank-you puzzle

  United Kingdom

  Wentworth released a rainbow-themed puzzle to express appreciation for people working to combat the coronavirus crisis. The initiative was linked to charitable fundraising.

  Outcome. By March 2021, the company reported that nearly £12,000 had been raised for a local coronavirus charity.

  Source

• 2025

  Relocated manufacturing operationsOther

  Background

  The company had operated from its original Wiltshire-area site near Pinkney since its founding.

  Action taken

  Wentworth moved to South Marston in Swindon in May 2025.

  Aftermath

  The relocation established South Marston as the company’s reported operating base.

  Source

• 2020

  Responded to pandemic demand and introduced a charitable puzzleStrategy

  Background

  Orders increased by nearly 400 percent during COVID-19 restrictions as consumers sought indoor activities.

  Action taken

  The company managed exceptional demand while launching a rainbow-themed puzzle connected with support for coronavirus-response workers and charity.

  Aftermath

  The factory struggled to keep up with orders, and the associated fundraising later reached nearly £12,000 according to the company.

  Source

• 1994

  Adopted laser cutting for wooden puzzle manufactureStrategy

  Background

  Traditional bandsaw cutting of intricate wooden puzzle pieces was labor-intensive and required considerable manual dexterity.

  Action taken

  Founder Kevin Wentworth Preston developed and perfected a laser-cutting process for the company’s puzzles.

  Aftermath

  The process increased production speed and precision while supporting the brand’s distinctive themed whimsy pieces.

  Source

1. 1Wentworth Wooden Puzzlesen.wikipedia.org