2016

Courses in Traditional Rural Trades & & Crafts Trades Rural Traditional in Courses

Weald & Downland Open Air Museum Air Open Downland & Weald

Make your own stick for country walking Introduction to pole turning A market stick is a traditional type of stick for country A chance to learn the basics of turning on the walking, and is also used by farmers to take to market. It is traditional . Participants will have their own simple a good basic stick, suitable for beginners to make. turned objects to take home. 9.30am–4.30pm 10am–4.30pm Leader: Mark Allery Leader: Charles Hutcheon Friday 22 April £60 Saturday–Sunday 13–14 February £140 Saturday 23 April £60 Friday 2 September £60 Traditional English longbow Saturday 3 September £60 Learn to make a working bow, based on the great bow of the hundred years war. Starting from a single stave of Pole lathe turning : improve your green skills timber, you will make your bow and then learn to use it. This workshop is intended for those who would like to 9.30am–5pm improve their and pole lathe turning Leader: John Rhyder skills. Anyone with some experience can benefit from this Friday–Sunday 26–28 February £260 day, including those who have attend the Introduction course Friday–Sunday 28–30 October £260 and would like to have another go! 9.30am–4.30pm Leader: Mark Allery Sunday 4 September £60

Working with wood with wood Working

Sussex trug making workshop

A unique chance to learn from skilled trug makers how to Make a shave horse cleave and shave for the handle; steam and bend This day is for those keen to make a start in greenwood chestnut and for the boards, and assemble a trug to working with the construction of their own shave horse. All take home and cherish. 9.30am–4.30pm materials will be provided and participants will spend the day Leaders: Robin Tuppen and Mike Church making the component parts and then assembling their own Saturday–Sunday 19–20 March £140 shave horse. 9.30am–4.30pm Saturday–Sunday 6–7 August £140 Leader: Mark Allery Sunday 24 April £85

[email protected] 01243 811021

Gypsy peg making NEW Carve a wooden bowl Learn to make traditional style Gypsy-style clothes pegs and Learn the basics of woodcarving with this hands-on course discuss the finer points of this traditional craft. 10am–4pm whilst carving a leaf-shaped bowl, which can be taken home at Leader: Peter Jameson the end of the day. 9am–5pm Saturday 30 April £50 Leaders: Jess Jay and John Vardon Saturday 9 July £65 Bark basketry Sunday 10 July £65 Bark is a traditional material that has been used across the globe and it is likely that our ancestors used this material in similar ways. The barks we have at our disposal are remarkable, when wet they become pliant but as they dry they essentially turn to wood making very robust and durable containers. This course will cover both weaving and folding techniques, and processing the raw material, you should go home with some nice examples of the craft. 9.30am–4pm Leader: John Rhyder Carve a wooden spoon Saturday 7 May £65 Develop basic woodworking skills by learning the steps to carve your own unique spoon. 9am–5pm Leader: Jon Roberts Sunday 7 August £50 Saturday 13 August £50 COURSES FOR GROUPS Tool sharpening: the cutting edge Many of the courses run at the Museum can be organised as This two-day course has been designed for students with little private bespoke days for groups. The courses are great for or no previous tool sharpening experience, who enjoy working with wood but have found difficulty achieving a satisfying unique get togethers with friends and for reunions as well as standard of work due to their lack of tool tuning and sharpening hen and stag parties. skills. During this course you will learn how to sharpen wood cutting tools to professional standards and select new or second For more information please contact -hand tools that are well engineered. 9.30am–5pm Diana Rowsell, Head of Learning, on 01243 811464. Leader: Philip Hodge Friday–Saturday 12–13 August £210

www.wealddown.co.uk

Coracle making Introduction to chair making Coracles are traditional riverboats. Round in shape, they By making a three or four-legged stool, learn the basics of are paddled with one oar. On this two-day course you will chair making and woodworking. 9.30am–4.30pm make a traditional ash slatted coracle to take home, and try Leader: Mervyn Mewis out your boating skills on the millpond. 9.30am–4.30pm Saturday 5 November £75 Leaders: Kevin and Ellen Grimley Saturday–Sunday 3–4 September £250

Make a stool with a woven willow seat Traditional wooden rake making Make a beautiful stool from natural materials and learn Make a wooden rake and tailor its size to your needs using weaving and simple techniques. 9am–5pm green wood and traditional tools. You will make the rake head, Leader: John Waller fit the pegs as well as prepare and fit the handle. 9.30am–4.30pm Sunday 13 November £70 Leader: Mark Allery Saturday 1 October £60

Weekend woodcarving course TALES OF THE DOWNS AND BEYOND From a choice of five, select a carving project to complete on this two-day hands-on course. You will learn the basics Come to our series of interesting summer evening talks of woodcarving and take home what you make. 9am–5pm which will be published in our spring Friends’ magazine, and Leaders: Jess Jay and John Vardon on our website early in 2016. Saturday–Sunday 22–23 October £130 [email protected] 01243 811021

Countryside crafts Countryside Living willow chair workshop Weave a rush hat Come along to this one-day workshop and make a living An opportunity to make your own woven rush hat using the willow chair, which you can plant in your own garden. indigenous common bulrush. 9.30am–5pm 9.30am–5pm Leader: Rachel Frost Leader: Ganesh Bruce Kings or Elaine Kings Monday 8 August £60 Saturday 6 February £100

Willow garden supports Make interesting contemporary plant supports to enhance your garden using English willow and traditional methods. 9.30am–5pm Leader: Ganesh Bruce Kings or Elaine Kings Saturday 9 April £100 Weave a rush mat Willow workshop: weave and wale a basket An opportunity to make your own woven rush mat using the Using English brown willow and traditional techniques, learn indigenous common bulrush. 9.30am–5pm to weave and wale a basket to take home. 9am–5pm Leader: Rachel Frost Leader: Deborah Albon Tuesday 9 August £60 Sunday 10 July £70 Sunday 28 August £70 Corn dolly workshop Learn the history and development of this ancient craft, as Weave a rush bag well as the practical skills involved in weaving a corn dolly. Using indigenous common bulrush, you will learn how to 10am–5pm make a bag either with a shoulder strap or short handles. Leader: Verna Bailey 9.30am–5pm Saturday 17 September £50 Leader: Rachel Frost Sunday 7 August £60

www.wealddown.co.uk

Rope work – making an animal halter NEW Make a Pyecombe-style crook For those who would like to be able to make their own For those who have done the Irons in the fire course and want bespoke halters for use in animal husbandry or for those to have another go. You will build on the skills learnt who would like to experience making their own rope and previously to make a Pyecombe-style crook to take home. extending their knot-tying skills. This course will teach the 9am–5.30pm basics of splicing including a halter eye splice, back splice, an Leader: Martin Fox eye splice, long and short splicing, explaining the uses and Saturday 24 September £90 limitations of each. You will also learn the basic principles of rope making and make the rope which you will use for your final project. Working in three ply cords in both natural and man-made fibres over the day. The final result will be a cotton rope halter that you will be able take home to use or admire long into the future. 10am–4pm Leader: Charlie Tyrrell Saturday 5 March £50 Leaded-light stained glass Irons in the fire Make a small leaded light stained glass panel and learn many A practical day in the Museum’s 150-year-old working skills including how to cut glass to a precise pattern and join smithy, learning about the traditional skills of the village the pieces with lead came. 9am–5pm blacksmith. Each student will make their own simple object Leader: David Lilly to take home. 9am–5.30pm Friday 15 April £110 Leader: Martin Fox Friday 15 April £90 Mill experience Saturday 16 April £90 Spend the morning in our 400-year old-watermill. Learn Historic trades & crafts & trades Historic Friday 20 May £90 about its history, the different types of mill and their common Saturday 21 May £90 features. Learn how the watermill works, the key controls at Friday 24 June £90 the miller's disposal, and how they can affect the quality of Saturday 25 June £90 the flour produced. Then have a go at working in our mill and Friday 15 July £90 produce a small bag of flour to take home. 9.30am–12.30pm Saturday 16 July £90 Leaders: Museum Millers Friday 23 September £90 Monday 25 April £45 Saturday 14 May £45 Monday 6 June £45

[email protected] 01243 811021

Stone carving: Ammonite NEW Make a traditional hand-sewn book This workshop is for people who wish to develop skills in During this workshop students will make a non-adhesive book stone carving. You will work on a design in Bath stone. by sewing folded sections of paper, marking, piercing and using 9.30am–5pm cotton thread to sew them onto linen tape or ribbon using the Leader: Will Spankie French stitch method. The covers will be made from colourful Saturday 7 May £80 hand-made paper and you will use the tape or ribbon as a decorative form of securing the book. 9.30am–4.30pm Letter cutting in stone Leader: Angela Thames Learn how to carve your own monogram or house number Saturday 21 May £60 in stone using hand tools, following your own design. 9.30am–5pm Bronze Age metalwork Leader: Will Spankie A Bronze Age experience like no other, asking the basic Sunday 8 May £80 questions of how did the Bronze Age begin. Students will process malachite, make a furnace and create moulds from clay. Then bringing all these elements together you will create your own Bronze Age reconstruction or dagger. 9am–6pm Leader: Will Lord Wednesday–Thursday 13–14 July £250 Friday–Saturday 15–16 July £250

Prehistoric flint tool making Using the methods of ancient British people, including flint knapping, cordage manufacture from natural fibres, working with bone and antler, you will produce your own hafted tool to take home. 9.30am–5pm Medieval tile making Leader: Will Lord A practical day with the opportunity to design your own Saturday–Sunday 23–24 July £100 tiles, or use pre-made patterns, with information on historical aspects of the craft. Each participant can choose Leather belt pouch four tiles to be fired and sent to them after the course. Make a leather belt pouch from English vegetable tanned 9.30am–5pm leather with a choice of fittings, for use in bushcraft, re- Leader: Karen Slade enactment, gardening or just walking the dog! 9.30am–4.30pm Sunday 15 May £125 Leader: Jon Lewington Sunday 24 July £60

www.wealddown.co.uk

Prehistoric pottery Leather belt Working with local clays, students will explore the Make a unique leather belt from English vegetable tanned techniques and create pots that echo those found at the leather using various techniques and finishes with a choice of Neolithic causewayed enclosure at the Trundle hill near to buckles. 9.30am–4.30pm the Museum. On the course you will cover clay preparation, Leader: Jon Lewington as well as three different types of hand-building techniques Saturday 15 October £60 and decoration. There will be the opportunity to return to the Museum to take part in a pit firing of the pots. Leader: Alison Sandeman Food and drink: 1500-1900 Saturday 30 July Pot making 9.30am–5pm

Saturday 6 August Firing day 9am–6pm Sunday 25 September Sunday 7 August Pit opening 9am–11am £120

Leaded-light stained glass restoration Learn how to repair broken leaded-lights (stained glass windows) whether or not they are removable. You will learn how to deal with the leaded panel and the removal and refitting it to an existing frame. No prior skills required.10am–4pm Leader: David Lilly Tuesday 6 September £110

Stone carving: green man A two-day workshop teaching participants how to mark out, rough out and finish a Green Man design in Bath stone. On Sunday 25 September we will be holding a study day The course will give people the opportunity to either carve around the theme of food and drink from 1500 to 1900. their own design or copy carve one using a template. The Expert speakers will consider a range of high and low course will also cover carving techniques, sharpening and status topics in a day of illustrated talks. There will also be look at where to buy tools and stone. By the end of the associated demonstrations around the Museum. Places on two days, participants will be able to take away a finished the series of talks must be booked in advance. carving. 9.30am–5pm Leader: Will Spankie Full details will be on our website in early 2016. Saturday–Sunday 17–18 September £160 www.wealddown.co.uk/whats-on/ [email protected] 01243 811021

Historicfood Hedgerow preserves Learn traditional methods to make use of perishables from the hedgerow or garden, and how a housewife prepared for the winter. Seasonal fruits and berries will be transformed into leather, cheese and curd. 10am–4pm Leader: Lesley Parker Saturday 24 September £60

Tudor brewing and baking Learn how the weekly bake was integral to the brewing of beer. You will bake simple loaves using live ale barm and Introduction to traditional dairying brew simple low alcohol ale that would have accompanied A hands-on day focussing upon dairying techniques from the every Tudor meal and graced even the richest tables.

16th to 19th centuries, tasks and ingredients. 10am–4pm 10am–4pm Leader: Cathy Flower-Bond Leader: Lesley Parker Sunday 22 May £60 Sunday 2 October £60

Tudor bakehouse: pies and pastries Historic cheese making A selection of techniques and recipes from a Tudor For those who already have some experience of dairying, bakehouse, from hand-raised standing pies to deep fried this day offers a chance to try new techniques and other choux pastry bennets. 10am–4pm recipes. 10am–4pm Leader: Lesley Parker Leader: Lesley Parker Sunday 6 November £60 Saturday 18 June £60 Tudor Christmas food Bayleaf farmstead Tudor family fare Ditch the turkey, and have a go with something really Advance your Tudor cooking skills with a day dedicated to traditional! A Tudor Christmas was a time of food, food and preparing and cooking a Tudor family meal. All using period more food, when all the best things came out of the store recipes that would have been familiar to the yeoman family cupboard to fuel twelve days of eating, drinking and making living at Bayleaf farmstead. 10am–4pm merry. We shall be cooking up a storm with traditional pies, Leader: Lesley Parker twelfth night cake and subtleties.10am–4pm Sunday 24 July £60 Leader: Lesley Parker Saturday 10 December £60

www.wealddown.co.uk

Tudor farmhouse day in Bayleaf Cottage, spend the day investigating how a family lived: A Tudor housewife had to do more than just cook! This experience first hand the new free education by participating course will be based in Bayleaf farmhouse and concentrate in a lesson in the school from Wittering, learn about changes on tasks outside of the detached kitchen – spring cleaning, in diet and where food came from; prices and coinage— laundry, the garden, fibre preparation and spinning, simple work out the weekly budget of a labouring family; participate sewing techniques of the period and medical treatments in a selection of household chores; investigate the clothing of available to a yeoman family. 10am–4pm the period and how it was made. 10am–4pm Leader: Lesley Parker Leader: Lesley Parker Saturday 23 April £60 Saturday 14 May £60

The Kingdom of Alfred and his dynasty NEW An overview of the period from about 800 through to 1050. Historic life Historic The day will look at political geography, church and state, literacy, architecture, religion and warfare. Important developments in this period such as the creation of the shires, establishment of the navy, Benedictine Reform and the advent of the Danish rulers (Sven and Cnut) will be examined. 10am–5pm Leader: Steve Pollington Friday 6 May £60

Nettles – from sting to string NEW Explore the humble nettle and learn about the common The medieval medicine chest folklore surrounding this unloved weed! You will spend the Explore the 'medieval mind' and the houses where you may day dying with nettles, learn how to spin its fibre, make have lived, and learn about the folklore, customs, beliefs, medicine and make a crude form of string! We will even medicinal ideas and how they were put into practice. Make make a hot lunch to share and eat it!10am–4pm some things to protect you from the pestilence, cure a cold, Leader: Cathy Flower-Bond ointments for sore joints and muscles, and let us guide you Saturday 7 May £60 through the medical hierarchy and the most deadly diseases of the middle ages! 10am–4pm Life in a late Victorian cottage NEW Leader: Cathy Flower-Bond The late Victorian period was a time of accelerating social Saturday 11 June £60 change for the working classes. Based in Whittaker’s

[email protected] 01243 811021

Deciphering old documents A history of knitting from the Tudor period onwards This workshop helps beginners and those with a small A brief practical history of knitting in Britain, looking at the products, amount of knowledge to read 16th and 17th century techniques, and social history of knitting and knitters from the 16th handwriting. It is useful for family and local historians. The to the 20th century. We shall be learning to 'knit in the round' and to course takes the participants through wills, inventories, use a knitting sheath, and trying out a number of different techniques. registers, deeds and even the mystery of the suet pudding in Pictures, samples and items from the Knitting and Crochet Guild a Quarter Sessions case. 10am–4pm Collection illustrate the wealth of resources.. This is a course that Leader: Caroline Adams we hope will inspire you to have the confidence to raid the past in Friday 15 July £60 your future knitting projects. Some previous knitting experience would be helpful on this course, but is not essential. 10am–4pm Leader: Ruth Gilbert Friday 2 September £60

Shooting the traditional longbow An introduction to the art and craft of longbow archery. The day focuses on the history and traditions of this remarkable weapon, including intensive tuition in the practice of longbow archery using a range of different bows. Suitable for the beginner and more experienced archer alike. 10am–5pm Leader: Jonathan Davies Saturday 3 September £50 Medieval experience day Sunday 4 September £50 Spend a day in the building from Hangleton experiencing the life of a medieval peasant. Investigate the lives of those who Georgian farmhouse day in Tindalls cottage lived in a Downland village circa 1250-1300. Engage with Gain an insight into life in the mid-Georgian period. Tindalls archaeological artefacts from Hangleton. Experience open- has been furnished circa 1760 and has a working oven and hearth cookery. Try a variety of medieval trades and crafts. brewhouse. We will investigate changes in the home from the Investigate medieval textiles and dress in replica clothing. previous century; cook a meal using the brick oven, open 10am–4pm hearth and copper; look at clothing of the period; make Leader: Helen Mybe nettle string, and learn about hops and flax. 10am–4pm Saturday 23 July £60 Leader: Lesley Parker Sunday 4 September £60

www.wealddown.co.uk

Herbs, humours and astrology and the beauty and fragrance of the rose as the heart of the You will look at the nature of herbs in the historical context herb garden to simple wayside herbs such as meadowsweet of the humoral system of medicine and the possible and silverweed. A whole productive fruit, flower and herb influence of the planets on herb growth and efficacy. It may garden could be well stocked from this one group. Foods, seem quirky to us in this century but a simple look at herb medicines and fragrances will be revealed through accounts of actions within the body can help us to understand the gardens in history and making recipes. Their relationships and historical viewpoint. Examining how herbs are classified with characteristic properties will be discovered through looking relation to planets is fascinating and can become complex if both at herbarium specimens and experiencing the fragrances the ancient astrological medicine is seriously followed. This and flavours of the plants and fruits. 9.30am–4.30pm is a light yet informative day, which can aid interpretation of Leader: Christina Stapley historical recipes and give food for thought on your Friday 1 July £60 personal humoral balance. Are you overly choleric, sanguine, melancholic or phlegmatic? 9.30am–4.30pm Herbs in the stillroom

Historic food Historic Leader: Christina Stapley At the hub of large houses over the centuries, from Tudor to Friday 20 May £60 late Georgian periods, was the stillroom. This day seeks to

Herbal courses Herbal give a fragrant experience of the tastes, scents and textures Woodland herbs from the stillroom across the centuries. 9.30am–4.30pm A walk in wild woodland reveals not only herbs in the Leader: Christina Stapley

undergrowth but also herbal trees. This day will equip you Saturday 2 July £60 not only to find first aid by the wayside, but also to gather ingredients for pleasant, health-giving teas. Along the way Herbs and health in the New World you will also identify powerful herbs now grown as flowers We know the herbs the New World settlers took with them. and important medicinal herbs being researched and We will be making herbal recipes and also identifying foods recently used for example in cancer treatments. Medicinal used to aid their survival on the long voyage across the and cookery recipes will be part of the day. 9.30am–4.30pm Atlantic. Christina’s experience taking workshops at Plimoth Leader: Christina Stapley Plantation Museum where the settlement founded by those Saturday 21 May £60 on the Mayflower is re-enacted, allows us an in-depth look at life in the New World. Some herbs introduced to the settlers Meet the Rose family – form, fragrance and flavour by the native Indians became important introductions to this Exploring this extraordinarily diverse botanical family has a country and these will be explored. 9.30am–4.30pm wealth of interest and experience to offer. Members range Leader: Christina Stapley from the almond to blackberries and soft summer fruits, Friday 8 July £60

[email protected] 01243 811021

Arabic influence – exotics and pharmacy NEW Herbs in healthcare – a focus on herbal antibiotics Arabia supplied the precious spices and aromatic gums used Herbs have been part of everyday healthcare over millennia. in western medicine. However the Arabic influence on You will look at the way the focus has rested on certain medical training and in particular the practice of the herbs for particular needs in different centuries. Although apothecary, was so much greater than sourcing drugs. We plant introductions of the exotic and later the North will be looking at contacts with the East from the pilgrimage American herbs have altered the most fashionable herbs for a of Alfred the Great to Jerusalem and his prescription from time, certain herbs have remained as essential to the home the Patriarch there, to the travels and translations of Arabic medicine cupboard. These have always included the texts by Adelard of Bath. The fusion of Arabic, Greek and antibacterial and antiviral herbs. In times of plague, rosemary Roman medicine at the teaching hospital in Salerno where and rue leapt in price in the towns and cities. Today we can returning Crusaders were treated, ensured the use of look at familiar herbs, many used in foods, in the light of ingredients, such as tamarind and liquorice, in the west. A modern research. We will explore evidence for their day for the art of the apothecary to come to the fore with effectiveness against specific most commonly drug-resistant the works of Avicenna, Mesue and Rhazes giving us exciting bacteria and look at recipes suitable for home use. recipes to make. 9.30am–4.30pm 9.30am–4.30pm Leader: Christina Stapley Leader: Christina Stapley Saturday 9 July £60 Saturday 27 August £60

Anglo-Saxon herbs NEW Autumn herbal crafts NEW A day in the Museum’s newly erected Anglo-Saxon building in From seed husks to roots and dried herbs, nature provides a woodland setting. The Anglo-Saxons had names for nearly both inspiration and materials for a variety of decorative and 400 different herbs. Many we are familiar with in our daily life useful crafts in autumn. On this day we will be looking at the today, others less so. Through some recipes with many simple beauty around us and developing our skills in making ingredients, others requiring charms or prayers, a few fragrant and eye-catching items for the home and personal involving diet, we will be exploring the Anglo-Saxon views on use. We will be making an autumn door wreath of health, sickness and treating a variety of ailments. Special husks, spices and dried, preserving leaves for displays of these emphasis will be given to prominent herbs of the period such with a variety of attractive seed-heads, making elegant seed as mugwort, and waybroad. Through gathering herbs, making pictures and miniature gardens of dried materials. a salve, pottage to eat, herbal drinks, a cough remedy and 9.30am–4.30pm applications we will work towards an understanding of Leader: Christina Stapley recipes from the Leechbooks of the period. 9.30am–4.30pm Sunday 16 October £60 Leader: Christina Stapley Friday 26 August £60

www.wealddown.co.uk

Dowsing day Birds of prey experience A day of discussion, practical demonstration, guidance and Experience a day at close quarters with birds of prey under hands-on experience will convince even the most sceptical the supervision of a professional falconer. 10am–4pm of the value of this ancient craft. 10am–4pm Leader: Ray Prior Leader: Pete Redman Tuesday 5 July £75 Sunday 17 April £50 Tuesday 2 August £75 Sunday 24 July £50 Wild food: hedgerow gourmet Deer preparation and butchery This course is aimed as an introduction to the world of wild Learn about our six species of deer in the UK and how to food, focussing specifically on the plants and trees although skin, butcher and prepare a deer carcass for cooking. This we won't ignore fungi should we manage to find any. We will will be a hands-on day where you will be able to develop also explore their myriad of other uses such as providing your knife and processing skills, enabling you to butcher a cures for ailments, refreshing drinks, or maybe something to whole carcass into a range of cuts of meats, which will be clean your teeth with! The day consists of a walk to identify available to take home. 9.30am–4pm and gather edible species followed by a late lunch and a Leader: Dominic Strutt chance to taste the wild foods gathered. We will explore a Sunday 24 April £85 number of habitats and the resources each has to offer the Sunday 13 November £85 forager. Peeling back the layers of both perception and our

Countrysideskills Sunday 20 November £85 own heritage opens your eyes to the wonders of nature and a walk in the countryside will never be the same again! Animal tracking and trailing 9am–4pm Tracking is a skill ancient in its origins but for the naturalist Leader: John Rhyder it lifts the veil on a secret world often ignored simply Sunday 18 September £75 because the clues to this worlds existence remain unnoticed. With skill these clues can be linked together and Small game preparation and butchery creatures can be trailed to their location. This day serves as Learn how to prepare a range of small game, such as rabbit, an introduction to track and sign identification and pheasant and pigeon with an emphasis on developing hands- interpretation but you will also be given the opportunity to on skills that can be used in the domestic kitchen, with tasting try your hand at trailing, who knows we may even catch up opportunities during the day. Game that has been prepared with the animal. 9am–4pm during the day will be available to take home. 9.30am–4pm Leader: John Rhyder Leader: Dominic Strutt Sunday 8 May £75 Sunday 6 November £70

[email protected] 01243 811021

Smallholders days Hedgelaying Scything: learn to mow Over the weekend you will learn how to cut and lay a stock proof Learn about a brief history of the scythe, how to select the hedge, including thinning out and selecting materials. 9.30am–4pm right blade and snath for the job and set them up, peening, Leader: Phil Hart sharpening, mowing technique, how to avoid damaging the Saturday–Sunday 27–28 February £130 blade, and how to care for the scythe. 9.30am–4.30pm Leader: Mark Allery Beekeeping for beginners Saturday 9 July £60 On this introductory day, you will learn about types of bees Saturday 6 August £60 and how they live, bee friendly flowers, different types of beehives and their component parts and discuss where you Mowing with an English scythe can (and can’t) keep bees. There will be an introduction to A day for those with an interest in and a desire to use the honey bee management and the beekeeping year, including traditional English scythe. The day will focus upon the the issues of swarming, pests, disease as well as the honey maintenance and restoration of these vintage tools (the crop and other hive products. 10.30am–4.30pm blades being last made in the 1960s and 1970s) as well as the Leader: Christine Stevens adjustment and mowing technique. Participants are Sunday 17 April £50 encouraged to bring their own scythes—though English scythes (some from the Museum's own collection) will be provided for use on the course. English scythes are typically heavier and less adjustable than the modern Austrian scythes and those with little or no experience in using a scythe may benefit from first attending one of the Museum’s Learn to mow using a scythe courses before attempting the English scythe. 9.30am–4.30pm Leader: Mark Allery Saturday 30 July £60 Hand shearing A completely practical day learning how to shear sheep by Introduction to coppice management hand, on a farm local to the Museum. This course would A day encompassing the history, theory and practice of particularly suit people with a small number sheep who coppice management. Hands-on modern coppice would like to tackle shearing for themselves. 10am–4pm management covering the use of tools and coppice products. Leader: Phil Hart 9.30am–4pm Saturday 21 May £60 Leaders: Phil Hart and Jon Roberts Saturday 12 November £50

www.wealddown.co.uk

Driving heavy horses Harness up and drive the Museum’s draft horses in the field and on the track, chain harrowing, and shaft and pole work. Beginners and improvers equally welcome. 10am–3.30pm Leader: Mark Buxton Sunday 22 May £90 Thursday 9 June £90

Sunday 26 June £90 Historic buildings Historic

Horse logging For those with some heavy horse experience. A day

Heavy horse courses horse Heavy working with heavy horses extracting timber from local Ploughing with heavy horses . Participants must be physically fit. 10am–3.30pm Covering the basics of ploughing including preparing the Leaders: Robert Sampson and Mark Buxton harness and the plough for work in the field. Beginners and Sunday 20 March £90 improvers equally welcome. 10am–3.30pm Leaders: John McDermott, Robert Sampson and Mark Buxton Care, management and harnessing of heavy horses Saturday 5 November £90 A mix of theory and practice using the Museum’s team of Sunday 6 November £90 heavy horses. An introduction to stable care, feeding, Sunday 11 December £90 harness and safe handling of draft horses. 10am–3.30pm Leader: Mark Buxton Sunday 24 April £90

[email protected] 01243 811021

Historicbuildings Introduction to dating timber framed buildings in buildings, and this will be followed by a practical session and a the South East lecture on the appraisal and techniques of repair. The number, position and arrangement of timbers provides 9.30am–5pm the evidence for the analysis and dating of timber framed Leader: Joe Thompson buildings based on stylistic evidence. We will use the Tuesday 14 June £110 Museum’s exhibits to look at buildings dating from the late 1300s to the 1900s. A wonderful opportunity to observe Building technology before the and the ruler and be guided around so many varieties of timber framed This one-day course will introduce students to the evidence buildings, all within easy walking distance of each other. we have for prehistoric woodworking, covering 9.30am–5pm archaeological evidence from the Mesolithic, Neolithic, Leader: Joe Thompson Bronze Age and Iron Age. The course will include lectures, Wednesday 27 April £110 demonstrations and a handling session of replica tools, objects and a number of actual prehistoric woodwork Damp and historic buildings samples. We will look at how woodworking tools changed The correct assessment of the significance of moisture throughout prehistory and what these changes meant for within historic buildings affects not only the current building technology. 9.30am–5pm condition but also has implications for the future life of the Leader: Damian Goodburn

building fabric. The course discusses the importance of Friday 5 August £80 breathability in historic buildings, how this is achieved and can be maintained, and what happens when it goes wrong. It The Roman revolution in timber building NEW will examine common mistakes of moisture identification This one-day practically focussed course will introduce and remediation. The course will discuss available options students to the evidence we have for Roman period building when repairs are required. The day will include both an related woodwork and summarise the nature of the illustrated lecture and practical discussion in the buildings of revolution in woodworking technology they introduced to the Museum. 9.30am–5pm Britain nearly 2,000 years ago. The course will include Leader: Duncan Philips illustrated talks, handling sessions of real and replica Roman Tuesday 17 May £110 period woodwork, typical tools and fastenings. There will also be brief demonstrations of some key features of Roman-style Wattle and daub woodworking during the afternoon. 9.30-5pm Insights into the historic use of wattle and daub, and its Leader: Damian Goodburn repair and conservation today. Students will look at wattle Thursday 11 August £80 and daub in the Museum’s artefact store and exhibit

www.wealddown.co.uk

Saxon treewrights and the buildings they built Conference

This course covers the evidence for Saxon building in timber,

roundwood and earth between the end of Roman Britain and the Replicas and reality -- the heritage values of

beginnings of timber framed carpentry around 1180. The course replication and reconstruction

will cover the methods of construction, including the tools and Tuesday 13 September

materials used. There will be an opportunity to handle real and

replica building timbers and to see how the archaeological evidence

Textiles Textiles is used for the Museum’s Saxon building project. 9.30am–5pm

Leader: Damian Goodburn

Friday 26 August £80

Home owners’ days

An introduction to our heritage of historic buildings and structures

and the agencies involved in their care. These two linked day schools Drawing of Museum’s Saxon building constructed using archaeological evidence

aimed at the owners and guardians of historic homes, from Medieval

to Edwardian. Book both days for a discounted price of £130. A one-day conference exploring the heritage value of replica

buildings —replicas from archaeology, replicas to mitigate

Home owners’ day one destruction, replicas for experimentation, and replicas simply

The first day will provide participants with an understanding of for fun!

timber framed structures including the infill panels, an

Projects with an element of replication are very diverse— understanding of roof structures, roof coverings including thatch,

tile, slate and lead and enable participants to identify problems of including Shakespeare's Globe, Warsaw and Dresden, Wind-

sor Castle and the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum. decay including damp and insect attack. 9.30am–5pm

Leader: Kevin Stubbs Replicas stimulate research and provide practical training, and

Saturday 24 September £80 the results provoke debate about heritage values and the sig-

nificance of historic buildings. Are replicas "a feeble and lifeless Home owners’ day two

forgery" in Morris's words or can they bring inspiration and The second day will provide participants with an understanding delight, not only to visitors and users but also to those who of masonry structures including brick, stone and flint, joinery

use skill and passion to create them? including windows, doors, staircases as well as fixtures and

fittings, renders, plasters, and finishes. 9.30am–5pm The conference will give an opportunity to discuss these ques-

Leader: Kevin Stubbs tions and explore projects that have included replication.

Saturday 1 October £80 More details to follow on the Museum website in spring 2016.

[email protected] 01243 811021

Write, draw,and print Drawing buildings in pen and wash NEW creating realistic botanical illustrations with plenty of help and Learn the basic rules of perspective and learn to “sight- guidance from your tutor. The course is suitable for all measure” with your pencil. You will produce a few sketches abilities. 10am–4pm of some of the buildings in pencil in the morning (outside or Leader: Leigh Ann Gale the inside of a room if the weather is poor). Then in the Sunday 3 July £60 afternoon you will be shown how to make various marks to suggest form, tone and texture with pen and colour with Paint in soft pastels NEW watercolour wash. 10am–4pm In this one-day course you will make preparatory sketches in Leader: Kate Tugwell pencil from life. Then you will be shown the basics of how to Wednesday 18 May £60 paint using soft pastels and you should leave with at least one finished picture in pastel. 10am–4pm Leader: Kate Tugwell Wednesday 20 July £60

Woodcut printing: historic buildings Learn about the history of this craft, use the Museum site as inspiration for your own design, transfer this into a Calligraphy for beginners – Uncial Script NEW woodblock, practice mark making techniques and print it to A day aimed at those who are new to calligraphy, this day will create your own image. 9.30am–4.30pm cover the basics of using dip pens and ink and learning the Leader: Will Dyke letter forms of the Uncial script, a majuscule (capital) script Saturday 25 June £65 which was used most between the 4th and 8th centuries across Europe. After gaining familiarity with the letter forms Botanical illustration: the cottage garden students will write out a short quote of their choice, On this one day course you will have the opportunity to producing a simple layout and writing out the finished piece. select your own specimens from the Museum cottage 10am–4.30pm gardens before bringing them back to the studio for drawing Leader: Rebecca Osborne and painting. Then with precision and accuracy, enjoy Sunday 4 September £60

www.wealddown.co.uk

Botanical illustration: the autumn garden This is a wonderful opportunity to explore and study nature’s harvest here at the Museum. Discover the beautiful colours, patterns and textures of a variety of autumn leaves, berries, seed pods, hips and haws on this fascinating one-day course. We will start by taking a walk around the cottage gardens where you will be able to select your own specimens, then back in the studio enjoy creating realistic botanical illustrations by drawing and painting them with precision and Illuminated letter NEW accuracy with plenty of help and guidance from your tutor. Enjoy making your own decorated and gilded capital letter, This course is suitable for all abilities and allows you the which can be used to enhance your calligraphy or to create opportunity to work at your own pace with help and a vibrant decorative letter, using line, colour and gold (the guidance from your tutor. 10am–4pm “real” stuff or gold gouache). You will be very busy on the Leader: Leigh Ann Gale day and you may wish to research an idea and bring your Sunday 16 October £60 own exciting letter design to the workshop or perhaps select from the designed resources that will be provided. Further letters can be drawn with a pencil or created with a pen and illuminated and painted. 10am–5pm Leader: Jan Mehigan GIFT VOUCHERS Sunday 2 October £60 Stuck for gift ideas? Vouchers for courses at the Museum make a perfect present at any time of the year.

Vouchers are available in denominations of £5, £10, £20 and £50 and can be used as whole or part payment towards any course. To purchase vouchers please telephone 01243 811021. [email protected] 01243 811021

Textiles Elizabethan walnuts NEW Illuminated letter embroidery NEW Made from the shell of a single walnut, these tiny encrusted Produce an illuminated letter that can be made into a bags were a novelty gift in the courts of Elizabeth I. Come bookmark, needlecase or picture. Techniques will include and make your own replica of a more sumptuous time— paddding, couching and stitching through metal threads, they are surprisingly easy to make and can become quite surface and raised embroidery stitches. The class is suitable addictive. Use them as key finders, hang them from curtain for all levels. 9.30am–4.30pm rails, or give them away as extra special gifts; there is room Leader: Flo Collingwood Saturday 5 March £75 inside for a tiny phial of perfume, piece of jewellery or love sonnet! Not complex, these can be made by anyone who can thread a needle. 10am–4pm Spinning: drop spindle and the wheel Leader: Judith Balcombe On the first day you will learn about fleeces and carding wool Saturday 27 February £55 ready for spinning, before trying your hand spinning with the drop spindle. The second day concentrates on working with the wheel, whilst giving some background to this traditional craft. 10am–4pm Leader: Steve Kennett Monday–Tuesday 7–8 March £95 Saturday–Sunday 1–2 October £95

Introduction to Blackwork embroidery Blackwork is a decorative form of embroidery, that includes both small geometric counted-thread patterns, worked on an evenweave fabric, as well as a free-style approach, where pictorial designs are first drawn out onto the fabric. Students will have the opportunity to explore these two different styles and methods of working, whilst creating Learn to crochet individual pieces of work. All the required threads and fabric On this one-day course will learn the basic stitches and use will be provided. 9.30am–4pm them to create a “granny ”. 9.30am–4.30pm Leader: Caroline Vincent Leader: Rose Savage Sunday 28 February £55 Saturday 12 March £55

www.wealddown.co.uk

Card weaving NEW Medieval appliqué Card or tablet weaving is an ancient craft, which has been Appliqué was used in the medieval period to create beautiful traditionally used to make strong, narrow decorative bands or textiles including elaborate wall hangings. Using wool, silk braids. Simple cards form a “loom” but although card weaving threads and gilded leather strips, you will create your own requires little equipment, an infinite variety of very complex medieval appliquéd iPad cover, small cushion, or bag, using weaves can be achieved. During this course you will make our your own design or one supplied. 10am–4.30pm own weaving cards and then use them to produce a colourful Leader: Tanya Bentham braid. At the end of the day, participants will have the Saturday 7 May £55 equipment and knowledge they need to further their skills. 10am–4pm Exploring early medieval embroidery and art: needle Leaders: Hilary Charlesworth and Sam St Clair-Ford worked medieval beasties Sunday 13 March £55 Learn medieval embroidery techniques. You will be introduced to the basic techniques of laid and couched work Woven tapestry weekend (Bayeux stitch), stem, and split stitches, and their variations. Woven tapestry can be described as painting with yarns. Taking inspiration from historical sources, you will create During this weekend we will use a simple frame loom (which own design and start stitching under the guidance of your you can keep) and a variety of yarns to produce a woven tutor. 10am–4.30pm “notebook” of techniques, both traditional and 3D. For Leader: Tanya Bentham those with more experience there will be an opportunity to Sunday 8 May £55 translate their own designs into weave. Finishing and warping techniques will also be explained. 10am–4pm Flax to linen Leader: Hilary Charlesworth Learn the process of how our ancestors changed the flax Saturday–Sunday 23–24 April £95 plant into linen fabric. For millennia this basic but vital plant clothed us and became our second skin; come and be a Nålbinding or single needle knitting traditional “scutcher” or “breaker” for the day and change Nålbinding is a technique of knotting yarn used by the this course fibre into a piece of linen string. Learn how to to make everyday items like socks and mittens. The spin flax, perform a simple weave and care for your linens but course is suitable for beginners, you will learn one of the most importantly, what to do with your leftover “tow”! basic stitches as an introduction and by the end of the 10am–4pm course you will have made either two coasters or a pouch Leader: Cathy Flower-Bond for your mobile phone. 10am–4pm Sunday 15 May £55 Leader: Judith Ressler Sunday 24 April £55 [email protected] 01243 811021

Rag-rugging workshop Stumpwork embroidery: a garden scene NEW Rag-rug making is a uniquely accessible folk craft. This A two-day course to explore the delicate art of needlelace, workshop gives a lively modern feel to this Victorian textile combined with wirework and padding techniques, to create skill. 9.30am–4pm your own garden scene in three-dimensions. Using gold and Leader: Linda Chivers metallic threads together with beads and organza fabrics, Friday 20 May £55 create a beautiful winged insect, nestling amongst flowers and Friday 7 October £55 foliage. The course will provide all the required materials, plus a choice of threads and beads. 9.30am–4pm Historic quilting day Leader: Caroline Vincent An introduction to the history and techniques of quilting. Saturday–Sunday 25–26 June £95 Tour the Museum’s patchworks and quilted clothing, then have a go at the techniques for yourself as you learnt to do Victorian patchwork and medieval quilting. 10am–5pm Leader: Norma McCrory Sunday 22 May £55

Make a felt hat You will be using prepared fleece to produce your own original felt hat. The process includes the use of water and soap, and a certain degree of physical effort! 10am–4pm Leader: Hilary Charlesworth Sunday 12 June £55

Natural dyeing Learn the basics of dyeing with natural materials covering Peg loom weaving different types of mordants and their effects on colours Peg loom weaving is an easy way to produce simple rugs and obtained, dyeing with fresh and dried materials, dye-plant fabrics using fleece, yarn or recycled materials. In this one- identification, environmental considerations, and the effects day workshop, you will make a wooden peg loom (which you of dyes on various fibres. 10am–4pm can keep) and then learn how to put a warp on it and begin Leader: Lesley Parker weaving. 10am–4pm Wednesday 15 June £55 Leaders: Hilary Charlesworth and Sam St Clair-Ford Sunday 31 July £55 Saturday 23 July £55

www.wealddown.co.uk

Bobbin lace making for beginners Appliqué rose cushion NEW An introduction to torchon lace, which is the basis of most Make your own appliqué cushion. The background will be other laces. Learn how to prepare a pattern, lacemaking worked in cutwork (or reverse appliqué as it is sometimes terms and how to work the main stitches. 10am–4pm called) using a sewing machine, while the padding and top Leaders: Eva Falconer and Gay McCart stitching will all done by hand. Additional surface stitches can Saturday 23 July £55 be added if you choose. 9.30am–4.30pm Leader: Flo Collingwood Cross-stitch and raised-work techniques NEW Sunday 11 September £75 Learn a range of simple techniques for creating a variety of textured surfaces, representing areas such as water, grasses Tapestry workshop: weave a landscape and foliage. And experiment with methods for mixing and Tapestry weaving can be used to produce wall hangings, using blending threads, to create subtle and contrasting colour a simple frame loom and a variety of yarns. Learn how to put effects. Students will choose from a selection of patterns, a warp on to a frame loom, and produce a sampler to take including house and garden, farm, figures, animals and trees, home using both traditional techniques, and knotting and to create individual pieces of work. All the required threads wrapping to create special three-dimensional effects. and fabrics will be provided. 9.30am–4pm 10am–4pm Leader: Caroline Vincent Leader: Hilary Charlesworth Sunday 31 July £55 Sunday 18 September £55 Saturday 24 September £55 Dorset button brooches NEW Inkle loom weaving You will make two different types of Dorset button brooch, Spend a weekend learning about this ancient weaving a Dorset Posy brooch and an Autumn Beech Tree brooch. technique. Make short lengths of braid and see examples of In the afternoon you will design your own brooch. You will different designs. 10am–4pm learn about the history of Dorset buttons from their Leader: Steve Kennett beginnings in the 1600s, the growth of button making in the Saturday–Sunday 22–23 October £95 1700s, it's death in the Industrial Revolution and the various people and organisations who've kept them alive, and the Learn to knit contemporary buttons of today. 10am–4pm For those wanting to begin the art of knitting, learning how Leader: Jen Best to cast on, the basic stitches, and the use of these stitches to Saturday 27 August £55 create different patterns. 9.30am–4.30pm

Leader: Rose Savage

Saturday 29 October £55 [email protected] 01243 811021

Guidedwalks Guidedwalks A walk through the woods William Cobbett walk Stroll through the woods at the Museum whilst your guide William Cobbett took one of his famous “Rural Rides” shows you different species of tree and gives advice on how through East Dean to Singleton on 2nd August 1823, and to identify them. Starts at 2pm and finishes with tea and admired what he saw on the way. Starting at 2pm we will cake. walk the same route – about 4 miles – ending up at the Leader: Jon Roberts Museum for tea and a short talk about William Cobbett. Saturday 23 April £15 Leaders: Museum staff Saturday 6 August £15 Dawn walk with breakfast Guided walk through local woods to hear the dawn chorus. Bat walk Learn to identify woodland birds by song and call. Starts at Join our guided bat walk, where bat detectors will be used to 4.30am and finishes with full breakfast at the Museum. locate and identify the different types of bat that live around Leader: Jonathan Mycock the Museum site. A wonderful opportunity to learn about these fascinating creatures. Starts at 7.15pm, finishes with hot Saturday 7 May £20 drinks. Museums at night Leader: Sue Harris Join a guided walk through the Museum site, stopping to Friday 26 August £10 visit some of our houses and discover how the people who dwelt there in the past would have lived during the hours of Candlelit walk dusk and darkness. How did they light the dark? What did Explore the Museum by candlelight and learn about the lives they do in the evenings? What did the darkness mean to of our rural ancestors. A guided walk starting at 5pm, them? The evening ends with hot drinks and biscuits. finishing with mulled wine and mince pies. Leaders: Museum staff Leader: Jon Roberts Friday 13 May £15 Thursday 24 November £15 Saturday 14 May £15

Natural navigation walk Learn the practical basics of natural navigation. You will be out and about in the Museum site so will use your surroundings as examples. Starts at 2pm and finishes with tea and cake. Leader: Tristan Gooley Friday 24 June £20

www.wealddown.co.uk

Print your own woodcut Christmas cards Suitable for beginners and those with some experience. Using the Museum as inspiration, learn to design an image 9am–4pm and transfer it onto a woodblock, using wood cutting tools Leader: David Lilly to carve the image, and practice mark making techniques. Friday 2 December £100 You will then print your own woodblock to produce ten Christmas cards. Afterwards you can take your woodblock Willow wreath for Christmas away with you so that you can print more at home A day for participants to happily indulge in making many small whenever you like. 9.30am–4.30pm festive items including wreaths, which you will decorate and Leader: Will Dyke many varieties of stars (star of David and 6-sided star). There Saturday 12 November £65 will be plenty of time for questions on aspects of willow Sunday 13 November £65 growing and its preparation. We shall be using many colours of willow, some freshly coppiced and others soaked. This day Christmas papier mâché is suitable for beginners. 10am–4pm Spend two morning sessions making festive decorations Leader: Ganesh Bruce Kings or Elaine Kings using this technique that was popular in the Victorian era. Saturday 3 December £60 Leader: Linda Chivers (9.30am–12.30pm; two linked sessions) Tudor Christmas food Friday 18 November, Friday 25 November £50 Ditch the turkey, and have a go with something really traditional! A Tudor Christmas was a time of food, food and

Christmas courses courses Christmas more food, when all the best things came out of the store cupboard to fuel twelve days of eating, drinking and making merry. We shall be cooking up a storm with traditional pies, twelfth night cake and subtleties.10am–4pm Leader: Lesley Parker Saturday 10 December £60

The joy of carols: Victorian and Edwardian Join us in our beautiful tin church from South Wonston, where we shall sing some favourite Victorian and Edwardian Christmas stained glass decorations carols, and learn some lesser-known ones. During the Make small copper foiled stained glass light catchers, and learn many skills including how to cut glass to a precise morning we will have minced pies and mulled cider or apple pattern, grind glass edges and join pieces using copper foil. juice. 10am–12pm Leader: Malcolm Brinson Friday 16 December £15 [email protected] 01243 811021

Course booking form Please complete and post this form, together with your payment to Diana Rowsell, Weald & Downland Open Air Museum, Singleton, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 0EU. 01243 811021. [email protected] COURSE(S): ...... NAME: ...... ADDRESS: ...... POSTCODE: ...... TEL: ...... I enclose a cheque (payable to Weald & Downland Open Air Museum) for £ or I wish to pay £ by card Cardholder name: ...... Type of card: Visa / MasterCard / Switch / Maestro / Other (Please state) ...... Card number: ...... Expiry date: ...... Start date ...... Security number: ...... Signature: ...... If the card’s billing address is different to the address above please provide it here:

To receive quarterly email updates, please provide your email address: ...... ------

Terms and conditions of booking

Changes to published course information. Details of courses are correct at the time of publication, but the Museum reserves the right to make any necessary changes to the programme. Students booked on affected courses will be notified at the earliest opportunity. Payment for courses. Course places must be paid for at the time of booking. You place is not secure until paid for in full. Cancellation of course by the Museum. If your course is cancelled by the Museum, you may either use your fee towards the cost of another course have a credit for any course fees paid towards a future course have a full refund of any course fees paid Cancellation of booking by student. If you have to cancel your booking, please inform the Museum office as soon as possible by telephone and confirm in writing or by email. If you cancel your booking more than four weeks before the course start date, all fees paid will be refunded, or you may use your fee towards an alternative course. If you cancel your booking less than four weeks before the course start date, fees paid will not be refunded unless the course was full and your place can be re-sold. Non-attendance. If you do not attend a course that you are booked on for any reason you will not qualify for a refund or credit. Accessibility. Participants with access needs should call 01243 811464 before booking. Course participants. Course participants must be aged 16 years and over.

www.wealddown.co.uk 3 Set in 45 acres in the heart of the South Downs National Park, the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum has a collection of over forty historic buildings which have been rescued from destruction, carefully restored and rebuilt. The buildings range from medieval to Victorian times and vividly demonstrate the homes, gardens and workplaces of the past. Visitors can also see traditional farming in action and heavy horses at work.

With education at the heart of our work we offer a stimulating and varied programme of courses with the very best researchers and craftsmen in their fields.

In addition to the courses in this leaflet the Museum provides:

 Courses in building conservation and the use of traditional tools and materials

 An evening talk series ‘Tales of the Downs & beyond’

 MSc programmes in Building Conservation & Timber Building Conservation

A good stock of specialist books covering traditional trades, crafts and related subjects is available from the Museum shop or a selection of books is available to buy from our website, please see www.wealddown.co.uk