Heritage Open Days
It’s nearly back to school time and that awkward phase of the year when summer is ending but the leaves are yet to turn brown and I can’t even fathom the idea of mulled wine. Let’s all face it, we can all get hit with the post-summer blues.
Heritage Open Days have timed their festival of history and culture just perfectly to pull me out of the fading-tan, pimms put to the back of the cupboard, mood. Every year for four days in September, places around Britain throw open their doors to celebrate British heritage and culture across approximately 5000 events, and what’s more, they are all free!
For Well Fashioned wearers, makers and followers this year the festival has ticked a lot of boxes. Here is a round-up of some of the best Well Fashioned Heritage Open Days, held 7-10 September – all focused on the things we love – lace, textiles, jewellery and amazing factory tours.
Here’s my Top Ten Heritage Open Days I wish I could go to:
South East
9th: Jeremy France Jewellers, tour of factory and traditional jewellery methods
9th: Museum of English Rural Life celebrate National Lace making day.
9th: MoleValley Lacemakers Demonstration & Exhibition
9th-10th: Vintage Make Do & Mend
South West:
8th: Dents Museum & Factory tours and demonstrations
East of England
7th-10th: The Maeldune Heritage Centre, home to Maldon Embroidery
8th & 9th: Warner Textile Archive
8th: Fashion through the decades
East Midlands:
7th: Unique Cottage Studios Fibre Art Group demonstrate heritage textile techniques
7th-10th: Talk – Nick Povey from Nottingham’s Fewkes Lace Factory
7th-9th: Exhibition of Scrap Happy Quilters’ new works
9th: G.H. Hurt & Son Ltd,: The Shawl Factory
9th: Northamptonshire Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers
9th-10th: ‘Inspired Lacemakers’ demonstrating bobbin lace
West Midlands:
9th: Costumed guided tour of Smith and Pepper jewellery factory
10th: Newman Brothers at the Coffin Works, tour of a historic Jewellery Quarter factory
North West:
7th-10th: The Leather Satchel Co. Story & demonstrations
9th: Guided tour of Standfast & Barracks textile factory
Yorkshire:
8th: Talk – The history of Carmichael and Sons, renowned jewellers.
If you want to search for more events from the Heritage Open Day festival click here. Happy visiting and discovering, and please share you experiences of Well Fashioned events with us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram!