I have always been interested in the old traditional country crafts and am so pleased that there is finally an organization to try and prevent these old skills dying out. It supports the more industrial skills as well including those involved in the steel making and cutlery industries of Sheffield. Could I direct you to a very eloquent post by Leanne at Somerset Seasons, Dorset Days which expresses my feelings about the old crafts but better than I can manage. Here is the Heritage Crafts Association site if you would like to learn more about them. It is so important that we don't lose the knowledge that these craftsmen and women possess or it is gone forever. They are still trying to work out how the people who built Stonehenge moved the blue stones from the Preseli Hills in Wales and the huge sarsen stones from the Marlborough Downs to Wiltshire! It may not have been a making baskets or weaving kind of skill but nevertheless a skill of some kind was involved and it has been lost as have many others.
14 comments:
Hello Rowan.....I caught your comments over at Derricks blog. I too saw the Tony Bennett/Count Basie concert at the Free Trade Hall....I agree, unforgettable...
Hello Rowan,
I happened to pop over to Somerset Seasons yesterday and looked at Robins wonderful wood working. It is fortunate that there are some who wish to pursue these traditional crafts and, more importantly, have the skills to do so!
Happy Easter.
I, too, have always been keen on the traditional crafts. I don't know whether it is because my dad was such a craftsman or because I am definitely not! Thanks for the post, and especially for the link.
We shall not forget where we come from and who we are, and to know that it's very important that we look back and we don't loose our traditions.
Happy Easter to you and your family.
Gracie at http://mylittleplace.blog.com
how wonderful that this exists, it is so important i too am fascinated by the old crafts. i am proud to come from a family of craftsmen, my grandad was a boatbuilder, my dad & brother carpenters, and my daughter is now turning wood herself (these just a few of my lot). ps re your message on my chester post - isn't it odd how we dont always explore the history right on our doorstep. it was a fascinating walk round those old walls.
Hi Rowan, I agree with you totally. Its great that people keep these skills alive. We recently had to pick the kids up from a concert at Sheffield Arena, and we parked near the big Foregemasters place in Attercliffe. I know that they recently won a multi million pound order and they must have been working late into the night. The loud booms and bangs coming from the plant were like listening to an orchestra. I'm glad that (by the skin of its teeth) a few of these large industries are still alive and kicking in Sheffield.
It's so important to keep the old skills. Today people are so used to just buying everything and no one knows how to do anything. I have an old book series called Foxfire. They are from the 70's written about the people from Appalachia and their skills. I love reading them.
There used to be an open day, at a farm not too far away from us, where they would put on displays of many old country crafts.
I was fascinated by it all.
Sadly,it does not take place any more.
Thanks for the reminder ;-)
Thanks so much for the links, Rowan!
Happy Easter!
I love watching crafts people work at things like spinning and lace making, also things like basket weaving and coracle making, blacksmiths, wheelwrights etc - I'm fascinated by old traditions and ways of cleaning, growing food, cooking and preserving, too - thanks for the link to the Heritage Crafts Association:)
I hope old crafts are always kept up. Happy Easter Rowan!
tea
xo
Hi Rowan, thanks for the tip. Jope you and yours have a lovely easter xXx
Thanks for the link. Have a lovely Easter ... :0)
Happy Easter Rowan.
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