Bushcraft + living history + reconstructive archaeology; this is your chance to meet incredible artists and experts, try new things yourself and be inspired by the past at this living history event in the heart of our city…
Parfleche Envelopes with Steve from Axe and Paddle Bushcraft
Pre-history inspired crafts
Learn to make a rawhide Parfleche envelope, decorated with natural pigments. Rawhide has been used since the very beginning of the hunter gatherer era. It's relatively easy to produce, has a multitude of purposes and is incredibly strong and durable. The name Parfleche is of Canadian French origin, deriving from the materials ability to deflect an arrow.
The rawhide Parfleche envelope would have been used as storage for food items or valuables since early man. However, the beauty of this simple item is truly highlighted by the Native Americans, who embellish them using natural pigments. In this masterclass you'll learn about the techniques involved in the manufacture and decoration of rawhide. We will discuss its unique qualities.
We will choose a pattern for your Parfleche, inspired by collections from the Museum of Gloucester, cut and form the shape and finish by using natural pigment paints and hide glue to decorate them, applied using handmade bone brushes. This is a truly primitive craft and skill in which you'll leave with a functional container to be treasured and well used.
Find out more from @axeandpaddle on social media…
Location
Bowling Green behind the Museum of Gloucester
Pricing
6 places per session. £25pp, per ticket. (All tickets are priced the same for adults and children.)
Session times
10-11.30am, 12-1.30pm, 2.30-4pm, 4.30-6pm
Iron Age paints and pigments with Pario Gallico
Iron Age inspired crafts
Based on pretty recent research and archaeological finds, we will challenge the ingrained idea that art, paints and colour didn't really exist throughout the thousands of years between stone age Cave Paintings and the arrival of Roman frescoes. Caroline will show how pure colour was extracted from local minerals, what mixes could be used for painting and how to make paintbrushes from natural, foraged materials. Which everyone can then do at home! You will make your own pigments and brushes to take home.
Find out more from @pariogallico on social media…
Location
Bowling Green behind the Museum of Gloucester
Pricing
10 places per session. £20pp, per ticket. (All tickets are priced the same for adults and children.)
Session times
10-11.30am, 12.30-2pm, 3-4.30pm
Charms and Remedies from Kingdom of the Hwicce
Saxons inspired crafts with Elizabeth Roper from TirNaNog
The Saxon Kingdom of the Hwicce covered today’s county of Gloucestershire and extended into the Midlands. It encompassed the limestone hills, the watery meadows, and the hill forts and cities of the Britons and Romans gone before. Here, people living closer to the earth than it is possible to imagine today, grew and gathered herbs and hedge plants to practice medical healing and magic – what has come to be framed in the contemporary new age as the manipulation of energy through intention.
Drawing on implications from the archaeological record, early written sources, Gloucestershire flora and fauna, and years teaching rural skills, Elizabeth offers us the chance to explore the charms and cures of the early Saxon era. Participants will learn about common wayside plants and their healing power; they will learn about the geography of Saxon Gloucestershire and a way of life for most in which plants, healing and superstition were both critical for survival and a practical framework for folk belief.
Participants will go home with their own living ‘herbal’ – a pouch of gathered and annotated herbs to keep and press and use as a resource for future learning.
Elizabeth is an experienced primary education tutor and the workshop will feature age-appropriate language and learning themes, central to Key Stage 2 understanding of Anglo-Saxon Britain.
Find out more from @tirnanogheritage and @tirnanogheritageed on social media…
Location
Bowling Green behind the Museum of Gloucester
Pricing
8 places per session. £15pp, per ticket. Please note: For children ONLY 7-14 years old (accompanying adults must stay in the marquee, but the workshop is for children).
Session times
10-11am, 12-1pm, 12-1, 1-2pm, 2-3pm
Roman Gloucester
Join Rachel from @rhdrawsthings to explore the diverse society of Roman Gloucester through handling genuine objects and trying our Roman lifestyle and crafts skills. Plus finding out more about the real people revealed on tombstones and tablets of Glevum…
Pricing
Donation. No need to book, available on the day
Session times
Various times between 10am - 6pm
Iron-Age Site History
City Archaeologist Andrew Armstrong @AndrewRPGlevum will be with us for the day sharing the amazing findings of the site as one of Iron Age settlement, the unearthing of iron age pottery and discovery of a roundhouse. We may even have some of the archaeological material on display including a replica of our beloved Birdlip Mirror.
Pricing
Free. No need to book, available on the day
Session times
Various times between 10am - 6pm
Big Benyons Blacksmithing
Live Iron Age Blacksmithing demonstration, using tools and techniques like 2,000years ago - reconstructed from archaeological finds and tested out by Tom, as a professional blacksmith and heritage knife maker (part of tree heritage crafts association UK).
Through a very interactive and entertaining display, Tom will forge iron items in front of the audience, answering all questions and dispelling a fair few myths about ancient blacksmiths and their craft...unless they were real!
IG: @big_beynons_blacksmithing TW: #big_beynons_blacksmithing and FB: @bbblacksmithing
Pricing
Free. No need to book, available on the day
Session times
Various times between 10am - 6pm
Story Telling From Goddess, written by Dr Janina Ramirez
Join us in our story telling marquee to hear stories of Goddesses from all over the world.
Tales of powerful female figures have been told since the beginning of time and this collection brings together 50 stories from around the world. There are loving creators, wise leaders, fearsome warriors, gentle healers and mystical protectors, and they can each inspire you to find strength within yourself…
Follow @DrJaninaRamirez to find out more…
Pricing
Free. No need to book, available on the day
Session times
Various times between 10am - 6pm