Many traditional crafts and trades that were once practiced around the UK have now faded into obscurity, with remaining craftspeople and experts in single figures. We are now facing the threat of these crafts disappearing entirely – but since 2009, a national charity called Heritage Crafts has been dedicated to maintaining these crafts on the British Isles.
With King Charles III as a patron, Heritage Crafts is a national charity set up to “celebrate, support and safeguard traditional craft skills”. Its latest Red List of Endangered Crafts report makes for sober reading, however, with five skills classed as ‘extinct’ (including gold beating), 71 as ‘critically endangered’ (such as arrowsmithing and piano making) and 94 as ‘endangered’ (including bicycle frame-making).
Traditional crafts
Keen to discover some of the UK’s traditional crafts, I’m at Oldfield Forge in the beautiful Golden Valley area of Herefordshire, which was built by Aaron and Nicky Heath in 2007. “Aaron has a real passion for blacksmithing and wanted to share this traditional craft with so many other people,” says Nicky, Oldfield Forge’s director. “Herefordshire has always been linked with blacksmithing, but Oldfield grew from our family farm and has since become a meaningful part of keeping the craft going in the UK. There’s something special about taking a raw piece of metal and turning it into something beautiful or useful.”
What is forging?
Forging is the process in which metal is shaped and manipulated, by applying pressure through hammering, pressing or rolling. The metal is heated and then beaten into shape to create objects.
Our experience of trying forging
What to forge is the most pressing question at the start of our three-hour ‘Just for Fun’ session. I go practical and attempt a bottle opener, while my partner Karry, opts for a candlestick. Our Lord of the Rings-obsessed boys, Alfie (aged 13) and Elliott (10), meanwhile, are making knives. “People create all sorts of incredible things, from garden tools to hammers and even decorative ornaments like door knockers,” adds Nicky. “Some of our visitors even make their own wedding rings.”
We initially feel anxious seeing our boys with their fingers near a 1,000°C forge, but it seems we’re more nervous than them. Each session is fully supervised, with our ace blacksmith Harry eyeing our group of four every step of the way. “It’s normal to feel nervous and you’re never left handling anything risky alone,” adds Nicky. “Most people quickly forget the nerves.” Oldfield experiences are suitable for ages seven and up.
Traditional crafts as an opportunity for digital detox
We soon become immersed, putting aside our nerves to relish a Saturday morning free from screentime and supermarket sojourns. “People say they’ve never felt so absorbed in an activity,” adds Nicky. “Blacksmithing and other traditional crafts connect people to history in a really tangible way. They’re a chance to slow down, focus and create something with your own hands, which is rare in today’s digital world. Plus, learning these skills keeps the craft alive for future generations.”
Community benefits
The paying participants aren’t the only ones who benefit from the courses; our blacksmith Harry is just one local gaining employment from the forge. “We have a small but skilled team that’s mostly local, which is fantastic for giving young people real opportunities to learn a traditional craft,” says Nicky. “Over the years we’ve seen more women getting involved, too, both in our workshops and as blacksmith tutors. It’s brilliant to see blacksmithing attracting a whole new generation.
So what does it cost?
Our morning session for four people cost around £300, and for that we’ve all had an experience we won’t forget in a hurry. We’ve also taken home four handicrafts that we’ll cherish forever, with the candleholder in regular winter use, the bottle opener doing its magic on some Herefordshire cider and the boys’ knives even cutting cheddar from Oldfield’s cheese vending machine.
Metal casting at Netherton Foundry
Further north along the border, meanwhile, Fergus Collins is also on the craft trail at Netherton Foundry in Shropshire. “I’m creating a frying pan from scratch using lathes and tools that first saw use during the Industrial Revolution – it’s a fascinating and enriching process,” says the Plodcast host.
Woodland skills in North Wales
Writer Julie Brominicks is at the Woodland Skills Centre in the Clwydian Valley in North Wales. Housed in 20 hectares of woodland, the not-for-profit centre runs a range of courses in traditional crafts, with Julie getting to work at a knife-sharpening course run by founder Rod Waterfield. “It’s been a soul-enriching time in a place where people and nature thrive; even my knife has a new lease of life,” enthuses Julie.
How to find traditional craftspeople in the UK
As well as its Red List, Heritage Crafts also has a ‘Makers’ directory on its website listing a wide variety of craftspeople, working with textiles, ceramics, metal and more. You can find out whether they’re open to the public, offer training or run workshops. So, whether you want to try calligraphy, create a corn dolly or carve a spoon, this is where to start your lost-skills adventure.
Best traditional crafts centres in the UK
Oldfield Forge, Herefordshire
Take your pick from sword making, knife sculpting and axe throwing at one of the world’s largest forges, in Garway, Herefordshire.
Woodland Skills Centre, North Wales
This not-for-profit centre runs a range of courses in traditional crafts and bushcrafts near Denbigh in North Wales.
Netherton Foundry, Shropshire
Based in Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire, this foundry runs courses on request and offers spun-iron frying pan kits for you to assemble at home.
