The Weaver's House

Tag: Godcakes

  • Cakes, beer and crafts – a joyous May Open Day in the sunshine!

    Cakes, beer and crafts – a joyous May Open Day in the sunshine!

     

    Our third Heritage Crafts Day was the warmest and sunniest yet, with visitors taking particular time to enjoy the garden. The tours in the house offered a welcome coolness, and of course our tearoom volunteers were on hand to offer refreshments! This time we were joined by The Heritage Bakehouse in the tearoom providing an array of tasty cakes including this lovely chocolate and banana loaf and of course, their famous Coventry Godcake. The Heritage Bakehouse have made over 25k Godcakes… not all for our Open Day, but in the last five or so years!

    Coventry Woodcarvers Association joined us once again to showcase some of their amazing creations including an on site demonstration of carving. Spot the Coventry connection!

    We were also delighted that Coventry brewers Byatt’s returned to talk about brewing methods and invite visitors to sample this year’s special Motofest Multigrade. Just released, and only available until Motofest, we were among the very first to sample it (and it was delicious). As one of the cottages in the terrace was once used as a workshop to make cars, it also seemed very fitting to have it on site!

    Jane Cobbett brought beautiful textiles including quilting to display, and we are excited that we will be hosting a special exhibition of work by Jane’s textile group in June.  The War & Pieced Patchwork Exhibition takes place on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 June 2018 from 11am until 4pm at The Weaver’s House. It’s part of Warwickshire Open Studios and is free to visit… and there will be cake! Find out more here.

    So that was May then, a very busy day, for volunteers, guests and visitors, who made full use of one of the first hot days of the year! Roll on June, when our next Open Day is on Saturday 16, for tours and talks, tea and cake, heritage and history!

     

  • The merry merry Open Day of May

    The merry merry Open Day of May

    A fantastic turnout for our ‘Old May Day and Crafts’ Open Day, with a steady stream of visitors – from even before the doors officially opened until they finally closed at 4pm.

    We squeezed as many guest stalls as possible in throughout the house and garden, welcoming return craftspeople from Warwickshire Craft Circle alongside new guests from Quite Contrary Baskets and Byatt’s Brewery.

    Visitors were invited to enjoy a free sample of Byatt’s Urban Red, the patterns on the label of which pays tribute to Coventry’s textile heritage. A taste of the city’s culinary past was also on offer in the triangular form of Coventry Godcakes. Of course, the usual delicious array of homemade cakes supplied by our volunteers was also available and completely demolished by the end of the day!

    Younger visitors enjoyed the challenge of a trail all about growth in springtime, and making flowers to decorate the cabbage tree ‘maypole’. All ages enjoyed playing the Tudor games introduced on our previous Open Day, skittles and Nine Men’s Morris.

    a cabbage grown to tree height decorated with paper flowers

    A fine day meant that the garden was used to full advantage. Mary from Quite Contrary Baskets demonstrated the art of willow weaving, with beautiful and complex structures made from this simple material.

    Guest woodcarver Peterson arrived with a large chunk of timber which visitors who lingered at the house were able to see carefully being transformed into a carved owl during the day.

    Meanwhile inside The Weaver’s House itself, textiles expert Jane was on hand to discuss the art of patchworking, alongside the Weavers’ Workshop who made progress on the tenth anniversary weaving project.

    The next Open Day is on Saturday 10 June, which will see full steam ahead on the anniversary weaving project with a piece of cloth being created by weavers and visitors throughout the year. Pop along and have a go and weave yourself into the history of The Weaver’s House!

    Find out more about our special guests:

    Jane Cobbett, textiles
    Peterson Cobbett, woodcarver
    Quite Contrary Baskets
    Byatt’s Brewery

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  • A look back over the year

    We’ve had a busy year! Back in April, the first open day of the year saw a record number of visitors for a season opener; and the good numbers continued throughout. In May, the Spon Spun Festival celebrated the art of storytelling with one of the events being performed in the garden of The Weaver’s House.

    We had our special heritage crafts event in June. Trades from the past were brought to life in the authentic setting of the house and garden with guests including Coventry Beekeepers Association, Warwickshire Art & Craft Circle and of course the Coventry Branch of The Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers and Weavers’ Workshop. Not to mention the Heritage Cake Company who provided a tearoom full of delights such as Coventry Godcakes and Coventry Corporation Custard.

    It’s also been a busy year in the garden with some rearranging of the beds and growing skirret for the first time. We’ve had visitors with a close connection to the house, and visitors from all across the country and beyond.

    The open day season closed with a hugely successful Heritage Open Days weekend in September with near to 400 visitors. Throughout the year our dedicated team of volunteers have provided private guided tours for groups including schools, the Workers Educational Association, Earlsdon Walkers and many more.

    We’ve also been laser-scanned, discovered weaving-themed public art, and explored other restored medieval buildings in Coventry.

    All this and that’s not even including the Weavers’ Workshops amazing creation,  featuring in this great film about Coventry’s history and even getting a look on Pokemon Go.

    And of course all the cakes we made – and ate! We haven’t been brave enough to try frumenty though…

    We’re looking forward to next year in which we celebrate the tenth anniversary of being open to the public. In the meantime there is loads to do in Coventry over the festive period. Enjoy the city.

    Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

     

     

  • Open Day still buzzing despite the rain

    Open Day still buzzing despite the rain

    A group of people cluster around a table
    Visitors examining the display hive

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Guests at the Heritage Crafts Open Day in June included a hive full of bees courtesy of Coventry Beekeepers Association who also demonstrated the crafts of skep-making (traditional bee hive) and candle rolling.

    The Weavers’ Workshop used a lucet – a traditional tool –  to make simple braids which were used to make a children’s trail around the site.  They also made inkle braids – narrow strips used for belts and straps.

    Two women study a flat woollen braid
    Demonstrating inkle braids

    Warwickshire Art & Craft Circle provided woodcarving and patchworking and the Coventry Branch of The Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers were on hand to demonstrate spinning.

    All this and a tearoom full of heritage cakes as well – which was empty by the end of the day!

    The crafts day was judged to be a success despite some showery weather and it is hoped to run a similar event next year.

    In the meantime The Weaver’s House will be open again on Saturday 9 July from 11am until 4pm.

     

The Weaver's House
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