The Weaver's House

Tag: Warwickshire Art & Craft Circle

  • 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!

     

  • Bringing history to life at The Weaver’s House this May

    Bringing history to life at The Weaver’s House this May

    Sunday 6 May will see crafts of the past brought to life at The Weaver’s House. Our Heritage Crafts Open Day returns to showcase traditional trades such as woodcarving, spinning and textiles – the same crafts that the former residents of the house would have recognised in medieval times.

    beer stall with bottles and cask
    Shelley from Byatt’s

    Guest craftspeople will include local businesses Byatt’s Brewery and The Heritage Bakehouse alongside Jane Cobbett Textiles and Coventry Woodcarvers.

    woodcarver carving log
    Woodcarving

    The Open Day is also special as it marks a departure from the usual Open Days, as it takes place on a Sunday. Last year we noted that some people commented that they were unable to attend our usual Saturday Open Days due to work and other commitments. So we’re hoping that holding selected Sunday openings this year, will make it possible for more people to attend.

    It’s free to attend, and remember we’re within walking distance of the city centre, Earlsdon and Spon End. We’re open from 11am until 4. Pop along and join us, and at the moment, the forecast is looking sunny!

    group of visitors in the garden

  • 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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  • News: May 13 Open Day: Crafts & Old May Day!

    News: May 13 Open Day: Crafts & Old May Day!

    A-Maying we will go! Our next Open Day for May will be on Saturday 13 May, which is ‘Old May Day’.*

    In recognition of this, the theme will give a nod to the old tradition of ‘ales’ – fundraising events which took place at this time of year towards upkeep of the parish church. “As the name suggests, this was a day of merry-making, with food, drink, dancing and games.” *

    The Open Day will therefore include some medieval cake to taste and a guest stall from Byatt’s Brewery alongside the usual homemade cake.

    In addition to this there will be an emphasis on crafts and the garden with additional guests including woodcarving, beekeeping and willow-weaving (beekeeping afternoon from 1pm only UPDATE 13/05/17 we regret that the beekeeper is unable to join us today). There will be a children’s trail, all about the growth in springtime. Plus we’ll be continuing with our weaving project on the table loom.

    Woodworking on a piece of wood still with bark

    a man holding up a hand woven basket bee hive skep

    We’ll be open from 11am -4pm. As usual, admission is free, but in the spirit of the ‘ales’ donations are very much appreciated. If you would like to donate your time, we are always looking for new volunteers!

    May we see you there?

    * The English Year by Steve Roud, 2006, Penguin

  • 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.

     

     

  • News: Guests confirmed for June’s Heritage Crafts Day

    News: Guests confirmed for June’s Heritage Crafts Day

    We’re delighted to announce that the confirmed guests for our Craft Day on Saturday 11 June are

     

    • Coventry Beekeepers Association
    • Weavers’ Workshop
    • The Heritage Cake Company
    • Coventry Branch of The Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers
    • Warwickshire Art & Craft Circle

    The Warwickshire Art & Craft Circle will be demonstrating woodcarving and textile crafts and Coventry Beekeepers Association will be on hand to discuss the traditional art of beekeeping. Other skills on show will include braiding and spinning, provided by the Weavers’ Workshop and the Coventry Branch of The Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers.

    Even the refreshments will be historical, available from The Heritage Cake Company – though we will also have our usual non-medieval tea, coffee and squash. We’ll also have some music, dressing up clothes and the chance to try your hand at traditional wattling (how the Weaver’s House was made).

    Come and see trades which would have been familiar to medieval people brought to life against the authentic medieval backdrop of The Weaver’s House and its garden.