About
the national charity for heritage crafts
What we do
Heritage Crafts is the national charity for traditional heritage crafts. Working in partnership with Government and key agencies, we provide a focus for craftspeople, groups, societies and guilds, as well as individuals who care about the loss of traditional crafts skills, and work towards a healthy and sustainable framework for the future.
We are a UNESCO accredited NGO for Intangible Cultural Heritage and an official Community Support Hub for the UK Governments’ Living Heritage in the UK inventory, having advocated for UK ratification of the UNESCO Convention of the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2010.
Our Mission
To support and promote heritage crafts as a fundamental part of our living heritage.
We do this through:
- Knowledge – researching the status of heritage crafts and identifying those crafts in decline or in imminent danger of being lost.
- Advocacy – communicating the vital importance of heritage craft skills to the public, Government, key agencies and organisations.
- Safeguarding – ensuring that the highest standard of heritage craft skills are passed from one generation to the next and are recorded for posterity where necessary.
- Support – supporting heritage craftspeople to continue to practice, nurture and pass on their craft.
- Engagement – actively raising awareness and interest in heritage craft skills with the wider public and offering opportunities to engage.
Our Values
Equity and inclusivity
Removing barriers to participation and fostering appreciation of heritage crafts across diverse communities
Credibility and authority
Reflecting the extensive expertise of our heritage craft communities
Collaboration and cooperation
Facilitating connection between makers, supporters and partner organisations
Sustainability and stewardship
Being mindful of the cultural, social, economic and environmental impacts of heritage crafts
Integrity and honesty
Operating openly, accountably and fairly
Continual learning and development
Safeguarding heritage skills by adapting to changing social, cultural and economic contexts
Craft inspiration direct to your inbox
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#matchMAKER opportunity!
Leadlight Stained Glass Maker and Cementer
Location: Esher, South East.
Coriander Stained Glass is currently recruiting a leadlight stained glass maker and cementer. Established in 1995, they design, make, repair and restore stained glass windows and lead lights of any style or period. Their small team, spread over two branches in Wimbledon and Esher, cover everything from new custom leadlight designs and glass kiln-fired painting, to careful restoration and rebuilding of old and historic panels.
They are seeking an eager individual to join their rebuild/restoration team, working on aged and historic leadlight stained glass panels in order to restore them to their original state. This is an opportunity to delve into the world of a very old traditional craft, using techniques and tools used for centuries to adorn the architecture of Greater London and beyond. This work is well suited to someone with an interest in history and the arts. You do not need to have any experience in the craft, as training will be provided.
You can expect to learn skills such as glass cutting, lead shaping and cutting, soldering and cementing. You will learn about the countless glass types and textures, and will be handling glass that is between 70-150 years old on a daily basis. All work is done in the traditional way by hand.
Find out how to apply at https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/matchmaker
#matchMAKER is the online platform for work-based training and entry-level employment opportunities hosted by @heritagecrafts and supported by @soanebritain.
This week’s #mondaymaker is Angharad Thomas @angharadt – a glove knitter.
Angharad started making hand knitted patterned gloves around 15 years ago. She undertook a master’s in knitwear and knitted fabric design at what is now Trent University, then became a knitwear designer working with both hand and machine knitting for about five years. After this, Angharad moved into university level teaching in textiles and then design more broadly. She completed a PhD on textiles and sustainability through the lens of patterned gloves. Angharad most enjoys the initial designing process and slowly seeing the pattern emerge through knitting.
If you want to read an exclusive interview about Angharad’s work, become a member of Heritage Crafts and learn more in the members portal: https://www.heritagecrafts.org.uk/join-us/
#heritagecrafts #mondaymaker #glovemaking #knitting
#matchMAKER opportunity!
Heritage Building Craftsperson Trainee
Location: Danbury, Essex
Bakers of Danbury Ltd is a long-established Essex based construction company, who carry out a broad spectrum of works from specialised restoration works to churches and listed buildings, to mainstream construction and insurance repairs. They are recruiting a Trainee Building Craftsman specialising in stone, brick and plaster who will work within their Church and Heritage Building Department. You may be starting out in construction or already working as a tradesperson – looking to focus your skills by working on fascinating and rewarding historic buildings. Alternatively, you may be working in a labouring/semi-skilled position and looking to progress to craftsman status.
You will be working as part of the onsite team gaining practical hands-on construction experience. This will combine with entry onto their bespoke Heritage Training Programme, allowing you to further develop your craft skills within a recognised training programme.
The work and training you will be involved in will cover traditional works such as stonework, lime plastering and mortars, brickwork repairs, joinery and other skills necessary to specialise in the conservation and repair of historical buildings, churches and ancient monuments.
Find out how to apply at https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/matchmaker
#matchMAKER is the online platform for work-based training and entry-level employment opportunities hosted by @heritagecrafts and supported by @soanebritain.
Heritage Crafts and the International Guild of Knot Tyers have launched a training bursary for a new or early-career practitioner in maritime rope and twine crafts. The successful applicant will benefit from up to £4,000 in funding, as well as one-to-one support from the staff at Heritage Crafts.
The bursaries are provided to help cover or subsidise the cost of training for a new entrant or early-career practitioner who would otherwise be prevented from pursuing this career path as a result of the cost.
Maritime rope and twine crafts in this context relate to both sea and inland waterways, and can include, but are not limited to, rope making, rigging, net making, fender making and so on.
The maritime rope and twine bursaries sit alongside others in fashion textiles and costume (supported by the Costume Society), leatherworking (supported by the Leathersellers’ Foundation), saddlery (supported by the Saddlers’ Company), shoe making (supported by the Cordwainers’ Company), stained glass (supported by the British Society of Master Glass Painters) and building crafts in Northern Ireland (supported by CITBNI). Additional bursaries for other crafts will open in April.
To find out more including how to apply (deadline 20 March) follow the linktr.ee in our bio.
📷 2025 recipient Felix Gillies Creasey.
This week’s #craftfocus is orrery making.
Orrery making is the creation of mechanical solar system models that have been made for centuries as teaching aids.
Orreries use a complex system of clockwork gears to illustrate the relative positions and motions of planets and moons according to the sun-centered model.
The manufacture of orreries requires a high level of mechanical engineering techniques, woodworking and mathematical skills, and a good sense of design.
Makers use lathes and milling machines to cut custom brass gears with exact tooth counts to match planetary speeds. The technique of epicyclic gearing is used to stack gears on top of one another and keep the machine compact. Finally, the process is finished with fine metal polishing and the mounting of stone or metal orbs, to ensure all components rotate smoothly.
Orrery making is classified as critically endangered on our Craft Inventory. While there is worldwide demand for orreries, makers face the issue of the high level of skill and mathematical knowledge required to make a quality orrery. There are no recognised or structured training programmes available and most existing pracitioners are past retirement age, making it very difficult to learn the craft.
Images: Staines & Son Orrery Makers @stainesandsonorrerymakers
#heritagecrafts #craftfocus #orrerymaking
Heritage Crafts and @citbni1 have launched new training bursaries for new or early-career practitioners in building crafts in Northern Ireland. The successful applicants will benefit from up to £4,000 in funding, as well as one-to-one support from the staff at Heritage Crafts.
The bursaries are provided to help cover or subsidise the cost of training for a Northern Ireland based new entrant or early-career practitioner who would otherwise be prevented from pursuing this career path as a result of the cost.
Building crafts in this context are crafts that relate to the built environment (including interiors). Visit our website for a non-exclusive list of examples.
The building craft bursaries sit alongside others in fashion textiles and costume (supported by the Costume Society), leatherworking (supported by the Leathersellers’ Foundation), saddlery (supported by the Sadder’s Company), shoe and boot making (supported by the Cordwainers’ Company), stained glass (supported by the British Society of Master Glass Painters), and maritime rope and twine crafts (supported by the International guild of Knot Tyers). Additional bursaries for other crafts will open in April.
To find out more including how to apply (deadline 20 March) follow the linktr.ee in our bio.
Over 36 posts we are profiling the recipients of our recent round of training bursaries.
Harry Walkeden, from North Yorkshire, served for nine years as a Guardsman/Drummer in the Coldstream Guards, including a deployment to Afghanistan. Since leaving the Army, he has been working as an apprentice stonemason for the @nationaltrust. His bursary will fund a series of specialist courses to help him to establish a successful business.
Harry’s bursary is supported by the @armybenevolentfund.
Harry said: “This funding allows me to complete training that I otherwise wouldn’t be able to, gaining broader craft skills at an important early stage of my career so that I can continue to improve and develop in my chosen profession of heritage masonry.”
#matchMAKER opportunity!
Trainee Memorial Mason
Location: Stockton-On-Tees
Stockton Memorials is seeking a trainee memorial mason to join their skilled and compassionate team. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is looking to learn a traditional craft and build a meaningful career in memorial masonry. You will be trained in all aspects of memorial masonry including stone cutting, lettering, engraving, and installation of headstones and monuments.
Responsibilities:
-Assist in the preparation, carving, and finishing of memorials.
-Learn to use hand tools and machinery for stonework.
-Help with installations at cemeteries and other memorial sites.
-Maintain a clean and safe working environment.
-Handle materials and equipment responsibly and respectfully.
-Liaise respectfully with clients during sensitive times.
-Follow company procedures and health & safety regulations
Find out how to apply at https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/matchmaker
#matchMAKER is the online platform for work-based training and entry-level employment opportunities hosted by @heritagecrafts and supported by @soanebritain.
