Video archive

The following videos show some traditional craft skills in action. If you have - or know about - any online videos documenting heritage crafts that you would like us to feature, please let us know via our contact form.

Lawrence Neal, chairmaker

Lawrence Neal makes beautiful, traditional, hand made rush seated chairs. Each step of the manufacturing process is carried out by Neal himself, from gathering and preparing rushes cut from selected rivers locally, through the aquisition of the best traditional timbers from managed woodland, to the working of the wood and finishing of the chairs themselves. His workshop is run along traditional lines, using tools and patterns some of which were used almost a century ago.

Website: www.lawrencenealchairs.co.uk

Paul Jessop, potter

Twenty five years ago Paul Jessop was a full time potter, having started making pots at an after-school club. At the age of 46 he decided to revive his craft by setting up Barrington Pottery. This video features Paul talking about his work and his thoughts on the current state of crafts in education.

Website: www.barringtonpottery.com
Blog: http://paulthepotter.blogspot.com

Jeremy Atkinson, clogmaker

Jeremy Atkinson, clogmaker, filmed by Nicola Wood. The film was taken at St Fagan's museum in Cardiff whilst Jeremy was teaching Geraint who now makes clogs there. So now we have at least two makers hand cutting soles, the craft is still endangered but perhaps not quite so critically so.

Read a case study about Jeremy here.

Website: www.clogmaker.co.uk

Dovecot Studios: A rich tapestry

Weavers Douglas Grierson and Jonathan Cleaver provide perspectives on the history and current state of tapestry, while Dovecot director David Weir talks about the Edinburgh studio's illustrious past and the need for public funding.

Read the full transcript at: www.creative-choices.co.uk

George Lailey commemorative bowls

Robin Wood makes a nesting set of bowls to commemorate the death of the 'last bowlturner' George Lailey who died 50 years ago. Inspired by Lailey's tools and lathe in the Museum of English Rural Life, Robin recreated the lost craft fifteen years ago and now makes his living as a bowlturner.

Website: www.robin-wood.co.uk

Owen Jones, swill basketmaker

Owen Jones, the last swill basketmaker, filmed in 2006 at his home in Cumbria, England, as part of a project by the Museum of English Rural Life to record rural crafts.

Read a case study about Owen here.

Website: www.oakswills.co.uk