Heritage Skills Festival

Visit the historic market town of Gainsborough to discover traditional skills that have almost been forgotten.

The town is undergoing a huge restoration project which will transform and restore the listed buildings, reinstate historic shopfronts, and bring back the area’s original charm.

Enjoy a week-long festival dedicated to traditional heritage skills and crafts. Whether you’re a novice or an expert, be amazed by the intricate detail and level of skill required by some of these longstanding techniques.

The festival will start with a Heritage Skills Fair on Saturday 16 September from 9am to 3pm and will take place in the Market Place alongside the traditional Saturday market, stretching down to the grounds of Gainsborough Old Hall. You can also find out more about Gainsborough’s restoration project on two guided walks starting at 10am and 11am.

See a range of demonstrations such as blacksmithing, woodturning, leatherwork, pottery, and frame-making, as well as building restoration skills such as antique wall-paper conservation, working with lime-mortar and sash window repair.

There will also be opportunities to have a go at some skills yourself as well as a chance to buy unique hand-made items.

Workshops – Monday 18 to Saturday 23 September

The festival continues throughout the following week with a series of FREE workshops and illustrated talks.

Here’s a rundown of what’s on:

Monday 18 September

• Introduction to Lime Mortar and Sash Window Repair
• Restoring and Looking After Our Built Heritage (talk)

Tuesday 19 September

• Restoring and Looking After Our Built Heritage (talk)
• Introduction to Lime Mortar and Sash Window Repair
• Update on Gainsborough Townscape Heritage Initiative (talk)

Wednesday 20 September

• Stained Glass Workshop

Thursday 21 September

• Fused Glass Taster x 2

Friday 22 September

• Leatherwork Taster x 2

Saturday 23 September

• Children’s Traditional Crafts Workshop
• Dancing with Jane Austin sessions x 2
• Traditional Leatherwork for Beginners
• Regency Dance Display

For more details visit the Heritage Skills Festival website.

This event has been made possible with thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund. We would like to thank the lottery players for their contribution.