Craft Workshops
Why not try your hand at some traditional crafts and agricultural/domestic skills! Our winter workshops provide first hand practical experience of activities which were once a vital part of rural Ulster and American life.
The workshops usually take place in the authentic surroundings of the Old and New World buildings. Activities include participation in crafts, dressing up in traditional costume, role play activities and examining historical objects. Involvement in these workshops provides a valuable opportunity to use a cross-curricular approach in both primary and post-primary schools.
Additional information:
- Each workshop should have as close to the maximum number as possible.
- As each workshop takes approximately three hours, it is unlikely that an individual group will have sufficient time to participate in more than one activity during their visit.
- Pupils should wear suitable outdoor clothing. When "dressing up" avoid wearing ill-fitting boots or trailing garments.
Old world workshops
Upstairs, downstairs
Based in the Campbell House, Pupils learn about and participate in the routine chores involved in caring for a large Ulster farmhouse. Activities include the tasks of the servant boy and girl, such as cleaning, laundry work and mending, as well as those of the mistress of the house. Seasonal activities are included where relevant (max. 5 pupils).
Ulster farmhouse cooking
Participation in traditional food preparation in the Mellon House. Recipes and ingredients are supplied, but please bring cloth aprons (max. 7 pupils).
Adventures in wool
Demonstration and participation in the crafts of hand carding, spinning, dyeing and weaving. While most of these processes can be attempted during a three-hour session, teachers are advised that much more can be achieved from a series of at least three visits (max. 6 pupils).
The Blacksmith's craft
Learning about the importance of the blacksmith to the agricultural community in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and discovering how he bent iron, shod horses and hooped wheels. Participants can make a simple metal object. Only for pupils in P5 and above (max. 5 pupils).
Corn dolly making
The traditional art of making lovers' knots, corn dollies and other decorations from harvest straw and field rushes (max. 8 pupils).
Irish chain patchwork
Patchwork was a necessity, a skill and a pastime on both sides of the Atlantic. The Irish chain was a simple yet effective pattern and was usually completed in red and white. Pupils examine a variety of patterns and make a patchwork square to take away (max. 8 pupils).
Textiles in Ulster
19th century schools taught a variety of skills to their pupils to prepare them for adult life, including sewing, knitting and mending. In this workshop pupils are introduced to the skills of embroidery and Irish crochet (max. 8 pupils).
Farm work
Participation in seasonal activities on an Ulster farm, such as flailing and winnowing oats, working with the horse, carrying out general farmyard chores and studying farm implements. Warm outdoor clothing is essential (max. 4 pupils).
Willow rods crafting
The craft of making turf creels, potato baskets and other useful containers from willow (sally) rods. Pupils make a practice piece and work together to make a small basket. Limited availability. After Christmas only. Suitable for pupils in P6 and above.
Going wild
Using the natural environment in the 19th century - heather, nettles, gorse, rushes, wild fruit etc. Based in the single room cabin, activities will vary according to availability of raw materials. Autumn term- suitable for primary pupils only (max. 6 pupils).
Street Workshops
Printer's devil and chemists assistant
Pupils become apprentices for the day in the 19th century printshop and 'in a turn of the century chemist.' Pupils print a shipping poster and try their skills at pill rolling and preparing traditional toothpaste (max. 8 pupils).
Post boy and Saddler's apprentice
A look at letters and parcels in the later 19th century including the opportunity to wrap and weigh a parcel using traditional methods, and to address and seal a letter. Find out about working with leather in the saddler's shop and make a small item to take away (max. 8 pupils).
Ropemaker and ship's boy
Pupils practise the basic skills of ropemaking and find out about their 19th century uses, including their uses on board ship. In addition, they learn some of the skills of the sailor on the Atlantic run (max. 8 pupils).
Early photography
Today we take photography for granted. This hands-on workshop faithfully recreates the art of the early photographer. Using equipment and materials similar to those used in the early 1900s we take pupils through every stage of this magical process. Limited availability (max. 5 pupils).
New World Workshops
Pioneer cooking
Participation in various food preparations in the Log Cabin. Using frontier staples such as cornmeal and apples, pupils prepare and sample various cornbreads and apple dishes. Please bring cloth aprons (max. 4 pupils).
Pennsylvania farmhouse chores
Demonstration and participation in candle dipping, soap making, curing and smoking meat. Other seasonal activities may be included. Outdoor clothing essential (max. 8 pupils).
Early American textiles
An opportunity to learn some of the simple textile skills practised by children in early 19th century America. Includes simple tape weaving and rag rug braiding (max. 8 pupils).
Log cabin patchwork
Patchwork became a highly developed skill in 19th century America, with a large number of colourful fabrics and patterns being used. Pupils participating in this workshop make a patchwork square in the log cabin style (max. 8 pupils).
Stencilling
Learn the techniques of stencilling by preparing and applying traditional American patterns on textiles and wood. Suitable for primary children only (max. 10 pupils).
American wood crafts
Log construction, fence building, woodturning and shingle making using traditional wooden tools. Participants will make a simple wooden object (max. 5 pupils).
American tinsmithing
The first known tinsmith in America emigrated from County Tyrone in the early 18th century. In this workshop the apprentices look at examples of American tinware and then measure, scribe, cut and shape the tin, using punches, tin snips, mallets and files. By the end of the workshop they will have produced an item of punched tinware (max. 5 pupils).