Try your hand at ancient craft skill at FREE heritage workshop in Wisbech - Saturday, 17 September (**Fully Booked**)

**Fully Booked**

Craft and heritage enthusiasts are being offered the chance to learn an ancient skill with a stained glass master artist, at a free workshop in Wisbech later this month.

Booking has opened for the Stained Glass and Copper Foiling Workshop with Jill Fordham, which is being held on Saturday, 17^th September, at St Peter’s Church Hall.

The workshop is the latest heritage skills event to be organised through Fenland District Council’s Wisbech High Street Project, which is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and made possible thanks to National Lottery players.

Launched in partnership with Lincoln Conservation in May last year, the events are aimed at providing local people with access to free heritage skills and traditional construction training opportunities. Eight sessions have been delivered online, and five in person to date, all led by industry experts and specialists from across the UK.

Cllr Chris Seaton, Fenland District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Heritage and Social Mobility, said: “These events provide an ideal opportunity for people to try different heritage skills as part of our Wisbech High Street Project. Learning in this way can give people the confidence to think about a new career, develop an existing role, or better maintain their own properties.

“The events cater for all skill levels and experience and are completely free thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, so I’d encourage anyone who’s interested to get involved.”

Stained Glass and Copper Foiling Workshop with Jill Fordham

Date: Saturday, 17^th September

Location: St Peter’s Church Hall, Church Terrace, Wisbech, PE13 1BW

Time: Talk and Demonstration – 10am to 11am, Workshop – 11am to 5pm (including one hour lunch break, food not provided)

The event begins with an introductory talk and demonstration on stained glass at 10am, followed by a full-day workshop from 11am to 5pm, where participants will have the chance to have a go themselves and make their own stained glass sun catcher to display and keep.

Talk participants are not limited but the workshop is limited to 6-8 people. People can attend only the talk if they wish to.

The event is led by Cambridge-based stained glass artist Jill Fordham, who set up her business Hurdy Gurdy Glass 28 years ago after specialising in stained glass at Wrexham Art College. Her work includes taking commissions from private clients, and exhibiting, teaching, and working as a community artist.

During the workshop, participants will learn to make a beautiful stained glass sun catcher. With guidance from Jill, you can choose or create your own design and have fun selecting from a wide range of glass colours to make up your design.

You will learn how to safely cut and shape glass pieces to your design and then attach them together, using copper foil – a technique used in the making of Tiffany lampshades – and lead soldering techniques. By the end of the day, you will have created your own unique stained glass sun catcher to hang in a window.

Participants are asked to bring aprons and to wear closed-toes shoes. All materials and safety equipment is provided.

The workshop is suitable for anyone aged over 14. Under 16s need to be accompanied by an adult.

• Live recordings of previous online heritage sessions can be watched on the Wisbech High Street Project’s YouTube channel.