Woodhead Heritage continues to support traditional crafts and heritage skills when more than 2,500 visitors attended the 1,000 Years of Traditional Crafts event. Held on 22 and 23 June 2013 at Lincoln Castle, the event was organised by Lincolnshire County Council and supported by Robert Woodhead Ltd. The weekend of activities provided an opportunity to promote Lincoln Castle, as well as highlight the importance of maintaining and developing heritage skills.
Simon Butler from Woodhead Heritage commenting on the weekend highlighted, “Events like these are so important. It is fantastic to see so many traditional crafts being practised and supported, and the guided tours of the Castle Wall were a great success. We are very lucky to work in the Heritage sector. People are very passionate about the buildings we work on and we share their passion. Working on Lincoln Castle is a privilege and we have a duty to protect it for future generations. We are also passionate about protecting and building heritage skills. With 23 stonemasons working on the Castle Walls, we know the importance of these skills now and for the future.”
The specialists from Woodhead Heritage were based within the Heritage Skills Centre and had organised various heritage skills demonstrations including stonemasonry and lead work, as well as displays and talks around the Heritage Skills Centre project and the on-going Castle Wall renovation and development. Video footage showing the Heritage Skills Centre work was also screened. On top of this, over 700 visitors were given guided tours of the Castle Wall by Woodhead Heritage personnel including Simon Butler, Heritage and Conservation Manager; Richard Carton, Site Manager; Heath Shakespeare, Lead Mason and Jane Harrison, Project Co-ordinator and Stone Conservator (pictured taking a tour group).
Simon continues, “We will be on site, working on the Castle Walls until November 2014. We are currently on phases 2 and 3. Once our work is complete, visitors to the Castle will be able to walk the Castle Walls which will undoubtedly be a great attraction. It is clear that once we have finished the works, the Castle will be at the heart of Lincoln and provide a huge boost to tourism and visitors to the city.”
Mary Powell, Tourism Development Manager, Lincolnshire County Council confirmed, “The restoration of the Castle Walls once complete will be a major attraction itself. With the larger and on-going Lincoln Castle Revealed project, we are aiming to boost tourism by as much as 30%. In fact an independent assessment concluded that the wider Lincoln Castle Revealed project could lead to a 29-55% increase in the overall value of tourism to Lincoln so we know just how important this project is to Lincoln and the people of Lincoln.”
Jessica Marshall, Senior Project Assistant and Event Organiser for Lincolnshire County Council expanded, “We are really pleased with the success of the 1,000 Years event. Feedback from members of the public has been brilliant with many comments about how interesting and interactive the event was. Children particularly seemed to enjoy all the activities that were provided for them to try including the simulated archeological dig in the children’s marquee and the display by FAS Heritage of some of the finds from the archaeological digs within the Castle including roman horseshoes, pottery and coins. I’m already looking forward to future 1,000 Years events so that we can continue to maintain the profile of the Lincoln Castle project and to highlight the importance of heritage skills now and in the future.”
Woodhead Heritage, with Robert Woodhead Ltd, will continue to support the 1,000 Years event and other Heritage events. For more information view films of the Heritage Skills Centre project as well as project information on the Lincoln Castle Walls Restoration and Conservation project.