Words: Anne Akers
The Landmark Trust, which owns Calverley’s historic Old Hall, is inviting locals to a free workshop on May 30 with an artist to explore the site and create a new artwork.
‘Warps and wefts of time – exploring Calverley Old Hall through weaving‘ is a chance to join artist and weaver Agnis Smallwood to explore the Hall using a variety of creative techniques to record the building and begin designing a new creative artwork which will be displayed there.
Artist and weaver Agnis Smallwood and Kasia Howard, engagement manager for the Landmark Trust, will lead a special guided tour of the site to explore the history, architecture and the many glimpses of colour and texture that reveal how the building may have been lived in and decorated throughout its 800 years.
Participants will be able to use different creative techniques to record parts of the building.
“We will use all participants work as ideas for a permanent woven artwork which will be made especially for the building and displayed once conservation work is complete,” said Kaisa.
“Each and every participant will be instrumental in guiding the design of this new work and will have the opportunity to be part of the team who makes the final piece.”
A further workshop with Anis will be held in August. The free workshop is one of a number of activities the Trust is offering at the Hall this summer, providing covid restrictions are lifted. Others are:
24 and 30 July – Care and repair of an old house. This all-day workshop introduces homeowners and tradespeople to the guiding principles behind sympathetic maintenance and repair of old houses. This event requires booking and costs £10.
1 August – Heritage craft skills demonstrations, 10am – 4pm. Meet local heritage craft professionals and artisans and watch demonstrations of some of the key skills they will be employing during their renovation and refurbishment project. This event does not require booking, but access to the inside of the buildings will be restricted.
11 and 12 September – Open day for Heritage Open Days with re-enactors Frei Compagnie 10am – 4pm. All events will take place out of doors and access to the inside of the buildings will be restricted.
The trust is also appealing for with local volunteers to help out at any of the events. These include site stewards and general helpers with the set-up and take down of events.
The Landmark Trust launched a £427,000 restoration appeal earlier this year to fund refurbishment along with a planning application to create a holiday let for ten people in the hall.
Read more about the Hall’s murderous past in WLD‘s Mark’s History column.