Local craftspeople were in the house and garden from 11am until 4pm explaining how they produce their wares using age old techniques.
Lavenham itself has been a centre for making and creating throughout its history of spinning, weaving, dyeing and mat making. Part of Little Hall’s charm is to be found in the examples of the Gayer Andersons’ craft skills in carpentry and woodwork. Indeed, the dresser in the dining room was designed and made by the Colonel Gayer Anderson in 1905. The library has examples of leather and cloth bound books, the windows show the skills of glaziers, and Nellie Smith (housekeeper during the art hostel years) embroidered the panel based on a design by Stephen Spender which is now displayed in the dormitory and a fine example of needlework.
On demonstration day a display by bookbinder Paul Garcia of various styles and types of handmade books was in the Well Room. Paul Garcia is a member of the Society of Bookbinders which is a charity whose aim is to preserve and teach the craft of hand bookbinding.
Stuart Race who is the owner of “The Woolpatch” in Long Melford and supplies the Little Hall shop with his beautiful woad dyed wool hanks demonstrated how he dyes yarn, in the garden.
“Pastures Ewe” shared their techniques for turning rare breed, cruelty free British sheep fleeces into rugs, throws and pet beds, using spinning and felting techniques.
The library will be the setting for our own volunteers who continue to care for the book collection and use special techniques for preserving antiquarian books.
