Traditional crafts and skills on show as Foston church takes part in Heritage Open Days event
More than 100 people visited a village church as part of the annual Lincolnshire Heritage Open Days.
St Peter’s Church in Foston took part in the event on Saturday, September 9. The church offered a cool sanctuary to visitors on one of the hottest days of the year. The church put a wide range of heritage skills and crafts on display.
The theme for this years Heritage Open Days is The Arts of Lincolnshire - Creativity Unwrapped and the residents of Foston brought together a collection of crafts and skills demonstrating skills of former years.
There were demonstrations of traditional skills such as candle making, spinning on a spinning wheel, peg wool weaving, and bee keeping, together with examples of quilting, crocheting, knitting, silk screen printing, embroidery and lace making.
Displays featuring herbs and medicine as well as typical country kitchen products such as butter, cheese and pork pies gave visitors an insight into how these were produced in bygone years.
There was also the opportunity to participate in rural activities such as making bird boxes or lavender bags as well as creating bread plaits, corn dollies and various paper crafts.
Foston’s Heritage Trail was also launched, taking visitors to 18 spots in the village which are steeped in history, and portrayed the important positioning of Foston on main thoroughfares from north to south.
Folders with old photos, some dating back over 100 years, together with insight from both research and older people in the village, provided an opportunity to step back in time and understand the history and importance these places have held in Foston over the centuries. Whether it was inns travellers visited or the milling operation once in the village to support the local bakery, everyone learnt something!
Charles Dickens stayed in the village when he was on his way to Yorkshire for his research trip when writing Nicholas Nickleby and Dick Turpin was also muted to have stayed there.
Work has also started on researching the background of the soldiers listed on the village war memorial and the initial work was displayed. It is work-in-progress and will develop further to link in with the Heritage Trail.
Many also took the opportunity to climb the church tower and enjoy the views across the Vale of Belvoir.
A church spokesperson said: “Thank you to all those who visited, participating in the crafts and contributing to a wonderful day. Thank you also for your kind donations which are much appreciated to help support the running of the church. And of course, our huge thanks goes to those who organised the event and participated on the day, particularly Eileen Ross who masterminded the organisation of the event.”
