Cathy Flower-Bond will guide us through another of her amazing courses on 12th July – how to grow and make your own clothes! The course runs from 10.30am to 3pm and includes one of our wood-fired pizzas for lunch.

Learn about how to produce natural fibres from fleece, nettle and flax. before spinning a little on spindle whorls (Try your hand at drop spindles and learn the spinning wheel) and then a natural dye session on what colours can be obtained with various plants (including onion, carrot and rhubarb!).

Cathy previously ran a cheese and butter making course with us and she has a huge amount of knowledge and passion about historical crafts and cooking.

Cathy has a degree in History and Heritage, medical qualifications and holds a HND and IHBC certificates in aromatherapy and alternative therapies, and writes, teaches and researches a wide range of historical topics including Religious Observance during the Reformation and Tudor women’s social history. She has appeared in historical television programs such as BBC four’s Christina of Codicote and Cook it as well as educational pod casts for primary schools. She spends as much free time as possible on the re-enactment circuit and at other museums and historic houses with Tudor Tales.

“What a fantastic day! Authentic period dairy, engaging Historian Tutor – with fascinating anecdotes, totally hands-on (hands butter soft moisturised but still bearing cheesy whiff!), super local lunch, and proud array of my own butters and cheese to take home! What more can I say – absolutely loved it! – more courses please Stansted!” ~ Julia, on the Traditional Dairy Course