Colchester Young Archaeologists’ Club excursion into Suffolk

Yesterday (13th December), the Colchester Young Archaeologists’ Club (YAC) met up in Lavenham in Suffolk.

Colchester YAC organiser Barbara Butler writes: ‘… Thirteen members of the Colchester YAC met up in Lavenham market place yesterday, together with parents and group leaders. As it was really cold, we were delighted when Jane Gosling of the National Trust invited us into the Guildhall, where she gave us an introduction to this fine Tudor building. Jane had organised skilled spinners and weavers to meet us there, and National Trust volunteer Jean Rogers gave our members a brief history of spinning and weaving techniques, which she demonstrated. Then the young people were able to try it all. They combed the washed fleeces with barbed combs and then the mechanised method, with the handle, which proved popular. They were shown how to spin yarn on the two spinning wheels which were there and all tried spinning with enthusiasm. There was also a chance to try weaving with the combed wool on upright pins. Joan also pointed out a huge spinning wheel, which involved the spinner walking away from and back to the wheel repeatedly to spin the wool. She showed us a sharp point on it which, according to the legend, is like the one which Sleeping Beauty pricked her finger on. There were examples of natural dyes in various colours, including the sort of woad-died wool used in the historic Lavenham cloth trade. The young people were very interested in weaving the yarn by various methods. Three of them became so engrossed in the craft that they were reluctant to join our walk around the village to see some of the fine timber-framed houses.

The Colchester YAC will meet again in the new year at Roman Circus House on the 17th January 2015 …’

The images show some of the spinning and weaving.

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If you are aged under 17 and interested in joining the Young Archaeologists’ Club in Colchester, then please contact Barbara Butler on 07808 968766 or at barbara[at]peterbutlerdesign.co.uk or Barbara Butler, Colchester YAC Branch, c/o the Colchester Archaeological Trust, Roman Circus House, off Circular Road North, Colchester, Essex CO2 7GZ.

The National Young Archaeologists’ Club web-site is at www.yac-uk.org/

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