Out & About Summer 2019

the summer to learn weaving techniques. Sue says that they have 30,000 visitors a year. There are many activities and events organised during school holidays and weekends, including theatre groups, craft workshops or demonstrations given by the Kennet Valley Weavers, Spinners & Dyers. There is also a picturesque, seven-mile mill trail, passing five historic mills along the banks of the River Test, which rises six miles away in Ashe, near Jane Austen’s childhood home in Steventon. The river is a crystal clear chalk-stream, home to trout and grayling, moor-hens, herons, egrets and swans. There are no longer silk worms or silk moths to be found at the mill, only one commemorative mulberry tree as a reminder of the mill’s heyday. It’s a tranquil setting for an outing, a browse around the shop and a coffee or lunch in the caf é , then a walk beside the river, where you will no doubt be welcomed by a family of tame ducks – they seem to know duck food is sold in the shop.

Sue Tapless, who showed me around the old building, which still operates three looms built in the 1890s – some of the old weavers’ stools have their names scratched underneath. She told me that many of the phrases we use today originated from the weaving process – weavers were often deafened by the noise of the looms and became ‘cloth-eared’, being ‘on tenterhooks’ referred to cloth hooked on nails and ‘spinning a yarn’, when a story drags on like spinning a length of silk or wool. Two weavers work at the mill at the moment making 600 silk fish, filled with lavender, to present at the Clothworkers’ Guild annual dinner. There are oral history installations, videos and text panels and hands-on, interactive tasks for visitors to ‘have a go’. There is lift access to the three floors for the disabled and babies in prams The mill also has a good working relationship with the Worshipful Company of Weavers and art colleges and offers four placements to students in

What’s on at Whitchurch Silk Mill

JUNE Saturday, 15 Make your own Drum

a little bit of help from the friendly family of Mill Mice. Come and see where they live and find out all about the things they get up to when the mill is closed. Free with admission Tuesday, 30, also Wednesday, August 14 and Thursday, August 29 Make & Take Summer Holidays 10.30am-2.30pm Fun craft activities all inspired by the mill and its surroundings. Drop in and get creative this summer. Free with mill admission AUGUST Thursday 1 & Friday 2 Shakespeare Nights Summer nights will be brought alive with Shakespeare’s most famous story of love at first sight and his sparkling comedy of misunderstandings. Exploding onto the stage with passion and verve, Groundlings Theatre Company brings together a thrilling ensemble in classic dress to present the trials and tribulations of love. Thursday 1: Much Ado About Nothing . Friday 2: Romeo &

Juliet – presented in traditional Tudor dress with Romeo & Juliet presented by an all-male cast, as it would have been in Shakespeare’s time. Times: 7pm Tickets: on the door or in advance from box office: 02392 737370 www.groundlings.co.uk Wednesday, 7 Brilliant Bags workshop 10.30am-noon Get creative with lino printing onto your own resuable bag. Hand-cut your own design into a piece of lino before printing it onto a canvas bag to create a really unique product. Suitable for ages 7+, booking essential. £5 per child. Wednesday, 21 Water Power Workshop 10am-midday Make your own waterwheel in this hands-on workshop. Find out how the waterwheel creates enough power to drive a machine. Suitable for 4+, limited numbers, booking essential. Cost £5. The mill also runs many regular events.

Lampshade, 10.30am-1pm Brighten up your home with a fab new lampshade. Join Hannah from the weaving team, who will show you how to assemble the lampshade using the kit provided. Please bring fabric of your choice to cover the shade – a small selection will be available by donation. No experience required. £35, booking required. Saturday, 29-Sunday, 30 Sylvanian Families Weekend 10.30am-5pm Sylvanian friends return to the mill for a shopping weekend. Along with the Gill Nethercott Centre the mill will be opening its doors to the fun-loving characters, with displays, activities and lots more fun. Free entry JULY Saturday, 26, also Friday, August 23 Family Friendly Tours 11am Take a tour of the mill with

Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10.30am-5pm | For more information visit www.whitchurchsilkmill.org.uk

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O&A SUMMER 2019