Irthlingborough Archaeological Society

16/06/2026

07/06/2026

Welcome to Stanwick Lakes,
where the adventure lasts all day!

05/06/2026

20/05/2026

07/05/2026

Ever fancied trying your hand at a traditional heritage craft and helping to preserve it for future generations?

Join one of the UK’s last remaining tinsmiths, John Wills of Copper Elf, for a fascinating one-day tinsmithing course and discover the traditional skills once found in workshops and homes across the country.

With tinsmithing now listed on the Heritage Crafts Red List, this is a rare chance to learn how to shape and craft your own traditional tinware - from candle sconces to cups - while playing a part in keeping these valuable heritage skills alive.

Spend the day gaining hands-on experience, creating something truly unique, and connecting with a craft with real heritage at its heart.

These workshops are always popular and regularly sell out - the next chance to grab a space is Sunday 14th June.

For more information and to book, visit:
https://stanwicklakes.org.uk/events/tinsmithing-workshops/

20/04/2026

A Puddingstone Post!

I always like to shout about the archaeology or geology of my home county of Hertfordshire. There is a particular rock type that can be found here (and neighbouring counties) that is quite unlike any other. While this rock might look like modern concrete, instead it is fossilised pebble beach from around 55 million years ago!

The term puddingstone was first coined in the early 18th century in reference to the colourful flint pebble resemblance to fruity pudding. The rock can be found in walls and gardens in the towns and villages of certain parts of Herts, but was also used in the distant past for quern stones and axe heads!

Having made and posted about replica puddingstone axes last year, I was asked by Gerald Lucy and Mike Howgate if we could provide some images of the axes for their new book. The book also features in the young geologist magazine RockWatch (which I was a member of many years ago).

We have some puddingstone axes on the website currently. They are very time-consuming to make and can be rather troublesome when pebbles detach from the sarsen matrix when flaking or grinding them. I'm not sure they would have made terribly good axes in the Stone Age, but people clearly felt the need to make them!

19/04/2026

Have you seen the workshops running for the rest of this month? There are still a few chances to get involved.

Pottery – an extra class added due to demand, this coming Monday!
https://stanwicklakes.org.uk/events/monthly-pottery-classes/

Spoon Carving – just two places left next week!
https://stanwicklakes.org.uk/events/spoon-carving-workshop-one-day/

Glass Fusion – final few places left!
https://stanwicklakes.org.uk/events/glass-fusion-holey-moley-bowl-workshop/

Our courses are a great way to spend a day doing something different, learning a new skill, and taking time to make something of your own.

13/04/2026

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