Introduction to Ancient Textiles

Welcome to Introduction to Ancient Textiles

Date: Sat 20th June 2026.

Location: Hengistbury Head Visitor Centre

Session 1: 10:00am -12:00pm

Session 2: 1:00pm - 3:00 pm

Come and join us for a journey into the world of ancient textiles! Discover the history and techniques used by ancient people on Hengistbury Head for thousands of years to create clothing and textiles from plant fibres and animal hair. These techniques are still practiced around the world today, but they would have been part of the daily lives of the ancient people who lived on Hengistbury Head.

This in-person event will be run by Heritage Instructor Ildiko SpinFisher, who will introduce you to ancient textiles and show you how to turn the fleece from our sheep into useable yarn. In the second workshop you will weave a fabric bracelet or bookmark.

The workshop is split into two sessions, allowing people to tailor their experience to their interests.

Whether you're a history buff or simply curious about the past, this event is perfect for anyone interested in learning more about ancient textiles.

Session 1 (10-12 am): Processing, carding and spinning. Ildiko will introduce sheep's wool, its use in prehistory for clothing, and how it is processed into yarn for weaving. You will learn how to card and spin fleece from our sheep into a ball of yarn that you can take home for use in knitting or crochet. You will use replica Iron Age spindle whorls based on archaeological evidence from excavated sites.

Session 2 (1-3 pm): Weaving. In the second half of the workshop, Ildiko will take you through how simple narrow textiles were made in the past and show you how to weave yarn using a heddle loom. She will show you the different dye plants used in prehistory and the colours available to Iron Age weavers. This session will culminate in you creating a woven bracelet or bookmark that you can take home.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Hengistbury Head Visitor Centre, Broadway, Southbourne, United Kingdom

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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