Greater Portsmouth Area
Post Covid quick update - just to say I'm still here - fully jabbed - and looking to start taking bookings for talks as groups open up again. Please email to discuss [email protected] I am a freelance historic interpreter specialising in social history of the working classes. A degree in Anglo Saxon and Viking history was followed by a post graduate teaching qualification. This led to over 25 years experience in the Museum education sector - beginning with 14 years in the Romano-British period at Fishbourne Roman Palace, from medieval through to the (what I consider) terribly modern Victorians at the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum. Deciding to become freelance just over a year ago means I can choose to concentrate on my favourite topics and I now teach courses, give talks and demonstrations and lead individual and group workshops on a variety of subjects including historic cookery and gardening, herbal medicine, clothing history and construction and local and family history • Delivery of adult workshop courses on family history, food history, historical use of herbs, Roman history • Demonstrations of historical cooking, clothing and medicine, Romano British history, Anglo-Saxon medicine, natural dyeing • Talks on aspects of social history e.g. herbal history, gardens through the ages, natural dyeing. NEW for 2015 The History of the Swimsuit - illustrated talk with genuine and replica examples, particular emphasis on local and social history. Can also be presented as a day workshop to include more focus on construction of the clothing, • Please contact for specific information. Website will be active shortly
NEW COURSES FOR 2017 ‘Recreating historic clothing’ A practical look at the work involved in recreating working class historic clothing using case studies of complete outfits from the course leader’s personal collection. A step by step look at the process involved in bringing research to life – from pattern & cut, to toile & adjustment, sourcing fabrics & natural dyes, stitching and re-evaluation of finished items when actually used. The day will include the opportunity for course participants to try on items of clothing. 'Coifs, Caps, Hats & Hair or how to wear your wimple with style’. An introduction to centuries of working womens’ headgear in England – from headrails and wimples, to coifs and caps, hats and bonnets. We will look at the reasons for covering the hair – female modesty, religious proscription or simple practicality?How did the materials used change over the centuries? Which ages thought it safe to wash hair, which didn't? What did we use before shampoo? With lots of recreated examples for people to try on. Courses at the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum and other Sussex sites will be added shortly. NEW FOR 2016 Chichester Arts Trail 2016: The historic sewing group I lead, Chichester Period Clothing Studio, has been meeting monthly for just over a year. This is the first time we are showing our work - from original clothing and research, to pattern drafting, toile fitting, and through to finished article using the techniques of the relevant periods. All made to be used in talks and demonstrations. We are number 15 on the trail open house on the weekends of - April 30th, May 1st/2nd, and May 7th/8th. COURSES AT WEALD & DOWNLAND OPEN AIR MUSEUM 2016 I will be leading the following courses at the museum this year - visit the museum website www.wealddown.co.uk for further information and booking: November 6th: Tudor Bakehouse: Pies & Pastries December 10th: Tudor Christmas Cookery
Duties and responsibilities as part of this role: To manage, train and co-ordinate interpretation volunteers To manage and supervise general housekeeping of all furnished domestic buildings Care and maintenance of all replica items Manage and supervise running of Winkhurst Tudor kitchen Ensure compliance with current Health & Safety, Environmental Health and Food Handling regulations for all appropriate personnel Management and further development of the Historic Clothing Project Delivery of domestic interpretation demonstrations and to oversee volunteers doing the same To work with relevant members of staff on specific themes for events and demonstrations throughout the year, utilising their skills and knowledge where appropriate ● Delivery of workshops and talks for schools, adult education or booked groups from time to time, in an emergency and as needed ● To wear appropriate period clothing and interpret it for visitors. Supervise volunteers wearing of such clothing Freelance work, based on working class social history, includes: Delivery of adult workshop courses on family history, food history, historical use of herbs, Roman history Demonstrations of historical cooking, clothing and medicine, Romano British history, Anglo-Saxon medicine Talks on aspects of social history e.g. herbal history, gardens through the ages, natural dyeing. Please contact for specific information.
For 15 years at Fishbourne Roman Palace I delivered workshops on a daily basis to all ages and levels of ability. We were continually ‘tweaking' the workshops to maintain freshness of approach and relevance and I developed military and archaeology workshops for secondary schools. This also involved initiating, developing and producing relevant worksheets and publications. I was also involved, in partnership with Pallant House and Chichester Festival Theatre, in developing workshops applicable to Global Citizenship.
• Delivery of adult workshop courses on family history, food history, historical use of herbs, Roman history • Demonstrations of historical cooking, clothing and medicine, Romano British history, Anglo-Saxon medicine • Talks on aspects of social history e.g. herbal history, gardens through the ages, natural dyeing. • Please contact for specific information.