Villages prepare a big welcome for Hadrian’s Wall illuminations weekend

“Springtime Off The Wall” - Sunday 14th March 2010

Illuminating Hadrian's Wall logoThe communities of Greenhead and Gilsland are extending a warm welcome to all the people who are visiting Hadrian’s Wall this coming weekend for the illuminating of the Wall.

Visitors to Hadrian’s Wall are often quite unaware of the communities that can be found nearby – when they do discover them, they have a much enriched experience.

A remarkable Exhibition of the skills and activities that can be found in these two small villages in the very heart of Hadrian’s Wall Country will be on display in the function room at the Greenhead Hotel which it is hoped will be thoroughly enjoyed by the visitors – and across the road the regular Farmers’ Market will offer a superb range of local foods at the village hall.

There is a craft group in each village plus the Tuesday Painters and the Calico Hinnies Quilters in Greenhead, all meeting regularly and running courses. Others work at home on a wide variety of crafts or paintings. But that is not all – many residents are professional craftspeople and they, too are taking this opportunity to showcase their work to locals and visitors alike.

Ruth Lee who works in Gilsland is a fibre arts craftswoman who has worked at the V&A in London. She says, “I am fascinated by the magical transformation of linear materials into complex structures and surfaces, which build organically through repetition of small units and changes of scale. Materials include very fine basketry cane, enameled copper wire, paper yarn, metallic and cotton sewing thread, plastics, rope, elastic, plant material, fabrics, tape, cling film for example and, at the other end of the spectrum, the new generation of modern hand knitting yarns.” She will be displaying her ‘Ghost Dresses’.

Maureen Morano of Ragpuss, in Gilsland, works right across the spectrum of textiles and will be showing some of her period dresses and some chairs she is currently caning.

There will be photographs – most featuring our own surroundings; walking sticks; woodwork; weaving; embroidery; quilts and socks and much more.

A completely different skill is that of traditional clog dancing – so the rhythmic sounds of beating feet will ring out at the Farmers’ Market at the village hall – where excellent traditional foods will be on offer – mostly organic. A unique opportunity, perhaps, for the visitors, to be able to purchase beef that has been hung for three weeks or lamb or mutton from the local fells.

At Slack House Organic Farm in Gilsland, Eric Horn will be demonstrating how he makes his traditional sweet Ayrshire cheese.

Greenhead & Gilsland Media contact:

Wendy Bond 016977 47 448
wendynbond@btinternet.com

Hadrian’s Wall Heritage

www.illuminatinghadrianswall.com

Northumberland National Park

Frances Whitehead 01434 605555
frances.whitehead@nnpa.org.uk