Industrial Times

The South Downs is about far more than walking and recreation, in fact for thousands of years it’s been a place where people have worked and traded. Fortunately it doesn’t take much to uncover the stories and experiences behind some of the National Park’s ancient and traditional industries and crafts…

Amberley Museum is an amazing place that typifies why industry and the landscape are so entwined. Chalk was quarried here at Amberley and burnt in kilns to make lime, an essential building material as far back as Roman times. You can still see the huge quarry from the 1870’s and several kilns from the turn of the century.

Amberley is also home to a number of resident craftsmen, who offer courses in blacksmithing, pottery and spoon carving. You can learn how to turn wood with a pole lathe or carve letters with a chisel and hammer.

For different traditional crafts take a short hop westwards to the Weald and Downland Museum at Singleton. Amidst the beautifully and faithfully restored rural buildings you’ll find regular demonstrations of everything from Tudor cookery to Victorian smithing, all in the exact setting and using the traditional methods. For a real hands-on experience, join a day course so you can take home a handmade longbow, a traditional ash slatted coracle or even your own prehistoric flint tools.