Flax to Linen

The Course

Learn how our ancestors processed the flax plant into linen fabric. For millennia this vital plant clothed us and became our second skin. Come and be a traditional ‘scutcher’ or ‘breaker’ for the day and change this coarse fibre into a piece of simple twine.

The day covers:

• History of flax growing based at Tindall’s Cottage
• Growing and retting a crop with the regional differences
• Processing flax by hand outside with traditional tools
• Breaking, scutching, hackling working in pairs to produce ‘linen line’
• Preparing fibres for spinning with drop spindles. How to dress a distaff
• Hackling ‘Tow’ and how to use the waste product from the process
• Making a sample twine to take away with you

The Tutor

Catherine Guilder has degrees’ in History and Heritage with further studies in Theology.  She is an expert on a wide range of historical topics including religious observance during the Reformation and Tudor women’s social history. She has been an historical interpreter at the Museum for several years and deliver historic cooking demonstrations at many local venues. She has also appeared in historical television programmes for the BBC and participated in educational pod casts for primary schools as part of the ‘Cook It’ project.

Participant Information

Please bring warm clothing, as part of the course is in an open barn. Please be aware there will be lots of dust in the air whilst completing some tasks.

Fee & Refreshments

£85 per person, to include tuition, teas and coffees. Please let the Museum know if you have any special dietary requirements. The Museum café will be open or you can bring a packed lunch.