Heritage and Rural Skills Centre NT

Heritage and Rural Skills Centre NT A centre to champion skills from the past, fit for the future, for everyone for ever.

This week is Volunteer's Week 💫So we are shining a light on some of the Skills Centre's brilliant young volunteers, Roma...
03/06/2026

This week is Volunteer's Week 💫

So we are shining a light on some of the Skills Centre's brilliant young volunteers, Roman, Jemima and Riley.

They got involved with the Skills Centre in 2024/25 through the Saturday Club learning all about heritage crafts over a series of weeks. In 2025/26 they came back to volunteer as a young leaders, supporting our new cohort of Saturday Clubbers, offering their experience, creativity and support. Thank you all so much! 👏

NEW COURSE ‼🌿Try your hand at the traditional rural skill of Scything. Scything is an age old, sustainable way to mow, c...
30/05/2026

NEW COURSE ‼🌿

Try your hand at the traditional rural skill of Scything.

Scything is an age old, sustainable way to mow, clear weeds and manage meadows. It's a zero-emission alterative to mowing, brilliant for biodiversity and a great workout.

The course will cover all of the essentials to allow you to practice the skill at home:
🌿how to mow grass with a scythe and the practice the technique for safe use
🌿sharpening, honing, getting an even cut
🌿creating windrows (neat piles of cut grass)
🌿routine maintenance of the blade.

To book your place on 26th June visit the link below:
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/oxfordshire-buckinghamshire-berkshire/heritage-and-rural-skills-centre/events/970e1db9-ec81-47fd-8f3f-9b6a43e63146

©National Trust Images/Liz Abdey

Have you ever wanted to try your hand at decorative paint techniques, like faux marbling or wood graining? Well, you're ...
07/05/2026

Have you ever wanted to try your hand at decorative paint techniques, like faux marbling or wood graining? Well, you're in luck!

On Friday 22 May, Simon from South Coast Studio will be returning to the Heritage and Rural Skills Centre to lead a course on traditional decorative paint techniques, where you can gain practical skills and knowledge.

Simon has been providing a high-quality painting and decorating service for 35+ years to clients across the UK and Europe, more recently focusing on the more artistic side of interior decoration. Upon completion, participants will receive seven valuable CPD credits and a signed, CPD-accredited certificate for having completed the course.

This course is suitable for beginners, but would also suit those looking to develop their traditional decorative finishes or practical skills in furniture painting.

Our class sizes are small, so you'll have a chance to engage with the tutor while you work. All materials and tools will be provided and the course will run from 9.15am-4.45pm, with a short break for lunch.

Find out more and book here: https://rebrand.ly/HeritageSkillsCourses

📸: South Coast Studio

Coleshill House was completed in 1662 and was cutting edge in its style and decoration.The house married the practical n...
26/04/2026

Coleshill House was completed in 1662 and was cutting edge in its style and decoration.

The house married the practical needs of an English country gentleman with exciting European design elements - including lots of symmetry, rhythm and a roof topped with a cupola.

Sadly, the house was lost to fire in 1952 while it was being restored, but it still leaves a legacy in the fragments it left behind. This picture might not look like much, but it shows just some of what we've been able to salvage, and is a symbol of all the creativity and skill that would have been required to design and construct the house back in the 1600s.

And that's something we still very much care about, all these years later, as we continue to celebrate, champion and teach heritage skills.

📸: James Dobson/National Trust Images

Next week is and we'll be joined by Lizzie and Jo from The Gardening School for a course on Practical Garden Design. L...
23/04/2026

Next week is and we'll be joined by Lizzie and Jo from The Gardening School for a course on Practical Garden Design.

Learn all about aspect, utilities, spatial awareness and the other things you need to consider when designing your garden, including everything from size and sunlight to how to define its purpose - is it for relaxation, entertaining or somewhere for the kids to explore?

You'll pick up key design principles, including how to create functional areas, select appropriate plants to ensure year-round interest and manage its maintenance - plus so much more!

The course takes place on Sunday 3 May and starts at 10.30am. For full details, and to book, click here: https://rebrand.ly/HeritageSkillsCourses

📸: The Gardening School

Marbling is an endangered craft in the UK and involves dropping or flicking ink or paint on to a water surface. These ar...
16/04/2026

Marbling is an endangered craft in the UK and involves dropping or flicking ink or paint on to a water surface. These are then blown, fanned, swirled or combed to create a pattern, which is then transferred to a sheet of treated paper.

It was a popular craft in the 19th century before mechanised bookbinding took over, and now there are thought to be fewer than 20 professionals in the country.

Next month, you can learn these skills and more with Rachel O’Connell, who is hosting a two-day course at the Heritage and Rural Skills Centre.

The course is suitable for beginners and a great introduction to both leatherwork and heritage marbling, allowing you to create your own leather wrap journal.

You’ll develop knowledge of marbling patterns and techniques, learn to cut, hole-punch and attach eyelets to your leather and leave with a beautifully completed journal.

The workshop takes place on 23-24 May and spaces are limited. Book now: https://rebrand.ly/HeritageSkillsCourses

📸: Jim Wileman/National Trust Images

Here's a throwback to a summer's afternoon in Coleshill, right on our doorstep. 😍For centuries, Buscot and Coleshill hav...
05/03/2026

Here's a throwback to a summer's afternoon in Coleshill, right on our doorstep. 😍

For centuries, Buscot and Coleshill have been home to, and an inspiration for, numerous craftspeople, designers, and creatives, including designer William Morris, artist Edward Burne-Jones and potter Katherine Pleydell-Bouverie.

It's also always been a place of innovation.

The Heritage and Rural Skills Centre is key to continuing that legacy, helping to protect and celebrate the estate's design-driven past while championing the use of heritage and rural skills and bringing them into the future.

Take a look at our courses here: https://rebrand.ly/HeritageSkillsCourses

📸: John Miller/National Trust Images

This spring, join Lizzie and Jo from The Gardening School and learn how to plan your own cutting garden, whatever the si...
03/03/2026

This spring, join Lizzie and Jo from The Gardening School and learn how to plan your own cutting garden, whatever the size of your space.

You'll learn how to grow flowers from seed plus useful perennials, grasses and shrubs that can be used to compliment your vase. 🌸

The course is on Saturday 28 March and starts at 10.30am. Find out more here: https://rebrand.ly/HeritageSkillsCourses

📸: The Gardening School

March marks , a month-long celebration of creativity and making - two things we're REALLY passionate about at the Herit...
01/03/2026

March marks , a month-long celebration of creativity and making - two things we're REALLY passionate about at the Heritage and Rural Skills Centre.

From our base in Coleshill, we host specialist courses, bring together local groups and rent out studio spaces to professional craftspeople, creating a lively community of likeminded people.

We've got some great courses coming up this spring and summer, including:

✅ Introduction to Blacksmithing | 15 May, 9.30am-5pm
Spend a day learning key blacksmithing skills with expert tuition from master blacksmith, David Gregory - including how to make a bottle opener to take home with you.

✅ European Marbling and Leatherwork | 23-24 May, 10.30am-4pm
Create a unique marble-lined, leather-wrap journal in this two-day workshop with multimedia marbling artist Rachel O’Connell.

✅Landscape Oil Painting | 12 June, 10am-3.30pm
Join landscape painter Rupert Aker on this one-day course designed for beginners. Taking inspiration from the local landscape, you'll be guided through the process of using oil paints and a palette knife to capture a view and finish with a painting ready to take home.

✅ Ropework | 27 June, 10.30am-4pm
Learn traditional ropework techniques and make your own knotted trivet and rope bowl on this one-day course. You'll learn basic knotting and ropework techniques and terminology, as well as several different methods for decorative knotting.

To find out more, book your place, or see what other courses are available, click here: https://rebrand.ly/HeritageSkillsCourses

📸: James Dobson/Jim Wileman/National Trust Images

There's long been a forge on the Coleshill Estate and today, we're keeping that legacy alive. Blacksmiths like David Gre...
23/02/2026

There's long been a forge on the Coleshill Estate and today, we're keeping that legacy alive.

Blacksmiths like David Gregory regularly make use of the Faringdon Forge and offer courses to both professionals and hobbyists alike.

On Friday 15 May, you can have a go yourself on our beginner's blacksmithing course, where you'll learn key techniques and then put them into practice.

By the end of the day, you'll not only have learnt the basics of the craft, but have also made a bottle opener to take home!

Book your place here: https://rebrand.ly/HeritageSkillsCourses

📸: James Dobson/National Trust Images

Address

Heritage & Rural Skills Centre, Buscot And Coleshill Estate
Swindon
SN67PT

Telephone

+441793762209

Website

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