10am - 5pm - drop in event

Come visit the past this August! On Saturday 3 August, the Ryevitalise Landscape Partnership Scheme is holding a free, family-friendly and unique day-long event as we recreate a medieval iron bloomery and demonstrate associated skills with local specialists.

Used to produce iron blooms for metalwork in the medieval period, the archaeological remains of these clay built ovens have been found throughout the River Rye catchment area - many of them in the Bilsdale and Rievaulx monastic landscape. Now we are helping to recreate the past, join us as we demonstrate this ancient technique and bring the past to life!

Undertaken by archaeologist Yvette Marks from the University of Sheffield, and a team of volunteers, this event will see a replica clay iron bloomery fired for up to twelve hours, with air fed in from volunteers working the bellows. Also present will be demonstrations of associated skills and crafts from:

• Local artisan blacksmithing by Katie Ventress
• Charcoal sketching by Louise Garrett
• Sketches of activities by illustrator Nick Ellwood
• Green wood working by the Ryevitalise team

• River table madness with the Ryevitalise team
• Stalls with the Ryevitalise Landscape Partnership Scheme Partners, and more!

This FREE and family-friendly event takes place throughout the day and is open to members of the public and visitors to the Sutton Bank National Park Centre.