Hainault Forest | Craft workshops

Glass workshop

GLASS WORKSHOP

The old Smithy building in Foxburrow Road was restored as part of the Hainault Forest restoration project. It now has a working furnace where artisan glassmiths are able to fashion abstract landscapes and sculptures from molten glass.

One of the aims is to establish an Arts and Crafts centre in Hainault Forest. Glassware is produced in all shapes and colours using traditional techniques and skills. Seats are placed outside the doors allowing visitors to sit and watch glassblowers at work. This picture shows Sarah heating rods in the furnace.

Glass is found in nature, but the first glass produced by humans dates back about 4,000 years ago. Craftsman from Mesopotamia are generally credited with discovering how to make glass by mixing sand, soda, and lime together.

Items on display in the shop. There is a wide range of items including ornaments, vases, goblets, dragon eggs and paperweights.

Of the many fine paperweights produced by Sarah this one proved to be of special interest. The letter 'K' with crown atop was once the Forest parish mark used on branding irons to mark cattle in Hainault. The inclusion of oak and hornbeam leaves on this design represent two historically important local tree species. The Royal Navy once built ships from oak. 'The Fighting Temeraire' that took part in the Battle of Trafalgar during 1805 was built using oak from Hainault Forest. Turner's famous painting of the ship can be seen on the back of a £20 note. Hornbeam was collected by the Collyers at Colliers Row to make charcoal.

Metal oxides produce different colours. Blue Glass is made by using cobalt salts. Large quantities of blue glass were produced in Bristol during Victorian times. It is held in high esteem and unbeaten in quality. Adding chromium oxide results in green glass and selenium makes pink or red. Copper also produces red. Silver compounds such as silver nitrate produce colours ranging from orange-red to yellow.

DEL'S LASER WORKSHOP

Del's Laser Workshop opened its doors following the Hainault Restoration Project. The range of items inside the unit includes fridge magnets, coasters, pictures, self-assembly kits and some really impressive layered images - all made from environmentally sustainable stock. Derek designs and produces the objects he sells and is obviously inspired by the natural surroundings of Hainault Forest. The unit is located in the Craft Courtyard behind the 1886 Cafe.

© Raymond Small 14/07/2024