Tinsmithing workshops
This critically endangered heritage craft is being kept alive at Stanwick Lakes — and you can be a part of it! Learn the skills of tin-smithing from one of the last tinsmiths in the country.
Tinplate – a thin sheet of iron or steel coated with pure tin – is strong, lightweight, durable, food safe and resembles silver. During the 18th and 19th centuries it was ubiquitous in home, work and military life, with every town having its own “Tinman & Brazier.” Tin-smithing is now classified by the Heritage Crafts Association as critically endangered and at serious risk of no longer being practised in the UK.
During the day you’ll learn the core processes – measuring, cutting with tin-snips, burring, forming, wiring, seaming and soldering — and make a wall hanging candle sconce plus your choice of a pastry cutter, a candle holder, or cup to take home. No experience is needed; the course is suitable for adults of any ability, limited to six participants. Teenagers 16+ are welcome with adult supervision.
The course takes place in a purpose-built oak framed craft barn at Stanwick Lakes, a protected Nature Reserve and Wetland of International Importance covering 750 acres.
Your tutor is John Wills, one of the last three professional tinsmiths in Britain. In 2022, as part of a Heritage Crafts Association project to rescue tinsmithing, he trained under master tinsmith Karl Schmidt (Dakota Tinworks, USA) and subsequently built a new tinman & brazier workshop to keep the craft alive. He is a Yeoman of the Worshipful Company of Tinplate Workers Alias Wire Workers of the City of London.
Our next course on June 13th is sold out, but there are still a couple left on June 14th.