Cluaran Heritage Project – Cluaran is hands on, living, breathing, heritage

Hacked Silver?

This is a curiosity rather than an experiment.

I made a pewter armband inspired by the Galloway hoard. The techniques I used are pretty similar and the dimensions are close. They are not exact and I’ve used a different metal – so as I say, not an experiment.

However, in use, metal fatigue set in and it eventually broke. This then resulted in a similar object to armband 15 of the Galloway hoard.

My armband broke roughly in the centre, but will need to be cut where the ribbon links. It has signs of metal fatigue on the edges due to use. It started as curved, but a couple of hammer blows will flatten it. They are unlikely to fracture the edges though, just as making the armband curved (after punching the design) did not fracture the edges.

So here is a gallery of the armband I made and wore, to compare with images from the NMS, especially of armband 15.

For more info on the original archaeology visit the NMS website! Or the museum itself for loads of awesome – although the hoard is doing a world tour from Kirkcudbright to Austrailia so I dont know if you will see armband 15

Like I say, just a curiosity, not an experiment!

Tags galloway hoard, hacked silver, viking era

Events

Pancakes!

Post author By Cathbad
Post date 02/02/2026
No Comments on Pancakes!

Shove (or Holy) Tuesday is traditionally a time for clearing out the cupboards and having a party.

This fits with the seasons in the northern hemisphere. Summer is coming, but winter isn’t quite over yet. Some of us will be reflecting on this and use the evening to mark the preparation for a journey through lent, for others it is simply time to enjoy company, friendship, and food.

So we are having a pancake party at Simon and Kates. We will have some pancakes on the go (GF, Vegan, and full fat!) and some toppings, but please bring your own favourites to share too.

There will be space on the fire and the hob, as well as pans and skillets!

(Come to maker space on Thursday evenings if you want to see how they are forged)

Events

Pancakes 2026

To celebrate (and stock up before the long journey) the plan is to gather at 3 James Avenue (and Simon and Kates) for a Wordsmith Crafts – Cluaran/Quartz pancake party on Tuesday the 17th of February

19.00 onwards.

It is a bring and share thing, so clear out your cupboards and get together to feast!

News

Gaelic Culture

A location, a language, a way of life – a way to interpret the landscape deeply rooted and flourishing?

Here is an interesting project and resource:

Introduction

Feàrna (Alder in Gaelic) is the name given to ongoing work in Mull aimed at improving understanding and finding connections between people of Gaelic heritage and people of other heritages living on the isle of Mull.

This website is a space to share some of the things we’ve been exploring thus far through Feàrna. It’s also a warm invitation to anyone else considering these questions – in Mull or further afield – to explore them with us.

(Text taken from their introduction to their website)

Workshops

Wearable Heritage

One way to creatively inherit the past is to make things. These can be replicas. The process could be as close to historical accuracy as possible. At other times modern tools and materials can be used to inherit the ‘feel’ of a process. Or perhaps immersion in the past will inspire something beyond the wildest dreams if our ancestors.

As well as providing experiences WSC is a home for making things. We provide opportunities for folk to have a go. These range from drop in evenings hammering scrap into experiential treasure, to workshops by experienced artists.

Galloway Hoard armband by SimonLidwell on @DeviantArt

For examples of a range of wearable heritage items, visit the shop page on the main Wordsmith Crafts site.

boat building

Mediaeval Boating

I found this on a friends facebook page. I like the use of technology to interpret the wreck!

Link to the webpage

Making space News

January 2026

With more interpreters we can bring larger pieces of equipment and give larger groups of pupils a small group experience.

Requests for school visits are starting to come in! If you would like to be involved and haven’t seen the e-mails please get in touch.

We are continuing the Winter break from drop in “Making Space” evenings to take advantage of the opportunity raised by The Stove with “Phanto Spectra”. If you haven’t booked already check it out.

Phanto Spectra

Aidan has been shaping wood into a stand!

Of course, activated members have been active throughout the holidays! Making has continued and we have gauges for sizing oars. A ply rudder blade is roughly shaped and it will be ready for testing when the ice on the water melts. Just the fittings to forge!

Activated members also help keep a roof over the Cluaran club head! In 2026 Wordsmith Crafts CIC will need to focus on the “company” side of CIC a bit more. The community tends to run on goodwill and trade, but The Workshop roof is going to need replaced and due partly to complexities in the building materials this will cost cash. We now have three years of activity reports and this will hopefully provide a basis to develop the board of directors. The aim is to hold this in the first week in February!

Have a look at the journey so far and get in touch if you reckon you have skills to contribute to keeping things afloat and on course. Annual Reports at the Bottom of this page

Drop in Making space will return on the evening of Thursday the 22nd of January. Plan is to keep Thursday evenings clear for Cluaran until the 26th of March. Check the calendar to see if it will be a club drop in at the workshop, a night at the pub, or another adventure!

Free if it is your first time, £5 towards club overheads after that. These are not taught craft workshops – but get in touch if you are interested in one of those!

Making space

Making Space in December

Last Thursday, and the week before, have been productive for Making Space.

Last week we were blacksmithing. Newbies were working on chain, and some of the links were even fire welded.

Last Thursday we did an overview of the oars. We researched some books and asked someone on the other side of the world if they had a plan. There always also a hands on exploration of historical ring making.

While we worked Gavin told a story providing a new perspective on the troubled life of wolves. Apparantly red cloaked agents of malice disturb their habitat.

This week there will be another opportunity to take time out to make things, come and help get the oars ready for next season, or just say hi and chat.

Free if it is your first time, £5 towards club overheads after that. These are not taught craft workshops – but get in touch if you are interested in one of those!

Events News storytelling

BASH

Post author By Cathbad
Post date 04/11/2025
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This Thursday, BASH at the riverside tap with Storytelling by Simon.

BASH are a collective who make improvised music which defies definition. They have been playing together for a while now, and occasionally have guests.

This Thursday (the 6th of November) they will be playing at the Riverside Tap in Dumfries. Simon Lidwell will be improvising some stories with them!

So this is the Cluaran event for the week. Ancient tales of the otherworld combining with music made in the moment. Autumnal poetry where semantics settle like leaves on the sound waves and decomposition warms the room, with the smell of rest surrounding the gathered company.

BASH with Simon storytelling 1900 onwards, the Riverside Tap, the Vennel, Dumfries – free gig!

boat building Rowing

Waterborne Heritage

Whilst Wordsmith Crafts CIC doesn’t have the insurance to take people out on the water, we do help individuals find ways to explore their nautical heritage. (with their own appropriate insurance)

This is one of our favourite memories from Nithraid. As well as taking the dog for a walk it was also a handy way to get the end of a hose in position so that we could fill a pool for the toy steamboats to sail in.