Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, UK
info@capitalofthefens.org.uk

Hereward the Wake Project

Hereward the Wake Project

So this is the time of year that is often grey skies and illness everywhere. I hope you’re all managing to cope, and getting yourselves dosed up with vitamins and sunshine whenever you can! I find, while I don’t want to wish the time away, planning what I’ll be doing when the good weather comes back does help me get through the “winter blues”. I’m going to bring back my creative classes – crochet and hand sewing – as doing anything creative lifts my mood and I really enjoy helping people learn a new skill that they can use to go on and produce handmade gifts for themselves and friends. I’m looking at linking up with heritage projects to bring these two strands of my interests/work together. For example, I had weaving and the history of computer programming together at Peterborough STEMfest last year (see my website for more on how they connect!)

One other such link is with part of the Wake Hereward Project. I met up with David Maile to talk about it this week. David’sworking on raising the profile of Hereward the Wake, a Fenland legend that we seem to have forgotten. He’s been working for some years on the academic side with professors at local universities researching the stories and the historical data. He is also looking at finding ways to bring the story to the communities which Hereward was a part of, and how to use it to increase and support tourism across the area. Part of the project includes supporting local artist Mia Hansson in producing and showing her version of the Bayeaux tapestry, illustrating the battle that led to Hereward making his stand at Ely against William the Conqueror. Mia’s work on her version of the tapestry is an impressive task to take on and I’m interested in making links with my sewing classes and sharing tips on stitching, fabric, yarn and natural dyes. Of course with the original Tapestry possibly coming to the UK, it will be great to see both (but probably easier to see Mia’s).

David’s enthusiasm for his subject is infectious and I think rediscovering Hereward as the face of the English resistance, in legend as well as a recorded historical figure, is a fascinating part of local history that needs to be talked about and understood, giving Fenland people pride in their history and placing the area on the tourist map of the UK. I’ll bring you more about the project as it progresses, meanwhile keep an eye on WakeHerewardProject.org.uk or search online for more.

See redbarncreative.org.uk or search for Red Barn Creative on social media for more links and to get in touch about crochet and sewing classes.