Heritage crafts are often the types of skills we associate with jobs from a bygone era, and many have become redundant in today’s world – there’s not much of a need for glass eye makers anymore, for example!

As a result of the Industrial Revolution, many things that were once done by hand have been replaced by machines and technology, too. Brickmaking, lacemaking and shoemaking are a handful of examples of these sorts of crafts.

But machines can’t do everything, so some skills are still very much needed today - blacksmiths, boat builders, carpenters, farriers, joiners and stonemasons are examples of these types of trades.

Then there are crafts like candle making, knitting, glass working and pottery that thrive because they are fun things to do; some crafts live on simply because they are cool, too. Perhaps there is no longer a huge demand for handcrafted swords but, when asked what your job is, who wouldn’t want to say ‘swordsmith’?

Go anywhere in Cumbria and it won’t be long before you spot the tell-tale signs of industries of old. Even as far back as the Neolithic period, it is said that there was an axe factory from which stone axes were taken around the country!

The Vikings are reputed to have introduced Herwick sheep to the Lake District and sheep farming has been part of a traditional way of life for thousands of years in Cumbria. Wool from here used to be shipped all over the Continent, too, and this industry alone created myriad types of jobs.

Mining and quarrying were also big industries, from coal and slate to copper and lead -and if you’ve ever been to the Derwent Pencil Museum in Keswick, you’ll know all about the discovery of graphite in the Borrowdale Valley, which led to the birth of the pencil, and secret pencils with hidden maps used in WW2!

Mills and factories were also abundant. Lakeland is, after all, renowned for its rainfall and this vast amount of moving water was used to harness mills, including paper mills, bobbin mills, cotton mills, grain mills and even a gunpowder mill.

Over the years, it has all gone on in Cumbria. Did you know that the slate adorning the roof of Buckingham Palace came from Honister Slate Mine? Ironic, then, that this should be England’s last working slate mine and that the skill of slate working should be on the Heritage Crafts Red List.

Whilst time and technology may have changed the way we live and work, there is still a need for many of the skills that are now classified as heritage skills.

Cumbria is predominantly a rural county and much of it is home to the Lake District, too - England's largest National Park attracting around 18 million visitors a year. Imagine what this picture-postcard perfect landscape would look like without its pretty drystone walls, neat hedgerows and perfectly preserved Listed buildings.

We spoke to Carl Sanger and Tim Wells at Eden Hot Lime Mortar. Tim commented, "Keeping the heritage skill of lime mortaring alive in Cumbria is crucial. Many of Cumbria's historic buildings, including those in the Lake District, were constructed using lime mortar. Maintaining this skill ensures that these structures can be properly conserved and restored, preserving their architectural integrity and historical significance." 

Lime mortar is particularly valued in the restoration of historic buildings and sustainable construction because it is environmentally friendly and compatible with older masonry.

However, Carl says there is a lack of awareness: "Many people, including potential young artisans, aren't aware of the significance of lime mortaring, which can lead to a lack of interest and dwindling numbers of skilled practitioners."

Read the full interview here

When it comes to drystone walls and hedgerows, these not only look pretty but perform essential functions, too. Besides creating boundaries, hedgerows provide a home and food to a wide range of wildlife. Similarly, drystone walls provide essential shelter for hefted herds, including fell ponies.

We caught up with Libby Robinson at the Fell Pony Heritage Trust who told us, "Native fell ponies are a landscape breed and have helped to shape the mosaic of upland grazing we see in Cumbria today. They are also a very capable conservation and regenerative grazer."

"Unfortunately, the number of herds is slowly declining, and we wish to help prevent these numbers from falling further. If we lost them on the fells, invasive vegetation that we don't want would grow back, for example."

Read the full interview here

Kate Dymock at the Dry Stone Walling Association adds, "It is important to keep this heritage skill alive to ensure that the iconic tapestry of rural Cumbria continues for future generations. Dry stone walls provide benefits for wildlife and flora as well as a plethora of benefits such as water management and fire breaks."

Read the full interview here

In 2017, the Lake District was also awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status, which adds another layer of complexity and responsibility. UNESCO defines heritage as, “Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration.”

In short, it’s our generation’s responsibility to ensure that the vital heritage skills that are needed in Cumbria today are passed down to generations to come so that they are safeguarded for the future.

An army of skilled crafts people is and will be needed, covering a wide range of heritage professions from blacksmithing, carpentry, coppicing and drystone walling, to farriery, hedgelaying, thatching and stonemasonry, to name just a few.

Of the 259 crafts on the Heritage Crafts Red List, the majority are classified as Endangered or Critically Endangered. This is on the grounds that there are insufficient craftspeople to transmit craft skills to the next generation.

Here at LANSS, we’ve been speaking to local businesses and providers to gain an understanding of the bigger picture in Cumbria. Our aim is to identify and help facilitate the implementation of solutions to barriers.

Perhaps you have a skill you would like to pass on but don’t know where to find an apprentice, or perhaps you have an apprentice in mind but face funding or transport challenges.

Maybe you’re just starting out in your career or looking for a career change, but can’t find a course or apprenticeship in your field of interest or local to where you live.

Whatever questions you might have, please do get in touch with us. We hope to help open doors and bring people together across Cumbria in order to find solutions together.