Crafting The Past

Traditional Stationery Binding – Make your own Victorian inspired notebook

Part of our Heritage Craft Skills Workshop

Our research found that our building was a vintage bookshop, run by Henry Sotheran from 1830’s for a few years. Sotheran’s does still exist and is in London, set up by Henry’s nephew. There were also a number of other bookshops on the street, as well as clerks who would have used a similar style of ledger

This workshop will take you through binding (sewing the text together) on recessed cords. Lacing on boards and covering the book from start to finish. Along the way looking at why bindings were made the way they were and how that has changed, as well as historical roles within binderies. If there is time we will also try our hand at some additional decorative techniques incl. edge colouring and label making.

All materials are included and tools provided, but participants are welcome to bring their own decorative paper to decorate the cover, or use as endpapers for their book.

This workshop has been funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and is free. Places are limited and a £10 deposit is required to book, refundable on attendance.

The class is run at our Fabrication2 workspace by Linette Withers of Anachronalia

Saturday 24th October 202110am-5pm to book