We are proud to host a wide range of wonderful events and activities, from exciting seasonal children’s trails and school holiday activities, to music events, creative workshops and heritage talks.
All events will take place at The Land of Oak & Iron Heritage Centre, Spa Well Road, Winlaton Mill, Blaydon upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, NE21 6RU unless otherwise stated.
Visit our website here.
Date & Time - Saturday, 6th September 2025 - 10:00-16:00
Come and meet Anne James Ceramics at the Heritage Centre for another of this year’s ‘Meet the Maker’ events.
Anne makes both functional and decorative ceramics using hand building techniques from her home studio in Wark.
Her work is influenced by her garden and the rural landscape of Northumberland, and a childhood growing up in Scotland, especially holidays to the West Coast. She creates texture with found objects such as wooden printing blocks, and wallpapers from her childhood home to produce beautiful jugs, bowls, vases and flower bricks.
Originally a scientist, the chemistry of glazing is a particular interest. Celedon glazes are her main passion because of their delicate finish.
Her work often combines antique glass with glazes to reflect the natural world.
A selection of Anne’s work will be available to purchase for a short 2-week period in our shop from 22nd August, or directly from her on the Meet the Maker Day, where you can browse and purchase some of Anne’s ceramic works.
More information here.
Date & Time - Saturday, 6th September 2025 - 10:30-15:30
Enjoy a delicious ice-cream in the Summer sunshine at the Land of Oak & Iron Heritage Centre!
‘Scoops n Smiles’ will be next to the Courtyard at the Heritage Centre selling lots of lovely flavours of real dairy ice cream from their retro ice cream van!
We also have our Meet the Maker pop-up stall with ceramic artist Anne James Ceramics – so you can browse and buy a unique piece of pottery too.
Our café will be open as normal serving a range of hot and cold drinks, delicious home baked cakes, scones and more, along with our normal menu of breakfast and lunch choices. All made fresh each day using ingredients from local suppliers.
We look forward to seeing you soon.
More information here.
Date & Time - Saturday, 6th September 2025 - 12:00-15:00
We love hosting live music events at the Heritage Centre - and it’s great way to spend a sunny afternoon in the Courtyard having something to eat and drink while listening to live music.
So, join us for an informal afternoon of traditional music, led by Simon and other members of his ceilidh band, ‘Real to Reel’. Expect Northumbrian pipes, fiddles, melodeons, and more, as some of the region’s top traditional musicians join forces to play some high energy jigs & reels, haunting slow airs and more foot-tapping tunes in between… You may recognise Simon from his ‘Shore and Tide’ sea glass stall at our Meet the Makers events - but here he is with his other hat on, as a musician! We also have a pop-up stall with our next Meet the Maker Anne James Ceramics - plus Scoops n Smiles will be here in their retro van serving real dairy ice-cream.
Our café will be open as usual with breakfasts, lunch, home baked scones, cakes, cookies and more.
No need to book, just turn up for a great afternoon of live music and food. Please note indoor and outdoor seating areas are for our café and bar customers.
More information here.
Date & Time - Saturday, 6th September 2025 - 13:00-16:00
FULLY BOOKED - Nat’s Yates is a fantastic glass artist and is well known across the North East through her glass company Northern Sky Design. Her stunning work is often on display and for sale in our shop area and regularly sells out.
Join Nat for this fantastic fused glass workshop capturing the unspoilt beauty of the north east of England. Inspired by the Northumberland landscape we will make our own interpretation either in a realistic or abstract way, with the help of provided resources.
Once made, your landscape creation will be taken back to Nat’s kiln to be fired and slumped in her kiln, and will be ready for collection from the Heritage Centre around a week later.
So why not treat yourself to a creative workshop, come along with a friend, or maybe buy as a unique gift for someone special. Suitable for adult beginners or for those with experience to advance their skills.
Tickets £48 including tuition, all materials and kiln firing.
Nat’s workshops often sell out and there are limited places, so please reserve your place as soon as possible to avoid missing out. Booking essential, see below.
Please note - tickets for our workshops, sessions and courses are non refundable. We may at our discretion transfer your ticket to another similar event.
More information here.
Date & Time - Wednesday, 10th September 2025 - 14:00-16:00
Experienced and friendly art tutor Kath will guide you from blank canvas to finished landscape artworks using demonstrations and individual assistance to improve your skills and confidence. The aim is for each student to produce artworks they can feel really proud of.
Experienced and friendly art tutor Kath will guide you from blank canvas to finished landscape artworks using demonstrations and individual assistance to improve your skills and confidence. The aim is for each student to produce artworks they can feel really proud of.
This course takes place every Wednesday for 4 weeks and is suitable for beginners and for those who have painted before and would like to learn more techniques or continue with their art projects.
Become part of this friendly painting course, learn how to paint and make new creative friends along the way.
Four week course costs £80, price includes tuition and a tea or coffee each week.
Please bring basic painting materials such as brushes and acrylic paints (we can advise you of this when booking). We will also have some basic brushes, paints, water jars etc that you can use too if needed.
Places limited to allow quality teaching and learning – booking essential (see tickets below).
Any questions please get in touch, please email landofoakandiron@groundwork.org.uk
More information here.
Date & Time - Sunday, 14th September 2025 - 12:30-14:00
Ever thought about learning to play a musical instrument - what about the ukulele? Then come along to our uke’ sessions and learn how.
There are a number of sessions planned until the end of the year, all on Sunday afternoons between 12.30pm – 2pm. This one is for Sunday 14th September, please see separate listings to book the other sessions.
Tutor Philip has played ukulele for longer than he can remember. Having ran uke’ workshops at JG Windows Music in Newcastle, as well as being a full time guitar/uke teacher, he’s now bringing his workshops to the Land of Oak & Iron Heritage Centre in Winlaton Mill.
Each session will involve learning some songs from scratch, with parts for beginners to more complex parts for those with previous experience. All the songs guaranteed jams that will be stuck in your head all week!
If you have your own ukulele please bring it along - let us know on the booking form if you would like the tutor to provide one for you.
Booking essential as limited places available. £9.50 per session. Please add in the booking notes if you have played before and if you can bring your own ukulele (or not).
Please note – tickets for our workshops, sessions and courses are non refundable. We may at our discretion transfer your ticket to another similar event.
More information here.
Date & Time - Thursday, 18th September 2025 - 11:00-15:00
Come and meet Jennie Sinclair at the Heritage Centre, ahead of her Meet the Maker event.
Jennie P Sinclair also known as ‘Wraggerly’ will be here showing visitors the traditional heritage craft of rag rugging/proggy mat making.
“Tattered and frayed by the sensory overload of office work, I found peace of mind in the slow pace of rag rugging.
I describe myself as a clothing dismantler, salvaging materials destined for landfill. Using the heritage crafts of rag rugging; knitting; crochet and sewing, my goal is to create beautiful things in a sustainable way.
I live in the tranquil Tyne Valley with two rescued cats, several bags of rescued materials and my extremely patient partner”.
Jennie will be able to chat to you about this important heritage craft and show some of her work.
You can also meet Jennie when she returns with her pop-up Meet the Maker stall on Saturday 20th September where you can buy some of her creations. Her amazing work will be in our shop for a limited time from Friday 5th September too.
More information here.
Date & Time - Saturday, 20th September 2025 - All day
‘True North Trades’ consists of Blacksmiths and Furniture Maker/Woodworkers - you may have seen them recently on Robson Green’s Weekend Away making fire pokers and roses with Robson and his family.
Well, they’re back again at the Land of Oak & Iron Heritage Centre with their fantastic workshops learning the ancient art of Blacksmithing using tools and practices that have been used for over a thousand years!
Please note there are 3 different timed workshops to choose from 9.30am, 12pm or 2.30pm.
You will be guided through the process with support throughout, enabling you to create your very own beautifully crafted ironwork by the end of the session. In these workshops we will be hand forging a candle holder..
Heat the iron in the flames of the forge, hammer and bend, twist and notch into shape on the anvil, and learn cooling techniques to finish your piece. You can then take your finished piece away, a truly individual and unique gift, or to have as a special keepsake in your own home.
So why not treat yourself to this great workshop - learning the traditional skill of Blacksmithing and taking away something special that you have hand-made yourself. Come along with a friend, or maybe buy the workshop experience as a unique gift for someone special.
Tickets £63 including all materials. Limited places and booking essential. There are 3 different timed workshops - so please select the time that you require.
We’re expecting these workshops to be very popular as they were fully booked last year, so please reserve your place as soon as possible to avoid missing out.
(Note – need to be over 4 feet tall. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult).
SAFETY: Please note this course is available to anyone over the height of 4 feet tall, but under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult. It is best not to wear open toed shoes or any clothing you would not wear near a bonfire. Safety gear will be provided in the form of gloves, an apron and goggles. If you wish to bring any of these from home to wear feel free, but your gear will need to be inspected before we start.
More information here.
Date & Time - Saturday, 29th September 2025 - 10:00-16:00
Come and meet Jennie Sinclair at the Heritage Centre at her Meet the Maker pop-up stall.
Jennie P Sinclair also known as ‘Wraggerly’ will be here showing visitors her textiles and the traditional heritage craft of rag rugging/proggy mats.
“Tattered and frayed by the sensory overload of office work, I found peace of mind in the slow pace of rag rugging.
I describe myself as a clothing dismantler, salvaging materials destined for landfill. Using the heritage crafts of rag rugging; knitting; crochet and sewing, my goal is to create beautiful things in a sustainable way.
I live in the tranquil Tyne Valley with two rescued cats, several bags of rescued materials and my extremely patient partner”.
Jennie will be able to chat to you about this important heritage craft and will be selling some of her work.
You can also meet Jennie when she’s here doing demonstrations of rag rug making on Thursday 18th September. Her amazing work will also be in our shop for a limited time from Friday 5th September – 20th September.
More information here.
Date & Time - Sunday, 21st September 2025 - 12:30-14:00
Ever thought about learning to play a musical instrument - what about the ukulele? Then come along to our uke’ sessions and learn how.
There are a number of sessions available throughout the year. This one is for Sunday 21st September, please see separate listings to book the other sessions.
Tutor Philip has played ukulele for longer than he can remember. Having ran uke’ workshops at JG Windows Music in Newcastle, as well as being a full time guitar/uke teacher, he’s now bringing his workshops to the Land of Oak & Iron Heritage Centre in Winlaton Mill.
Each session will involve learning some songs from scratch, with parts for beginners to more complex parts for those with previous experience. All the songs guaranteed jams that will be stuck in your head all week!
If you have your own ukulele please bring it along - let us know on the booking form if you would like the tutor to provide one for you.
Booking essential as limited places available. £9.50 per session. Please add in the booking notes if you have played before and if you can bring your own ukulele (or not).
Please note - tickets for our workshops, sessions and courses are non refundable. We may at our discretion transfer your ticket to another similar event.
More information here.
Date & Time - Wednesday, 24th September 2025 - 10:30-12:30
Our friends and woodland volunteers at Living Woods are hosting another of their North East Woodland Networking events at Snod’s Edge Community Centre.
.Living Woods is dedicated to the creation and sustainable management of woodland by supporting and empowering local people to create and care for woodlands in and around their communities.
Over the past few years, Living Woods has planted thousands of trees across the North of England and has involved communities, businesses & schools in planting & caring for trees across the region.
Find out more about the work they do and this networking event here.
Booking essential via the Living Woods booking page.
Please note this event is not at Land of Oak & Iron Heritage Centre and is organised by Living Woods.
Date & Time - Friday, 26th September 2025 - 18:00-21:00
Our summer live music and food evenings are back at the Heritage Centre! Join us for an entertaining evening of fantastic live music and food on the last Friday of every month.
This month is the last of this year’s events and is with local performers Trio Grand with a heady mix of classic Jazz and MOR standards performed by Georg Voros on drums and vocals, Paul Carter on bass, and Barbara Wilcox on keys and vocals.
“We’re a local outfit with hugely different musical histories and experiences - but we share a love of the songs we play, and hope you enjoy them as much as we do”.
Café: Our Chef will be rustling up some delicious food for the evening to enjoy alongside the live music. Please note this will be an alcohol free event (due to licencing) but there will be a great range of hot and cold drinks, with some summer specials,
No need to book, just turn up for a great evening between 6pm - 9pm (last food order 8pm). Get here early to grab a seat, order your food and settle in for a great evening of live music.
Please note indoor and outdoor seating are for our café and bar customers.
More information here.
Date & Time - Saturday, 27th September 2025 - 10:00-15:30
Calling all Artists and Crafters!
Are your craft and art material supplies getting out of hand? Do you have drawers, cupboards, or even rooms stuffed with creative materials that you would like to sort out and reduce?
Then why not have a clear out and sell it at our Art & Craft Stash day!
For just £10 for the day, you can have a table at the Heritage Centre where you can sell off all your unwanted art and craft materials to our visitors.
Or, simply come along as a visitor and buy MORE craft and art supplies to add to your stash, chat to fellow creatives, buy materials at bargain prices and find new inspiration.
This event is just for craft and art materials (not work you have created).
Please email landofoakandiron@groundwork.org.uk if you are interested in having a stall with us for the day.
More information here.
