There is a particular smell that greets you at the door of the old corn exchange on Market Street: a mix of beeswax, raw wool and the faint metallic tang of a cold forge. This season, the village museum has turned its main hall over to the crafts that once kept every household in the parish fed, clothed and warm. The exhibition brings together basket weaving, blacksmithing and quilt making under one roof — not as dusty relics behind glass, but as living skills with sawdust still fresh on the floor.

A Hall Full of Hands and History

Step inside and the first thing you notice is the sound. On quiet mornings, it is the gentle creak of willow being bent into shape. On demonstration afternoons, it is the ring of a hammer on an anvil and the soft murmur of volunteers explaining why a particular stitch has held a family quilt together for four generations. The displays are arranged in three distinct bays, each one dedicated to a craft that once thrived in every village. You can trace the journey from raw material to finished object — bundles of Somerset willow, bars of iron, and a rainbow of cotton scraps that would otherwise have been thrown away.

Willow, Rushes and the Gentle Art of Basket Weaving

Basket weaving is one of the oldest crafts in the British Isles, and the exhibition shows just how varied it can be. You will see round harvest baskets, flat trugs for carrying vegetables, and delicate egg baskets that look almost too fine to use. The volunteer weavers explain that the choice of material changes everything: willow is strong and forgiving, rush is softer and smells faintly of the marsh, and straw is best for lighter, decorative work.

On the wall behind the baskets, photographs show the same techniques used in the 1890s and today. The tools have barely changed — a sharp knife, a bodkin, sturdy secateurs. A large trug can take a full day to weave, which is why most people now treat it as a hobby.

Blacksmithing: Sparks, Skill and a Well-Tempered Edge

The forge is the noisiest part of the exhibition, and often the busiest. A volunteer blacksmith will be working at the anvil on selected afternoons, turning a dull bar of mild steel into a fire poker, a pair of tongs or a simple hook. Children in particular are fascinated by the way the metal glows orange, then yellow, then white, and how a few sharp blows can change its shape completely.

The display includes hinges, nails, gates, cooking trivets and ornate door handles. The blacksmith will explain tempering — heating and cooling metal to make it tough but not brittle — and why a well-made tool can outlast its maker.

Quilt Making: Stitches That Tell a Story

In the quietest corner of the hall, a large frame holds a quilt in progress. The pattern is a traditional hexagon patchwork, made from dozens of tiny paper templates covered in scraps of fabric. A volunteer quilter will be on hand to show you how to tack the papers, sew the hexagons together by hand, and then quilt through all three layers — top, wadding and backing — with small, even stitches.

The exhibition includes quilts loaned by local families. One was made from soldiers' uniforms after the First World War. Another uses pieces of a wedding dress and a christening gown. A third is a friendship quilt, each square signed by a different villager. Quilting was never just about keeping warm; it was about memory and community.

Demonstration Afternoons: When to See the Makers at Work

Volunteers will demonstrate their skills on selected afternoons throughout the season. The full programme is posted on the museum noticeboard and in the village newsletter, but the usual pattern is as follows:

• Basket weaving: first and third Wednesday, 2pm to 4pm.
• Blacksmithing: second and fourth Saturday, 1pm to 4pm.
• Quilt making: every Sunday, 11am to 1pm, plus occasional Thursday evenings.

These sessions are informal. Drop in at any point, watch, and ask questions. The volunteers are patient and happy to show you how to hold a tool or try a simple stitch. If you are bringing a group, ring ahead so the demonstrator can plan.

Practical Tips for a Rewarding Visit

• Arrive early. The best view of the anvil or quilting frame goes by half past two.
• Wear sensible clothing. The forge is warm; avoid loose sleeves near the fire.
• Ask before touching. Some items are fragile.
• Bring a notebook. Volunteers share measurements and tips not on the labels.
• Check the noticeboard. Demonstration times can change at short notice.

The exhibition runs until the end of October, and entry is free, though donations are welcome. Whether you have a family quilt in the attic or want to watch iron become a useful tool, the museum offers a warm, practical afternoon out. Village crafts survived because they were shared from one pair of hands to another. That tradition is very much alive.