Crafts at Bens Brae

16/02/2026

❤️😁

25/01/2026

So much ❤️
It just fills my heart to see Mr Ben's Brae (aka Hubby, aka Ben's Hollow Forge) going from strength to strength 😊

08/11/2025

Hi folks just a little help for those struggling to find this post, and those who missed it.

🎄✨ Winter Wreath Making Workshop ✨🎄

Get into the holiday spirit with our much-loved wreath making workshop at Arthur Cottage and Andrew Jackson Cottage! Join resident crafter Mary for a cosy, creative session where you'll craft your very own seasonal wreath using fresh greenery and festive trimmings.

🌿 Learn traditional wreath-making techniques
🧺 All materials provided
☕ Festive refreshments included
🎁 Take home your handmade wreath to enjoy all season
💷 Cost: £35 per person
📞 To book: Call Carrickfergus Castle VIC on 028 9335 8262 or
📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 shapedbyseaandstone.com/whats-on
📌 Booking essential – places are limited

Perfect for a festive outing with friends or a peaceful solo escape into seasonal creativity.

04/09/2025

There have been a few people asking about what's coming up? This should sort the next couple of months 😉

🍂 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗺𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗵𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 🍂
Celebrate the season with a cosy line-up of craft demonstrations and heritage workshops at Arthur Cottage, Cullybackey – the perfect place to experience traditional skills in a charming setting.

🧵 September Highlights
📍 Sat 6 Sept, 12–3pm: Embroidered Memories – Craft your own keepsake jar workshop
📍 Sat & Sun 13–14 Sept, 11–3pm: EHOD Weekend – Spinning & baking demonstrations
📍 Sat 20 Sept, 11–3pm: Needle Felting demonstration
📍 Sat 27 Sept, 12–3pm: Harvest Heritage – Traditional Corn Dolly Craft Workshop

🍎 October Highlights
📍 Sat 4 Oct, 12–3pm: Traditional Woollen Weaving Demonstration
📍 Sat 11 Oct, 12–3pm: Apple Pie on the Open Fire Demonstration
📍 Sat 18 Oct, 12–3pm: Threads of Time – Make your own needle case workshop
📍 Sat 25 Oct, 12–3pm: From Fleece to Thread – Heritage Spinning Day Workshop

🎟️ Standard entry applies for demonstration days * except for EHOD weekend were free admission applies
🧷 All materials provided for workshops
🕛 Workshop Times: 12pm – 3pm
☕ Light refreshments included
🎁 Take home your finished piece

💷 Cost: £10 per person
📍 Location: Arthur Cottage, Cullybackey
📞 To book: Call Carrickfergus Castle VIC on 028 9335 8262 or
📧 [email protected]
🌐 shapedbyseaandstone.com/whats-on

📌 Booking essential – spaces are limited 👉 https://bit.ly/4mKKupZ

27/08/2025

Just a couple of places left on this workshop, if you're quick you could grab them.

✂️ A Cut Above: Traditional Sewing of Scissor Holders ✂️
Step back in time and enjoy a hands-on session learning how to sew your own traditional scissor holder with our resident crafter Mary. A practical and charming project—perfect for all skill levels!
All materials provided
Date: Saturday 30 August
Time: 12pm – 3pm
☕ Light refreshments included
Take home your finished piece

Cost: £10 per person
Location: Arthur Cottage, Cullybackey
To book: Call Carrickfergus Castle VIC on 028 9335 8262 or
[email protected]

Booking essential – spaces are limited

30/06/2025

28/05/2025

There are still a couple of places available for this if anyone would like to have a go.

🧵 Heritage in Every Stitch: Rag Rug Making 🧵
Join our lovely resident crafter Mary for a fun-filled afternoon of rag rug making! No experience needed—just bring your creativity, and we’ll provide the rest.

✨ All materials included
🍰 Light refreshments served
📅 Date: Saturday 31 May
🕛 Time: 12pm – 3pm

💷 Cost: £10 per person
📍 Where: Arthur Cottage, Cullybackey
📞 To book: Call Carrickfergus Castle VIC on 028 9335 8262 or
📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 More info: shapedbyseaandstone.com/whats-on

📌 Booking essential – spaces are limited! No experience needed—just bring your enthusiasm for craft!

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council

22/05/2025

🧵 Heritage in Every Stitch: Rag Rug Making 🧵
Join our lovely resident crafter Mary for a fun-filled afternoon of rag rug making! No experience needed—just bring your creativity, and we’ll provide the rest.

✨ All materials included
🍰 Light refreshments served
📅 Date: Saturday 31 May
🕛 Time: 12pm – 3pm

💷 Cost: £10 per person
📍 Where: Arthur Cottage, Cullybackey
📞 To book: Call Carrickfergus Castle VIC on 028 9335 8262 or
📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 More info: shapedbyseaandstone.com/whats-on

📌 Booking essential – spaces are limited! No experience needed—just bring your enthusiasm for craft!

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council

05/02/2024

Discover the art of blacksmithing with Ben's Hollow Forge! . Our day and evening classes provide the perfect opportunity to acquire essential blacksmithing skills. Join us for hands on experience and unlock the craftsmanship of this ancient art form dm to book your space.

11/11/2023

Remembering at Arthur Cottage today.
#

04/11/2023

The UAS and Centre for Community Archaeology's 7th annual Discovery 2023! conference is being held *in 2 weeks* hybridly on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th November in-person at the Elmwood Building QUB and online via Zoom!

*Day 1 (Friday 17th November, 18.30-20.15):
Our first day will start with the wine reception in the Elmwood Building (Geography) at 18.30. This will be followed at 19.00 by the book launch of 'Ballynahattty: Excavations in a Neolithic Monumental Landscape' by UAS and QUB's Barrie Hartwell (https://www.oxbowbooks.com/oxbow/ballynahatty.html). The keynote lecture, 'Putting Ballynahatty in its broader Neolithic context,' will then be given at 19.30 by Dr. Alison Sheridan of National Museums Scotland (https://www.nms.ac.uk/collections-research/collections-departments/scottish-history-and-archaeology/meet-the-team/dr-alison-sheridan/).

*Day 2 (Saturday 18th November, 9.00-18.00)
The second day of the conference will start with Registration from 9.00-9.30. The lectures begin at 9.30 and will feature 15 talks spread across 5 sessions on various aspects of archaeology in Ulster, Ireland, the USA and China. This includes updates on multiple Ulster excavations, research on early medieval churches, a recap of the EAA 2023 conference which was held in Belfast this year, research on the Irish diaspora at the Keyes site in Lowell, Massachusetts USA, research on the Bronze Age population in the eastern Tarim Basin (Nop Lur) of Northwest China, research on horses and dogs in the archaeological record, Archaeology 2030, and research on early medieval cemeteries.

Conference Sign-up Instructions:

Sign-up Online:
-To ensure in-person admission to the conference on the day, sign up now by going to the Discovery 2023 Conference page on our website, https://www.qub.ac.uk/sites/uas/Conference/Discovery2023/, and pay the conference fee via PayPal (£20/in-person adult, £10/in-person student).

-For online attendees (£5/online) , please register by Wednesday 15th November to ensure that you will receive the conference streaming link.

Sign-Up via Booking Form:
-You can also fill out the conference booking form (https://www.qub.ac.uk/sites/uas/UASfilestore/Filetoupload,1995922,en.pdf) and send it and a cheque to our UAS Treasurer (as per the form's instructions). These forms must arrive *before* Friday 10th November to ensure admission to the conference.

We look forward to seeing you there (either in-person or online) for !

29/10/2023

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃