Louis Neale ran a free Roman Tablet Writing Workshop open to East Harptree and Chew Valley residents on 25th May 2024 at East Harptree Pavillion 10am-1pm. This was put on as part of a collaboration with Rising Waters Community Project with Valley arts.
Inspired by the Roman Writing Tablet discovered at Chew Lake during the excavations before the Lake was enveloped in Water, Louis created an art class designed for all abilities (over the age of 16) to construct a replica Roman Writing Tablet. The participants chiseled into wooden tablets and poured hot bees wax into the grooves, then carved into the wax to create an image or writing as the Roman's would have done. Dried nettle cordage was then wound up and knotted and drilled into the tablet in order to be able to hang the tablet as an artwork.
Thank you to Louis for such a fantastic morning and to Rising Waters Project with Valley Arts for funding the project!
The process was really interesting and everyone had great fun - some brilliant writing tablets were made and we are really excited to show them at the Rising Waters Community Project Celebration day on 6th July at St Laurence Church.
Some excellent feedback from the workshop:
"Really interesting to learn more about Roman Tablets and to have the opportunity to make one"
"I enjoyed every moment of it and want to improve my skills to work with wood now. Thank you so much for putting on this workshop! Inspiring."
"I especially enjoyed the practical aspects and carving the wood and using the tools to write in the wax"
"I enjoyed learning about the history and connection with the lake - really enjoyed the whole class"
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