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- Apple Day 2017 - lots of apple-themed autumn fun, and visitors brought their surplus apples and windfalls, which were then taken to be turned into cider and apple juice for future events
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- 2017's Cabinets of Curiosity exhibition was made even more weird and wonderful for the run-up to Halloween
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- During the evening of the 2017 International Blacksmiths Day, the wonderful Bathtub Gin Band gave an impromptu acoustic performance!
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- St Helens WI begin the blind-tasting process, taking a section from each cake for the panel to taste
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- The winner (Victoria Morgan, pictured right) and runner-up (Sue Hirons, pictured left) in the 2016 Bake-off with their trophies, awarded by Cllr Christina Duncan
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- Visitors could carve moulds to make a coin or pendant, and they were then cast in pewter by another of our fabulous former Curators, Dave Griffiths
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- Heritage Open Weekend 2016 included a Tudor banquet, with food made from original recipes by the Curators
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- The fairies hid around the Smithy and grounds...
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- 2016's "Music and Magic of Shakespeare's World " event we had a fairy trail and traditional music and storytelling from the wonderful Tom Hughes, a former Curator of the Smithy
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- The Murder Mystery Productions during the "Midsummer Night's Murder" event
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- Willy visited Burchall's in Westfield Street. John Burchall has always been a wonderful supporter of the Smithy, and donates pies to be sold at our annual events.
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- As part of the 2016 "Plague and Prose" exhibition, we decided to have a "Where's Willy" challenge where we took the bard out around local landmarks and businesses so people could guess where he was - here he is in Mirage Hair Studio
If you’d like to see what we got up to on International Blacksmiths Day 2016, click on the picture below…
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- Puzzle the Horse en route to the Smithy pulling a dray filled with barrels of ale from George Wright's Brewery for International Blacksmiths Day 2016
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- 2015 MacMillan Coffee Morning at the Smithy
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- The lovely ladies of St Helens W.I. judging the 2015 Great Eccleston Bake-off entries
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- Every year, our bespoke handmade trophies are different - these are from 2015
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- Free micro-chipping was provided by the wonderful Dogs Trust
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- Lily Belle, winner "Waggiest Tail", being given her prize by Cllr Anita Ashcroft
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- Sasha, winner of "Best Bark" and "Best Trick"
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- Competitors taking it in turns to demonstate their tricks
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- The fantastic "have-a-go" agility course kindly provided by Dogs Trust
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- Vet Emily Gregson and Pann, a dog she and her family are fostering
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- In 2015 the Smithy hosted a Dog Show to tie in with the "Man's Best Friend" exhibition
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- Keep Calm and Carry On at the Smithy! The Smithy building was taken back to wartime, with sandbags at the ready and masking tape on the windows
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- The Curators and their wonderful team that helped make the weekend possible - l-r: Wheelwright Phill Gregson, Aaron Gregson, Curators Vicky Griffiths and Joanne Chamberlain, and Groundskeeper Paul Potter
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- The Village Hall was taken over for Heritage Open Weekend by the Curators
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- Aaron taking on the assault course
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- "Sergeant" Pepper came to visit for the weekend to oversee proceedings on the assault course. The Smithy is a dog-friendly museum. Dogs are very welcome here, all we ask is that they are kept under control on a lead.
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- Paul the Groundskeeper in Home Guard uniform, protecting his turf from invasion
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- Families enjoying the themed craft activities, making paratrooper toys
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- Three tasty entries to the inaugural Great Eccleston Bake-off: Lemonberrylicious cake, Traditional Lemon Drizzle, and Cheeky Chocolate Cake. Trophies and Lakeland vouchers were awarded as prizes to the winner and runner-up
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- Winner of the Great Eccleston Bake-off 2013, 8 year old Mary Jane Duffy. Her Cheeky Chocolate Cake wowed judge Teresa Sims, Chair of Eccleston Parish Council, also pictured.
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- Jake the blacksmith brought his portable forge to do his demonstration. This is how Ellis (Elias) Hall, the last blacksmith to work at the Smithy made a living when demand for his work was waning - he drove out to farms and customers rather than them coming to the Smithy.
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- Crowds watching Jake the blacksmith hard at work, as people did when the Smithy was still in business as a forge. Do you remember how it was? Tell us your stories!
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- Doris dressed as a miner. Doris is our longest-serving member of staff; originally a shop display model, she now has a very varied career - she's been a Victorian teacher, a Greek goddess, a 1950s housewife, and she is currently dressed as a wartime mother waving off her evacuee children.
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- Curators Vicky and Joanne getting into the swing of 1951 celebrating the Festival of Britain.
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- Dowsing with Bill and Doris (dressed as an Ancient Roman) as part of the Festival of Archaeology in 2008.
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- A recreation of a child's nursery from our "Jumpers for Goalposts" exhibition in 2008 which showed how people's experience of childhood has changed over the centuries.
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- One of our many activities from over the years participating in the Festival of British Archaeology - we love digging up the past!
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- Visitors enjoying the displays from our "Wearing the Trousers" exhibition in 2009 which illustrated the link between fashion and women's role in society through the ages.
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- Wheelwright Phill Gregson showing off his skills on International Blacksmiths Day 2012. The Smithy was originally a blacksmith and wheelwrights shop.
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- Families enjoying nature in the sunshine at the Smithy. We have a community wildlife garden, and lovely grounds which we make the most of in events. We have had jousting practise, outdoor games, and this year there will be a tank obstacle course challenge as part of the Festival of Archaeology in July!
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- International Blacksmiths Day - this incredible international event celebrates the skills of the blacksmith. The Smithy is the only venue in Britain to take part. We host live blacksmithing and wheelwrighting demonstrations to keep these traditional crafts alive at the Smithy and give visitors a glimpse into the past. This year, IBD falls on Saturday 25th May.
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- Our 2012 "Wet your Whistle" exhibition focused on pubs and brewing in the local area. We had our first Real Ale and Cider event, which was a massive success - the visitors drank us dry! We decided to make it an annual event - our second was held on Saturday 25th May this year.
