Keeping The Wheels Turning - A Heritage Open Day Walk

Organised by : Rural Strides

Join us for a 2-mile Heritage Open Day walk to visit a traditional wheelwright and discover one of the countrysides most important but now rare crafts.

For centuries wheelwrights kept Britain moving. From farm carts and wagons to carriages and early vehicles, the wooden wheel was at the heart of everyday life. Yet the skills needed to shape timber, bend felloes, fit spokes and assemble a strong working wheel are now practised by only a handful of craftspeople.

Our walk will lead us through the local landscape before arriving at Ben Headon's workshop, where we will spend time chatting about wheels and watching a demonstration of this remarkable craft. You'll see how simple tools, seasoned timber and generations of knowledge come together to create a wheel built for strength, balance and durability.

Along the way we'll learn about the history of wheel-making, the different parts of a traditional wooden wheel, and the challenges faced by those working to keep these historic skills alive today.