Reimagining Brockweirs Colourful Past

This summer, Brockweir will come alive with creativity, history, and community spirit as part of the Reimagining Brockweir Art Project — a series of free workshops open to all ages throughout August 2025.

Launched during a special weekend exhibition that reunited the anchor and bell of the La Belle Marie — the last ship to sail from Brockweir — this exciting community art initiative invites locals and visitors to explore the village’s rich working-class heritage through photography, storytelling, and collaborative art.

Supported by the Historic England Everyday Heritage Grant, these workshops aim to uncover and celebrate the often-overlooked histories of Brockweir’s people and places. The project is co-created by the community, and guided by a team of local and international artists.

📸 Saturday 2 August – Photography Workshop with David Broadbent
Join professional photographer David Broadbent to capture the spirit of Brockweir today. Participants will recreate historic images around the village and river, and explore new ways to tell Brockweir’s visual story through the lens.
🖼️ Saturday 16 August – Living Collage Workshop with Matthew Stone
Internationally renowned artist Matthew Stone will guide participants in crafting a collaborative living collage using village photographs, memories, and imagination. This hands-on workshop invites you to creatively connect with Brockweir’s past and present.
🧱 Saturday 30 August – Ceramics & History Workshop with Matthew Stone
In the second session, participants will transform their collage images into ceramic tiles to be displayed in the Brockweir Inn. The workshop will also explore the story of a mysterious Roman stone head unearthed in the village.

All three workshops are free, but signing up is mandatory. You can sign up to one, two or all three of the workshops. You can do so by emailing  brockweirinn@gmail.com or ring 07778 177337.

The outcome of the project will be presented at a community exhibition in October - and be part of the new Brockweir Inn when it re-opens!

Led by the Brockweir History Group and Brockweir Inn CBS, and funded by Historic England, the Reimagining Brockweir Art Project is an inclusive exploration of working-class heritage. Workshop participants will co-create an archive of stories, images, and artworks that celebrate the lives and legacies of Brockweir’s people.

Learn about Historic England’s Everyday Heritage Grants:
historicengland.org.uk/everyday-heritage-grants
Discover Brockweir Inn CBS:
thebrockweirinn.com
Contact us: brockweirinn@gmail.com