Visiting the Heritage and Rural Skills Centre

Published:: 20 July 2023

Volunteers talking to a resident wood carver in their studio at the Heritage and Rural Skills Centre, Oxfordshire — Wood carver Tom Ball talking to visitors in his studio at the Heritage and Rural Skills Centre | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

Drop in for refreshments at Blake's Kitchen and browse the Wheelwright’s second-hand bookshop in the Old Carpenters Yard. Book on to one of our courses to learn or develop heritage and rural skills.

Café, bookshop and visitor information centre

The Old Carpenters Yard in Coleshill is home to Blake's Kitchen, serving cakes, savouries, sandwiches and hot food to order. It's dog friendly, with indoor and outdoor seating.

You'll also find Wheelwright's second-hand bookshop here, our visitor information room and the Old Timber Store, where you can see photos showcasing traditional skills and a display of carved timber from the estate.

Courses

We offer rare opportunities to learn directly from craft specialists, who will guide attendees through the creative process, resulting in finished piece to take home. Materials and tools are all provided in the price of the course.

Our 2025 programme of courses are now starting to go and sale, with the full programme available early in the new year. Find out more about our upcoming courses and book here.

2025 guided tours and open days

Our programme of bookable guided tours and Village Open Days has now finished for the year. These will take place again in 2025 - details will be confirmed in the new year.

Visitors looking around the exhibition in a converted farm building at the Heritage and Rural Skills Centre, Oxfordshire — The exhibition space at the Heritage and Rural Skills Centre | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

Current exhibition

Please note that our exhibition is only accessible via guided tour or during one of our Open Days. These will resume in 2025.

Our current exhibition explores the legacy of the creative people who made their home on the Coleshill estate or drew inspiration from it.

Fragments salvaged from Coleshill House after it was lost to fire in 1952 reveal glimpses of the creativity and skill that went into its design and construction. Tools from the Home Farm and working estate demonstrate the innovative agricultural and rural practices carried out here.

Objects and images represent some of the artists and designers who lived and worked here, from designer William Morris to sculptor Michie Herbert. You can also discover more about the craftspeople who work from studios here today, and find out why it's so important to keep heritage skills alive.