Levens Hall and Gardens will be a centre of artisan talent between December 8 and 12, when the heritage home stages a winter extravaganza encompassing a Christmas market full of produce and products from workshops and studios across Cumbria, North Lancashire and the Lune Valley.
An undercover winter market is a new addition to a December event, which launched last year with the first-ever illumination of the world’s oldest topiary garden and a chance to see Levens Hall in festive splendour.
A few craftspeople tested the water with stalls in 2021. A great appetite for the handmade offerings available gave Levens Hall the idea to expand this element, and host it within a craft marquee, in December 2022.
Twenty-five food, drink, homeware, arts and crafts and luxury goods’ artisans are booked in and ready to showcase an array of high quality, award-winning and unique items. Many would make perfect Christmas gifts.
Cumbrian artisans
Stallholders from Cumbria offering foodie delights are chocolatier, Chocolat, from Kirkby Lonsdale, Witherslack Orchards, who boast a range comprising apple juices, damson syrup and damson gin liqueur, and Wild & Fruitful. The latter are renowned for their jams, chutneys, sauces and honeys.
These Cumbrian stallholders are joined by artist Mandy Allen Drawing, a pastels artist from the South Lakes, Sharon Cash, a wildlife and landscape artist, Eunice and Blue, who make high-quality soap from goat’s milk and Lakeland Rings, designers of exquisite rings.
Also representing the county are Floral Linings, makers of leather journals with floral or non-floral linings, Kendal-based Cable and Blake, known for Herdwick wool products and Firefrost Designs – a fused-glass artist. The Zero Pantry, known for sustainable and ethical products, will also be selling its wares.
Artisan producers and craftspeople from Lancashire
Food and drink artisans from Lancashire are award-winning gin-maker, Goosnargh Gin, Kickass Cheeses, producers of extremely strong Cheddar, and Provino, supplier of artisan Italian wines, based in Lancaster. They are joined by Pudalicious, a food business specialising in crumbles and sponge puds, lovingly made in Poulton-le-Fylde.
Lancastrian artisan makers who will be present at Levens Hall’s winter event are Hound Couture, who make handmade pet accessories, the Wyre Soap Company (specialist soap artisans) and Morgan Leather, who make a range of gorgeous leather items.
Also from the Red Rose county is Goulty’s Woodturning, extraordinary wood artisans from Lancaster, whilst Lune Valley artisans joining the event are A Bit of a Buzz (beeswax candles and polishes), Ark Glass (fused glass), RudieNoodie (eco soy wax candles) and Jewellery by Mandy (copper and silver jewellery).
Meanwhile, crossing the border from Yorkshire is Fig & Rose, creators of unique and stunning homeware products.
Honey and live music
One stallholder will also be offering a true taste of Levens Hall and Gardens, as head gardener, Chris Crowder, offers the public the chance to buy his own Levens Hall-harvested honey.
Another new element at the Levens Hall event is that of live music. Atmosphere will be provided by musicians from the Cumbrian flute orchestra, Flutes & Co, the Kendal Concert Band, The Salvation Army and Tracie Penwarden’s female choir, Ottovoce, from Milnthorpe.
Event organiser, Jane Meaker, says: “We are thrilled at how many North West Lancashire and Cumbrian artisans wish to support our pre-Christmas winter event and add another brilliant element to something that is already immensely popular. We would urge everyone to secure their ticket as soon as possible and come and do some Christmas shopping, to support our region’s artisan producers and craftspeople, whilst also seeing the spectacle of our world-record-holding illuminated topiary and our beautifully decorated Elizabethan Hall.”
Tickets can be bought at www.levenshall.co.uk The event is open from 4pm to 8pm on each of the five days, for ticketholders only.
