There are some great special weekend events, including our first ‘For the Love Of …. Makers’ Fair @ The Castle’, as well as walks, talks and family activities …

 

For the Love Of…. Textiles: The Makers’ Fair @ The Castle

• Saturday 18 June, 10.30am – 4.30pm

Free entry

Ahead of National Windrush Day and in celebration of the late Althea McNish, Windrush elder and world-renowned Tottenham based textile designer, we are holding a Makers’ Fair. We will be showcasing those working with textiles today in Haringey, whilst looking back at Althea’s life and work and celebrating Windrush week.

To accompany the Makers’ Fair, there will be …

Family Workshops for printing on fabric by Box of Prints and another Workshop for Families with N15 Archive to hand-print fabric to help create the designs for a storytelling chair, inspired by Althea McNish’s fabrics.

There will be a short film about Althea McNish as well as the showing of the short film ‘Weaving Tales of Resilience’ by Sonja Scantlebury of 4U2 and Sewn Together. These can be viewed in our current exhibition of the same name, with textiles by Christelle Mutombo-Cartier and Yodea-Marquel Williams.

 

There is still some space available if you are interested in a stall and sell textile-based crafts, fashions and textiles then please email [email protected]

And more for Families ….

 

Meet the author – The Story of the Windrush: Family Workshop

• Sunday 19 June, 1.30pm – 2.30pm and 4pm – 5pm

Join this free workshop with Kandace Chimbiri, author of ‘The Story of the Windrush’ and ‘The Story of Afro Hair, 5,000 Years of History, Fashion and Styles’ and hear about some of the history behind the books. You can also work with Kandace to create your own collage, inspired by the legacy of the Windrush generation.

 

Suitable for ages 5 to 13 years. Every adult must be accompanied by a child! No need to book, just turn up.

 

About the books:

In June 1948, hundreds of Caribbean men, women and children arrived in London on a ship called the Empire Windrush. Combining historical fact with voices from the Windrush Generation, ‘The Story of the Windrush’ book sensitively tells the inspiring story of the Windrush Generation pioneers for younger readers (ages 7+ ).

 

‘The Story of Afro Hair, 5,000 Years of History, Fashion and Styles’ includes some of the Windrush generation business pioneers like Tottenham’s finest, Dyke and Dryden (for readers aged 9+).

 

About the author – K.N. Chimbiri

Kandace was originally a self-published author. Motivated by the lack of diversity in children’s books, particularly non-fiction, she researched, wrote and distributed from home four Black history children’s books.

 

In 2020 Kandace decided to give up self-publishing to concentrate on research and writing. She signed with Scholastic UK which included a reprint of her most popular self-published title ‘The Story of the Windrush’. Her most recent book is The Story of Afro Hair, 5,000 Years of History, Fashion and Styles.

 

Reminiscence Café at the Castle

Our free reminiscence session is back this month – just come along, enjoy a cup of tea and share your memories.

Windrush Playlist 

• Tuesday 21 June, 2 – 4pm

A new and exciting music accompanied the Windrush generation arrivals from the Caribbean, adding to the mix that had thrown up the American imports of rock and roll and jazz, and the home-grown pop of the Beatles. For the young in the 50s and 60s it was a time of music to dance to, lyrics to weep or laugh with, and generally display our rebellion and energy.

Dance halls, jazz clubs, discos and festivals were places where we could hear the new music, but also, more seriously, Churches – usually outside the mainstream – vibrated with passionate gospel singing, bringing a new sound to the streets outside. It’s music time again as we celebrate the Windrush generation.

 

All welcome. No need to book

Curator’s Pick: With Ruth Hutchinson

• Thursday 23 June, 3.30pm – 4.15pm

Join us in the Museum’s galleries to hear Tottenham resident and special guest speaker Ruth Hutchinson tell us the story behind her chosen object on display. Come and hear Ruth’s story – caring for others since she arrived from Jamaica in 1959, her activism and campaigning alongside her joy for art, music and poetry – and find out why she has donated items to be part of the collections at Bruce Castle.

 

All welcome No need to book.

West Green Road Legacy Walk

• Friday 24 June, 10 – 11am
• Sunday 26 June, 11am – 12 noon

Take a walk with tour guide Avril Nanton and explore the history of this well-known road in Tottenham.

With Avril you will discover more about pioneering trailblazers Dyke & Dryden and their beauty and hair products, Bernie Grant MP for Tottenham, and internationally-renowned textile designer Althea McNish – and where they started their businesses, established their workplaces or set up home. Heavily influenced by the large African and Caribbean population, most people are not aware of the famous people who have lived in this street, making important contributions to the area and to Black British history in general.

Starting at Costa Coffee and finishing at Black Boy Lane, this walk will take in some of the well-known shops past and present along West Green Road, including Uncle John’s Bakery and Bodies Music, some of the 20 Black hair and beauty shops that line the street, as well as stopping by the lesser-known Windrush monument, and, not forgetting, the home of textile designer Althea McNish, the woman who designed for the Queen.

This special free walk for Windrush Day accompanies the current exhibition ‘We’re In Business’ at Bruce Castle Museum & Archive.

There are two dates to choose from for the walk.

Please book your place through the website Avril’s Walks and Talks.

• Friday 24 June, 10am – 11am

Meet at Costa Coffee at 261 Tottenham High Road, N15 4RR

Book your place through Avril’s Walks and Talks.

• Sunday 26 June 11am – 12 noon

Meet at Costa Coffee at 261 Tottenham High Road, N15 4RR

Book your place through Avril’s Walks and Talks.

Family Activities: How Does Althea’s Garden Grow?

• Sunday 26 June, 1.30pm – 4pm

Beautiful flowers, plants and bold colours inspired the exquisite fabric designs and artwork of internationally-renowned Althea McNish. She also loved creating her own special space and garden at 142 West Green Road in Tottenham. Just like Althea, come along and be inspired by nature and join N15 Archive to help recreate her corner garden in the Courtyard at Bruce Castle. Get hands on with planting flowers, designing the space and take part in crafts to create your own floral designs – just like Althea!

For ages 5 to 13 years.

Every adult must be accompanied by a child! All welcome. No need to book.

Please share with your networks and we look forward to seeing you at Bruce Castle soon!

Best wishes from us all at Bruce Castle

Deborah Hedgecock