Public events at the Ancient Technology Centre (ATC)

The Ancient Technology Centre in Cranborne offers a range of opportunities for the general public including open days, public courses, storytelling and musical events.

Open days in 2012

The Ancient Technology Centre has been providing exciting hands-on learning experiences to schools and other groups for over 25 years. We have developed a series of Open Days that are designed to give members of the general public the opportunity to come and explore the site, learn about our historical past and participate in some ancient crafts and skills.

Ancient Springtime Day - 10 March, 10am - 4pm

This is a day of traditional activities at this working farmstead to welcome in the Spring. Participate in Roman and Iron Age ploughing, ancient crop seed sowing, building cob walls, making Suffolk hurdles and nets and building a hayrick. Use the Roman waterwheel and view the ancient breed animals, Soay sheep, wild boar and ancient breed chickens. You can also see the Roman forge, Earthouse and Viking Longhouse.

Stone Age Walk 29 - 31 March.

Look out for our Stone Age travellers traversing the landscape along an ancient route from Avebury, through Stonehenge, Old Sarum and onwards to the ATC in Cranborne. Check the Ancient Technology Centre website (opens in a new window) for the itinerary and join us along the way to learn more about the local landscape.

Stone Age Weekend - 14 and 15 April, 10am - 4 pm

A weekend for all the family to experience 'life in the Stone Age' at this prestigious site: meet our Stone Age travellers and participate in activities include rope-making, cave painting, fire making, structure building, raw hide scraping, knapping flint arrowheads and pulling a giant monolith using ancient methods. Listen to music and storytelling in the Earthouse. This is a rare opportunity to step back into our distant past.

Vikings Galore - 28 and 29 July, 10am - 4 pm

Explore the Viking Longhouse and see Viking and Saxon warriors re-enact battles of a time long past. A wonderful opportunity for all the family to learn about Viking crafts including blacksmithing and cob wall making. Kiddie Vike gives children the opportunity to challenge the Viking warriors to sword fights using wooden weapons, try hands-on activities, listen to storytelling and Dark Ages music and purchase items from Viking traders. Part of the Festival of British Archaeology 2012.

Ancient Harvest and Apple Day- 6 October, 10am - 4 pm

See our Roman Cider Press in action. Bring bottles and apples and press your own juice to take away. Make traditional apple jam in the Roman workshop, harvest hedgerow fruits and make fruit leathers good enough to eat! Other activities include using sheep's wool to make felt and harvesting hedgerow plants to create natural dyes. A lovely, fun family day.

Roman Weekend - 27 and 28 October, 10am - 4 pm

Experience life in Roman times. 'The Vicus' Roman re-enactors demonstrate daily life in a Roman town. See the herbalist and village surgeon and watch how a weaver produces cloth. Observe the blacksmith in the Roman smithy, the Roman waterwheel and participate in the Roman Sword School, Roman games, pottery making and Roman cookery.

Ancient Winter Day- 8 December, 10am - 4 pm

See the crafts and skills that thousands of winters have seen before and take part in traditional winter skills, green woodworking and crafts, such as charcoal burning, hurdle making, fire making, hedge laying, axing logs, faggot making and pole lathing. See the blacksmith working in the Roman smithy and participate in various activities in the Earthouse.

Further information

All open days offer refreshments: BBQ, fresh homemade cakes and tea. Plenty of indoor and outdoor activities so, regardless of the weather, good fun can be had by all plus the opportunity to purchase replica crafts at the Trade Tent. For more information, please check our website (opens in a new window) or call the centre on 01725 517618.

Ancient Skills Courses

Throughout the year, the Ancient Technology Centre hosts day and weekend courses. The range of courses reflects traditional rural skills and allows plenty of opportunity to soak up the unique atmosphere of the Ancient Technology Centre in the company of other like-minded people. Regular courses include; blacksmithing, flint-knapping, natural dyeing, felt making, coppicing, hurdle-making, hedge laying and longbow making.
In addition, visiting craftspeople will run a flexible programme of other courses throughout the year. Contact the Centre on 01725 517618 for further information.

Mailing list

If you would like to be kept informed of events at the Ancient Technology Centre, please contact our Administrative Officer and request to be added to our email mailing list.

Storytelling events in the Earthouse
The Earthouse at Cranborne is a magical venue for stories and music. You will be transported by some of the best storytellers and musicians in the land.