People charged with vagrancy and crimes such as stealing food or clothing (often travelling through or sleeping in the rural landscape surrounding Lancaster) would be brought to the Petty Courts at the Judges' Lodgings. Those found guilty included young children, women, travelling labourers and the homeless, with the Vagrancy Act of 1824 that criminalised homelessness- still not fully repealed. Brought briefly inside the domestic space of the lodgings, those found guilty would often be sentenced to imprisonment at Lancaster Castle with hard labour.

We have become particularly interested in exploring these contrasting environments as a way to understand the histories of the people involved and the museum itself.

Working with artist Sarah-Joy Ford, and educator/researcher Hannah Singleton, the workshops are based on information found in court records and local newspapers from the 19th and early 20th Century, sharing the stories of these prisoners with participants, we will work together to bring their stories to life through writing, sound and stitch. Our work together in these sessions will feed into the production of a textile installation that from September will be installed in the dining room in the Judges' Lodgings Museum.

No experience required and all materials are supplied.

You can book all three workshops or attend one.

Sunday 27 July 1-3pm- Vagrants, Paupers, Poachers: Zine Making Exploring the objects that those found guilty at the courts had been accused of stealing (mainly clothing and food) as a way of bringing these individual histories to life. We will share some of the records with participants before guiding you through some drawing and creative writing exercises to produce a zine in response to the histories, a selection of these will be displayed alongside the installation in the final exhibition.

Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 August 1-3pm- Vagrants, Paupers, Poachers: Stitches and Sounds Building on some of the responses to our previous workshop we will ask participants to engage with the histories of those accused in the court sessions to make visible the objects they were accused of stealing, their individual stories, and the ways these prisoners interacted with and moved through the building itself. There will be opportunities to work with these stories through stitch (embroidery) and sound (field recording).

Access - please read the Access statement on the museum website. We aim to make our workshops accessible where possible, however if you have any specific requirements please email judgeslodgings@lancashire.gov.uk

Judges' Lodgings 400 event supported by National Lottery thanks to National Lottery Players.