Learn the Art of Georgian ‘Puzzle Purses’ at This York Workshop
Fabrication Crafts and heritage bookbinder Anachronalia will host a Georgian Love Letter Workshop in York on Sunday, 9 August 2026. The two-hour session runs from 14:00 to 16:00 at Fabrication Crafts, 32 Stonegate, York, YO1 8AS, and costs £20. Tickets can be booked through the Visit York website.
The workshop is aimed at members of the general public interested in crafts, heritage or historical correspondence. Participants will learn how to make and decorate a Georgian-style “puzzle purse”: an origami-style letter fold once used for messages exchanged between friends and lovers. All materials, refreshments and an optional tour of the building’s upper floor are included in the ticket price.
What participants will make
Puzzle purses combined the functions of a folded letter, keepsake and playful challenge. The sender could decorate each layer with a separate message, allowing the contents to be revealed gradually as the recipient unfolded it. The design also left room for an enclosed memento, while refolding the letter presented its own puzzle.
The class will begin with instruction in making the fold. Participants can then decorate and write their letters while having a drink and biscuits. Fabrication Crafts says that all required tools and materials will be supplied, including watercolours, gouache, pencils and period-appropriate calligraphy ink, so attendees do not need to bring their own art equipment.
Period costume is not required. The organisers say it is welcome for anyone who wants to dress for the Georgian theme, but ordinary clothing is suitable for taking part.
Refreshments and the Stonegate building tour
The £20 ticket includes biscuits and a choice of tea or spiced hot chocolate. Dairy and vegan drink options are available, and vegan refreshments are included as standard. Anyone with other dietary requirements or allergies should notify the organisers before attending.
After the class, attendees will have an opportunity to tour the upper story of 32 Stonegate. The visit is intended to show surviving traces of the building’s Georgian character, including a panelled room that is not usually open to the public and will be dressed for the event. The tour also offers a higher-level view towards Mulberry Hall.
The tour is an additional part of the visit rather than the central workshop activity, but its location is important for anyone assessing whether the event is accessible to them.
Access information to check before booking
Fabrication Crafts has three steps from the street to the shop entrance, followed by two further internal steps leading towards the rear. The class itself takes place at the back of the shop floor.
The toilets are on the first floor and can only be reached by stairs. The post-workshop tour and panelled room are also on the first floor, with stair-only access. Prospective attendees should take these constraints into account before purchasing a ticket.
The Georgian Love Letter Workshop takes place from 14:00 to 16:00 on 9 August 2026 at Fabrication Crafts, 32 Stonegate. Admission is £20, with materials and refreshments included. Booking is available through the Visit York website, while advance dietary information can be sent to info@fabricationcrafts.co.uk.
Source: Visit York Events
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- 2026-07-17 14:59
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