The Heritage Day at the Blue House in Frome

Andrea, one of the trustees of the Blue House offered me the opportunity to demonstrate how the blue dye is extracted from Isatis Tinctoria (Woad) which I have been growing in the Blue House garden for the past 3 years. 

Not being one to miss and opportunity to dye, I set up a small vat, (well 2 saucepans which won't be returned for use in the kitchen, please let me know any one pot recipes for supper), in the back garden under the pergola and described the process to an interested audience while tearing and steeping the leaves, oxygenating and finally reducing the liquid. 

White wool was then dipped into the vat and as it was removed it turned a beautiful shade of indigo blue to lots of oohs and aahs from children and adults.  
One of the land registry maps on display in the exhibition also showed the location of a dye workshop at the bottom of the garden which could, probably will,  lead to further research.