In-person course
in Cardiff Maker & location details

(21)

Maille making the traditional way

Close up of Maille collar

In the workshop

A group picture after an enjoyable workshop

Flattening rings

Heating the rings

Hot drinks provided

Working on putting together maille

Drawing wire

Finalist Heritage Crafts Maker of the Year 2023 award.

The journey of Maille - the process the attendees go through to learn how maille is made. They take all these home to show what they have done.

Maille made into a keyring by attendee, next to the storage bag.

Description

Ever wondered how 'chainmail' was made? This is a unique chance to try this traditional craft. Phil is one of only a few traditional maille makers in the UK, awarded Heritage Crafts Maker of the Year Wales 2024, and is also an experienced teacher of skills. He will take you through the process of making maille armour from scratch, using the traditional methods and materials. You will also get to see some genuine historic maille! This is a course for total beginners. Everyone can do it, you don't need a lot of physical strength, just a bit of patience and attention to detail. It's a fun and creative activity for all, and Phil has lots of experience and knowledge he loves to share. The day is relaxed, with a group size of maximum of 5 students, so that you will get individual attention, and help with the trickier bits as you make your own patch of real maille! Phil can also do a one to one course, couples, groups of friends, or a family group with children aged 10 and over - let us know your requirements so we can give you a personal quote. If you have any other requests let us know!

What's included in the price?

All materials and instruction included. You will come away with your own bag of items that you have created yourself, that you can use to show your friends and family the journey from wire to completed maille. This includes your very own created patch of maille. Bring your own packed lunch, or pick up something from the nearby supermarket, but we'll supply plenty of tea, coffee, and biscuits!

Duration

5 hours

Cancellation policy

Easy - Cancellation and a full refund can be obtained up to 2 weeks before the course starts

Maker

Phil Parkes Maille

with Craft Courses since 2023

Message the tutor

Welcome! I'm Phil Parkes. I use traditional hand crafting methods to create maille armour, based on historical research of original items. I really enjoy showing people the process of making maille and seeing them come away with something they've made themselves as well as a new confidence in using tools and an appreciation of what was involved in making maille in the past! The skills and techniques are accessible to anyone: I've worked with our local primary school, families at community events and adult workshops, and all have really enjoyed creating their own items and learning more. My experience with teaching led me to create 'Wooden Maille' kits to help teach the skills involved in putting together patterns and tailoring. I'm a member of the Heritage Crafts Association - as a maille maker I'm on their list of Critically Endangered Crafts and am a Maker of the Year 2023 Finalist. My career has been in professionally conserving archaeological finds and teaching those skills as a Professor in Conservation at Cardiff University.

Suitable for

Adults
Seniors
Teenagers
Hearing impaired
Mother's Day
Suitable for beginners
Corporate days out & team building
Stag dos
Engagement, birthdays & anniversaries
Hen dos
Father's Day
School holiday workshops & activities
Fairs, festivals & exhibitions
Public transport

What does this mean?

Message the tutor

FAQs

Plenty! All the usual shops, food and drink, music and theatre.
But if you fancy something historical, then you can easily spend a full day at St Fagans National Museum of Welsh History. Entry is free.
Cardiff Castle is right in the city centre, and the tour is worth taking, as well as the wartime tunnels inside the battlements, and the Firing Line museum.
Cardiff Bay is 10 minutes on bus or train from the centre, 30 mins walk, or you can take the water taxi from the park. Once there, you can take free tours of the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) and the historic Pierhead Building, and take a look round the iconic Millennium Centre. That's another full day if you stop for a meal and maybe a boat trip!

Yes, you just book the number of places you want. The usual maximum number on a course is 5, this is to make sure that everyone gets the attention they need during the course. However, for a group of people who know each other well and are used to working together we can go up to 6 on request - message to ask.

From Cardiff Central train station, we are 10 minutes by bus, or about 30 minutes walk.
From the coach station, we are 20 minutes walk.
If you cycle, we can keep your bike safely in our garden. There are hire bike points nearby too.

Parking is on street, you might need to take a little time to find a non-resident space.

Venue

Canton , Cardiff, Cardiff, CF5

Reviews

All maker's reviews

23 Oct 24'

MF reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

"I had a great day on this course. Phil covered a lot of information about a very wide subject in a relaxed and interesting way. Making the maille was great fun with plenty of help all the way through if needed. Very hospitabe and highly recommended. "

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

"Thanks Matt, glad you enjoyed the hands-on making the maille. It's addictive once you start!"

18 Oct 24'

Nicholls family of 2 reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

"Wonderful experience! Very friendly. Thoroughly enjoyed! Lots of knowledge gained too!"

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

"Glad to hear you enjoyed it, looking forward to seeing what you make!"

16 Jun 24'

Philip Slough reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

"Had a great day despite little knowledge on the subject. Phil talked through the history of maille and showed us some original artefacts and talked through the different styles and techniques, as well as how maille evolved throughout the centuries from Celtic culture. We then were given the opportunity to make our own maille rings under his guidance in a workshop which included a lesson in metallurgy and different tools/techniques. We then had a go at making a piece of maille which was much harder than I imagined. With guidance and a bit of help I managed to make a small piece of chain maille. Phil is very knowledgeable on the entire subject as well as the practical application, which meant the structure of the day and learning tools were professional with the historical background explained. The whole experience was very welcoming and even when I struggled with some aspects, was given support by Phil to get through the different stages. Would highly recommend the experience, including total novices such as myself. I was really impressed and a great way to spend some of Fathers Day. "

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

"Thanks for the review Phil and you made a great maille keyring to take away. Glad to hear it made a great Father's Day."

16 Jun 24'

Emma reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

"What a fab day! Phil is knowledgeable and passionate about the subject of maille. We started with some background information and had plenty of opportunities to ask questions. Then we went into the well-equipped workshop and made our own rings from scratch using a range of tools. After a lovely, sociable lunch break we then made our own pieces of maille by joining and riveting rings together. Not as easy as it looks, but so satisfying to achieve! We had a nice little goodie bag of our makes to take home at the end of the session. I would recommend this class to history buffs, craft fans, and anybody who fancies doing something a little bit different. "

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

"Thanks Emma, it was great to have the lovely weather to sit in the garden for lunch. Glad to hear you enjoyed the course so much."

16 May 24'

Maria Kimak reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

"Phil is a knowledgeable and patient teacher and the course is super engaging and fun! It was so great to get a general overview of the history of chain maille and go on to learn the process from beginning to end, ultimately putting together our own small chain maille piece. Phil and his family were incredibly welcoming and I highly recommend this course, especially to anyone with an interest in historic crafts, metalworking or historical re-enactment. "

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

"Thanks Maria, glad you enjoyed the course and thanks for all the interesting questions throughout the day!"

20 Apr 24'

Ieuan & Bryn reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

"Both myself and my brother had the pleasure of attending one of Phil’s courses last week. Couldn’t have had a better time! A great day that started with some history, and expert knowledge from Phil with some amazing examples and finished pieces of maille that we got to handle and even try on! Then it was time to get hands on and boy we really got stuck in learning the whole process from drawing the wire through to drifting and riveting our own rings. Throughout the day it felt both relaxed and fun with conversation flowing between the group, Phil and his partner who made sure we all felt welcome. I’d absolutely recommend this course to anyone with an interest in maille."

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

"Glad to hear that you both enjoyed it so much and looking forward to seeing how you get on with making your own maille at home. Always here for advice on tools and hints and tips! I'm thinking through what might be included in an advanced course as we discussed on the day, so keep an eye out for future courses. Thanks for the positive feedback."

18 Apr 24'

Ade reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

"Phil is very knowledgeable. The history and development of chain maille was superbly explained. Taking you through the process of creating the individual links and riveting, and then onto actually making the maille was really well explained . Phil was at hand at all stages to offer advice and help. I hope there's an advance course."

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

"Thanks Ade, glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the feedback about an 'advanced' course, I'm looking at what that might involve as a few people have been suggesting it. Maybe see you again in the future!"

14 Feb 24'

Eric Nordgren reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

"The introductory Maille making course with Phil was great! Well paced, so we had time to learn about the history of this craft, looking at both historical and modern examples, then into the workshop where we got to learn the basics of each stage of the process. Would highly recommend!"

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

"Thanks for the review, glad that you enjoyed the course. "

31 Jan 24'

Sean Robinson reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

"Phil is both deeply knowledgeable and expert in his tuition. We had an amazing day learning about the history and construction of chain mail in his workshop. As an experience day, it was outstanding, and would strongly recommend it. Great value, too."

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

"Thanks Sean, great to work with you and your friends and glad you enjoyed it. Hope you get to carry on making a bit of mail in your own workshop some time."

14 Jan 24'

Joe Flitton reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

"Just had a great day making mail with Phil! Didn't know what to expect but Phil had a great balance of being knowledgeable, helpful and fun with some great training skills! The session talked us through the history, gave us a go at making rings, riveting and finally putting together some chain mail. I really feared it was going to be frustrating, but Phil kept us going through advice, support and good humour! Highly recommended for people interested in trying out a rare craft skill, or anyone who is a bit of a history nerd! "

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

"Thanks for the review Joe, was great to meet you and your friends, thoroughly enjoyed the interaction and laughs throughout the day."

11 Dec 23'

Catrin Davies reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

"I didn't attend this workshop but gave places to my son and niece as part of their Christmas presents... I can just tell you that enthusiasm oozed from them when we met later! I think Phil must be very skilled at imparting his deep knowledge of the subject while also teaching practical skills. They both loved handling the medieval examples in Phil's collection. Loved everything about this workshop! I am so grateful that my gift was SUCH a glorious success. Thank you Phil."

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

"Glad to hear they enjoyed the course, and I'm happy that they enjoyed the present. It was lovely to meet them both."

11 Dec 23'

Rob J reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

"A great day, with an excellent craftsman and teacher. A nice mix of discussion of the history of mail, the chance to handle some medieval examples, and then to get hands on with the whole process from start to finish. A relaxed atmosphere, and a warm welcome made this a really lovely day."

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

"Thanks for the review Rob. It was great to have your perspective as someone who researches and wears mail to add to the discussion. Glad you enjoyed it and hopefully you learned enough for making repairs / tweaks to your armour."

10 Nov 23'

Laura reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

"Absolutely brilliant! It was a group of 6 doing this for a friends birthday. Phil is a kind and patient teacher, he answered all questions and curiosities we had, explained the process and history of it well. I certainly recommend it to any that are curious. In our group we had a range of abilities and experience when it came to making things and by the end of the day, all of us had a patch of chain and a bag of the links we had made to take home with us."

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

"Thank you for the review and glad you all enjoyed it. I've enjoyed seeing the posts about the day on other social media."

24 Oct 23'

Paula Ibberson-Groves reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

"An amazing day. Well planned and timed enabling us all to complete the tasks without pressure. Phil has immense knowledge that enabled us to understand the historical aspects and construction through time. "

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

"Thanks Paula, I'm so glad you enjoyed it. It was great to meet you both."

22 May 23'

Sorcha reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

"Extremely thorough instruction in all aspects of beginner maillemaking. Phil is an excellent teacher and very very patient. Even if you come to this course with absolutely zero prior knowledge and limited aptitude for other weaving-based crafts (like me), you will come away with a strong sense of the basics. For Reenactors or history geeks, it's worth the price for the opening lecture on different styles of European maille alone. Would recommend to anyone. "

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

"Thanks Sorcha, glad you enjoyed it and to hear that the 'theory' bit was useful too."

5 May 23'

Kim H reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

"This course was so much fun! I wasn't sure what to expect, but Phil was a fountain of knowledge and experience that he was more than happy to share. He guided us through the process of making maille, from the very first steps of pulling the wire and making the rings to the later steps of weaving a panel of maille. He also taught us about some of the history of maille and how it was made in different periods, and we got to see some historical examples. Phil was really friendly and happy to answer all of our questions, even showing us how to repair our own maille armour for the future. The hours flew by. Highly recommended whether you're a reenactor, LARPer, cosplayer, historian, archaeologist, or somebody just interested in giving a new craft a try. "

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

"Thanks Kim. Hopefully the maille repair will come in handy and glad to hear you enjoyed the day."

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Maille making the traditional way

Description

What's included in the price?

Duration

Cancellation policy

Maker

Phil Parkes Maille

Suitable for

FAQs

Venue

Price:

Duration:

Time:

Next available date:

Reviews

MF reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

Nicholls family of 2 reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

Philip Slough reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

Emma reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

Maria Kimak reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

Ieuan & Bryn reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

Ade reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

Eric Nordgren reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

Sean Robinson reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

Joe Flitton reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

Catrin Davies reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

Rob J reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

Laura reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

Paula Ibberson-Groves reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

Sorcha reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

Kim H reviewed: Maille making the traditional way

Phil Parkes Maille responded:

Have you done this course?

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