Families in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, can enjoy a free Valentine’s Day craft session at a local heritage site on February 14, 2025. The event aims to give local people a low-cost way to celebrate the holiday while exploring the industrial history of the town.
The event at Sharpe’s Pottery Museum will be a drop-in session, meaning parents do not need to book a place in advance. Children can try their hand at making pop-up cards and thumbprint bookmarks at the museum on West Street.
This activity is run through the Swad Live programme, a community initiative that organises events to bring more arts and performance to the town centre. It is a joint effort involving the South Derbyshire CVS and the South Derbyshire District Council.
The venue is a historic building that used to be a working pottery factory notable for the 19th-century ‘wash-down’ water closet — a flushing-rim toilet — patented by Edmund Sharpe in 1855. Visitors can explore the museum’s history and visit the on-site Sweet Caroline’s Café during the craft session.
Council leaders say the museum is an essential part of the town that helps keep local heritage alive for younger generations. By offering free activities, the organisers hope to make it easier for families to spend time together in the community.
