Parchment, the stretched and prepared skin of an animal, was the primary writing substrate of the medieval world and remains central to understanding the material conditions of manuscript production. Yet the craft knowledge needed to make it has almost entirely disappeared from living practice. In fact, parchment-making is designated ‘critically endangered’ on the Heritage Crafts Red List.

This workshop offers a rare chance for book conservators, medievalists, and artists to learn the full process by hand—from de-hairing and fleshing calf skins through to stretching, scraping, and finishing them into smooth writing surfaces.

Two days of hands-on activity will take place at the Department of Veterinary Medicine; a third day of discussion will be held at Cambridge University Library. Each participant will receive a sample of the finished parchment.

The full programme is available at: www.crassh.cam.ac.uk/events/41945/