Shows and Talks

Thomas Smith’s have a long history of attending shows, dating back at least until 1851 when Thomas Smith, our founder and the original maker of the Sussex Trug, attended The Great Exhibition in Hyde Park, London, England. (History of the Trug) He then attended more shows in Scotland and England before going on his famous adventure to Paris, France in 1855 where he attended Le Exposition Universelle des beaux-arts.

Our company continues this fine tradition of education by taking our craft and demonstrating its processes at shows around Britain and mainland Europe. The shows we will be attending this year are set out below and new ones will be added when they are agreed with organisers.

Our demonstration is unique. We show either the making of the Royal Sussex Traditional Trug or the South Down Contemporary Trug, or, sometimes, both! Each of our two types of Trug are hand made and the way you see us demonstrating is very much the way in which all of our Trugs are produced in our workshops in the heart of the Sussex countryside.

Please Note: We do not pay to attend shows as we are a small company working hard to keep Trug Making alive in our modern World

If you are organising a show then you can book our demonstration for your event. We make a charge for attendance to cover our costs and the actual amount will vary depending on the distance we have to travel from Herstmonceux to the event and whether we have to use a ferry and/or make overnight accommodation arrangements. Please ask for a quotation. Booking form. We have to make this charge as the brutal fact is that we have to operate our small company on a commercial basis in order to keep alive the officially listed endangered traditional craft of Trug Making for future generations. When you enquire we will send you full details and costs before asking you for your confirmation.

We also arrange talks about our craft and are available to attend groups’ meetings, providing that our travel and accommodation costs are covered by the organisation requesting the talk. The talk lasts about one hour and is illustrated with slides, equipment and Trugs! We will also offer our Trugs for sale at discounted prices after the talk because this is all about keeping Trug Making alive. We may also provide discount vouchers for mail order sales subsequent to the talk. Please contact us for details.

Upcoming Shows and Events

Dates for 2022 Show Location

8th March 2022

Worshipful Company of Basketmakers’ Basketry Showcase

Dutch Church, Austin Friars, London

5th – 8th May 2022

RHS Malvern Spring Festival

Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire

28th May 2022

Heathfield Agricultural Show

Heathfield, East Sussex

10th – 12th June 2022

South of England Show

Ardingly, West Sussex

24th – 26th June 2022

Blenheim Palace Flower Show

Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1PP

27th – 29th August 2022

Stock Gaylard Oak Fari

Stock Gaylard Estate near Sturminster Newton, Dorset

3rd – 4th September 2022

Basketry Weekend

Weald and Downland Living Museum, Singleton, near Chichester, West Sussex

16th – 18th September 2022

Malvern Autumn Show

Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire

Sunday 27th November 2022

Christmas Fair

Blackstock Country Estate, Grove Hill, Hellingly, East Sussex, BN27 4HF

Updated Wednesday 7th September 2022

Please Note: As we carry out a demonstration of Trug Making for the entertainment of your visitors we do not pay to attend shows. We are a small company so we request show organisers to contribute towards our travel and accommodation costs and provide a free pitch/stand. We reserve the right to sell our products at all shows.