Meet the
Maker
@ The Land of Oak & Iron
Update: Due to the new National Lockdown, the Heritage Centre is closed until further notice. Click & Collect is only available on a Friday between 10am & 12pm. Thank you for your continued support and understanding. Love, cafe shrub and Land of Oak & Iron Team.
Our Artisan Collection
by local artists & craftspeople
The Land of Oak & Iron are proud to support local artists and makers, featuring them in a series of recent events at the centre where visitors had the chance to meet the people behind the products.
We feature products from a range of creatives including illustrators, willow artists, jewellers, painters, glass makers and potters.
We are proud to showcase these products in our new online store, and also give you the opportunity to learn more about the people behind them.
Please note that currently our online store is running on a Click & Collect basis.
Collection from café shrub available between 10am & 12pm every Friday.
Find out more about our makers
The Nines
Natural
Handmade Soap
The Nines is a small artisan soap works based in Washington.
It’s run by Frances Denton who hand makes all the soaps using the age-old traditional cold process method.
Frances began making soap five years ago prompted by the need to find a mild and moisturising soap that could potentially help her daughter who suffers from psoriasis.
Looking at the various types of soap on the market she quickly came to the conclusion that the best way to ensure that a bar was free from potentially harmful chemicals was to make it herself.
So after months of research, testing (only on willing humans), obtaining a Cosmetic Safety Assessment from a registered chemist and complying with all the current legislation, she decided to share her soaps and started The Nines Soap Works.
The soaps are made with the best natural oils and butters to which are added, depending on the recipe, the finest pure essential oils, botanicals, clays, colours and honey.
They are all suitable for vegetarians and, with the exception of the ones that contain honey, are also suitable for vegans.
Our products are currently only available online. However, please do stroll around the picturesque Derwent Valley, steeped in history with an abundance of natural woodland and iconic wildlife.
The Heritage Centre is currently closed until further notice.
Our fantastic café offering homemade food with quality local ingredients is still running a takeaway service.
Products from our makers, such as the jams from The Mad Jam Woman and honeys from Travelling Bee Co., are a popular staple on our menus!