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The association says many historic crafts are now in the hands of an ageing population. So few people practice certain crafts that they might disappear within the next five years. Sadly, some crafts have already died out.
A UNESCO-accredited non-governmental organisation, the HCA is tasked with safeguarding craft skills for future generations. Sadly, there are currently 56 critically endangered crafts on Heritage Crafts' red list.
Many people may not have even heard of the crafts that are under threat, so read on to find out more about our disappearing heritage.
Bell founding
Bell founding is the crafting of large bells to use in churches, clocks and public buildings. Classed as critically endangered, there are only 11 to 20 craftspeople in the UK for whom this is their main income. An additional two to four people craft bells as a side-line. All are centred around the London and Loughborough regions.
The origins of bell founding lie in early medieval times, with the craft having remained largely unchanged since the 12th century. Initially, it was mainly carried out by monks. Later, most towns across Britain had their own foundries. Craftsmen would also travel from church to church to cast the bells onsite.
The bells are cast in a two-part mould, in special bell metal made from a bronze alloy. Once the size of the bell is determined, the mould is constructed, and the bell is cast in hot metal. When it has cooled down, the clapper is fitted, and the bell is tuned.
The HCA says at least 50 craftspeople are needed to ensure there are enough left to pass on their skills.
Withy pot making
Traditional crab and lobster pots made from willow are known as withy pots. It used to be a widely practiced craft along the south coast of England, throughout the Cornwall and Devon coasts, in southwest Wales and southwest Ireland.
Today, there are only between six and ten professional withy pot makers, mainly in the Cornwall, Devon and Dorset areas. They make the baskets as a side-line to their main job - there are none for whom it's their main source of income. There is one known trainee.
The craft goes back hundreds of years, as people have used traps to catch crabs and fish since humans first inhabited the shoreline. The skill was recorded in old paintings from 400 years ago.
Up to the late 1960s, withy pot making was still common along the British coast, but the skill began to die out because new methods were introduced to save time, such as attaching a string of wire and net pots together in a line.
Neon making
The art of bending glass tubes to create lighting for artworks, signs and advertising is known as neon making. There are currently around 11 to 20 small businesses in Britain that bend the glass tubes, with a total of 40 to 50 skilled craftspeople.
Neon lighting was invented at University College London in 1898 by scientists Morris W Travers and William Ramsay. The glass tubes are heated and bent using skilled manipulation. They are filled with gas at low pressure. The gas is ionised by an electric current, causing it to emit coloured light.
In 1910, French engineer and inventor Georges Claude took neon lighting to France. It was in its heyday in the 1920s in Europe and the US.
The main neon production centre has been West Yorkshire. However, there are only around seven neon makers there now, compared with around 24 workshops in the late 20th century.
Watchmaking
The making of watches and chronometers is a critically endangered skill in Britain. The first successful chronometer was invented and made in London in 1759. Watchmaking was once widely practiced in London, Liverpool, Coventry and Birmingham. Today, there are only around 11 to 20 skilled watchmakers left in the UK and up to ten trainees.
At one time, there were 20,000 watchmakers in London alone. Switzerland has been the world's centre for skilled watchmaking since the 19th century. In particular, Geneva's watchmakers represent almost 10% of its total population.
The HCA said the Swiss watchmaking industry entered a state of rapid growth in the late 19th century, funded by strong global trade links. The Swiss watch industry was organised for greater production efficiency than its British counterpart and took over as the global leader.
What crafts are extinct?
Sadly, many crafts are believed to be completely extinct in Britain. In recent years, cricket ball making, and gold beating have completely disappeared! Hand-stitching cricket balls was on the red endangered list in 2017, having been practiced in Britain since around the 17th century.
Today, there are no manufacturers of hand-stitched cricket balls who carry out the whole process in Britain. Some of the raw materials are shipped from the UK to India for fabrication. They are then sent back to the UK to be finished.
Gold beating, the process of hammering gold into thin sheets to create gold leaf, has been wiped out in Britain, largely due to cheap foreign competition. The UK became swamped with imported Chinese gold leaf, destroying the local craft industry.
Are any crafts thriving?
The future isn't bleak for all UK craft industries. There has been a boom in craft breweries. In fact, a lot of small breweries have experienced their sales doubling in recent years. The demand for locally and independently made beers continues to surge.
In addition, some crafts have remained popular for decades such as paper flower making, jewellery making and candle making. Largely crafts that people can work on from their own home, they can be practiced as a hobby or as a small business. They tend to be crafts where the raw materials can be stored easily and the finished products can be shipped to customers without too much hassle.
Royal support
Many crafts remain on the HCA's endangered list and the organisation is aiming to raise awareness of the loss of Britain's traditional skills.
Prince Charles, who has championed traditional crafts for many years, has given his support to a new seven-part television series, The Prince’s Master Crafters: The Next Generation, to highlight Britain's rich heritage. It is due to air on Sky Arts, Freeview Channel 11 and streaming service NOW TV in May.