Free Traditional Compo Making & Moulding Workshop
Get hands-on with history in this 90-minute Compo Making & Moulding Workshop. Discover the art of traditional composition frame making, made from a centuries-old English recipe, and create your own decorative moulding to take home.
Step behind the scenes of our Breakfast Room conservation project and discover the fascinating craft helping to restore Osterley's magnificent mirrors.
As specialist conservators carefully repair the historic mirror frames, they are recreating missing decorative details using a traditional ornamental material called composite, or "compo", a mouldable material widely used from the 18th century onwards. You can even watch the conservation work in action every Wednesday and Thursday in the House.
Now it's your chance to have a go yourself. In this hands-on workshop, you'll learn how compo is made, using a traditional English recipe, before moulding your own decorative ornament to take home.
As a craft now recognised on the Red List of Endangered Crafts, this is a rare opportunity to experience a traditional skill that is helping to preserve some of Osterley’s historic collection.
Thursday 30th July & 6th August
Adults (18+) only
Limited to 8 places per workshop
Free, but advance booking is essential
Image credit: Hugh Mothersole
Please note:
- Please meet at the visitor welcome kiosk on the north side of the House (where you get House/Garden entry tickets)
- Please wear weather appropriate clothing
- The garden kiosk is a 10 minute walk from the car park. Please contact us if you have any accessibility requirements.
- Not suitable for people under 18
- Workshops will be on Thursday 30th July and Thursday 6th August – If there is interest more may become available.
- The workshops are for adults only -18+ and is limited to 8 places per workshop.
- Workshop runs for 90 minutes.
Ticket options
Get hands-on with history in this 90-minute Compo Making & Moulding Workshop. Discover the art of traditional composition frame making, made from a centuries-old English recipe, and create your own decorative moulding to take home.
Step behind the scenes of our Breakfast Room conservation project and discover the fascinating craft helping to restore Osterley's magnificent mirrors.
As specialist conservators carefully repair the historic mirror frames, they are recreating missing decorative details using a traditional ornamental material called composite, or "compo", a mouldable material widely used from the 18th century onwards. You can even watch the conservation work in action every Wednesday and Thursday in the House.
Now it's your chance to have a go yourself. In this hands-on workshop, you'll learn how compo is made, using a traditional English recipe, before moulding your own decorative ornament to take home.
As a craft now recognised on the Red List of Endangered Crafts, this is a rare opportunity to experience a traditional skill that is helping to preserve some of Osterley’s historic collection.
Thursday 30th July & 6th August
Adults (18+) only
Limited to 8 places per workshop
Free, but advance booking is essential
Image credit: Hugh Mothersole
Please note:
- Please meet at the visitor welcome kiosk on the north side of the House (where you get House/Garden entry tickets)
- Please wear weather appropriate clothing
- The garden kiosk is a 10 minute walk from the car park. Please contact us if you have any accessibility requirements.
- Not suitable for people under 18
- Workshops will be on Thursday 30th July and Thursday 6th August – If there is interest more may become available.
- The workshops are for adults only -18+ and is limited to 8 places per workshop.
- Workshop runs for 90 minutes.
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