Fulham Palace Autumn Craft Fair 2025
On 29 October 2025, we attended the Fulham Palace Autumn Craft Fair, bringing a little Benjamin Franklin flair to a brilliant event that welcomed around 180 visitors throughout the day.
Our pop-up focused on anatomy, inviting children and adults to explore the story of the Craven Street Bones, a fascinating part of the House’s history. William Hewson, another historic resident of 36 Craven Street, ran an anatomy school on-site, and visitors discovered who he was, why he’s known as the Father of Haematology, and how his work shaped our understanding of the human body.
Children sketched skeletons, handled replica bones, and practised identifying each bone using its correct anatomical name. Many took their time in careful “life-drawing” studies, examining the structure and details of ribs, femurs, skulls and vertebrae with impressive concentration!
Alongside our activity, Fulham Palace hosted a full programme of seasonal crafts and heritage-inspired workshops. Families made autumn wreaths, decorated nature prints, tried on historic costume pieces, explored biodiversity displays, and joined storytelling sessions in the Victorian rooms and gardens. The atmosphere was lively, creative and wonderfully family-friendly.
We were in excellent company throughout the event, joined by fellow heritage organisations including: Battle of Britain WW2 Bunker, Boston Manor House, Chiswick House, Fulham Palace, Kingston Museum, Leighton House, and the William Morris Society. Each offering hands-on crafts and activities inspired by their own collections and histories.
Visitor feedback was warm and enthusiastic, with many families spending several hours enjoying the activities. Several parents shared their thoughts:
“It was a lovely experience, she learnt about old time clothes and about the bones. And she made lovely crafts.”
“It was very nice, my son as extremely happy and enjoyed all his time. He was over the moon with all the activities.”
Others praised the welcoming atmosphere and the opportunity for children to learn through hands-on exploration. One parent noted the “lovely atmosphere to keep your little one busy and creative.”
A heartfelt thank you to the Fulham Palace team, volunteers and organisers for hosting such a warm, inclusive and accessible community event. We were delighted to be part of it and to share the remarkable history of Benjamin Franklin House with so many curious young learners and their families.
