Lightmongers Visit the Plumbers’ Workshop at Amberley Museum

The Worshipful Company of Plumbers was delighted to welcome the Worshipful Company of Lightmongers to the Plumbing Museum and Workshop Trust at Amberley Museum on Friday 8 May 2026. During the visit, the Lightmongers divided into two groups, with one visiting the Electricity Hall while the other experienced traditional lead pouring, before the groups swapped over. A special highlight saw Graham Smith, Master of the Worshipful Company of Lightmongers, pour the Lightmongers’ coat of arms in hot lead.

The visit provided an excellent opportunity to share the history, craft and continuing purpose of the plumbing trade with fellow members of the Livery. Based at Amberley Museum, the Plumbing Museum and Workshop Trust preserves historic tools, artefacts and working skills connected with the ancient craft of plumbing, with a particular focus on traditional leadwork.

To make the most of the visit, the Lightmongers split into two groups. One group visited the Electricity Hall at Amberley Museum, exploring another important part of the site’s industrial and technical heritage, while the other group joined the Plumbers’ workshop team for a practical introduction to lead pouring. The groups then swapped over, allowing all guests to enjoy both parts of the programme.

A memorable highlight of the day came when Graham Smith, Master of the Worshipful Company of Lightmongers, was invited to pour hot lead into a specially prepared mould of the Worshipful Company of Lightmongers’ coat of arms. The finished casting created a striking link between the Lightmongers’ own identity and one of the Plumbers’ most historic working crafts.

To mark the occasion, the Worshipful Company of Plumbers presented Graham Smith with the former used to make the mould for the lead casting. This thoughtful gift provided a lasting memento of the visit and of the fellowship shared between the two Companies at Amberley Museum.

The visit also demonstrated the importance of keeping traditional craft skills visible and relevant. Leadwork is not simply part of the Company’s past; it remains an important way of explaining the origins, discipline and public value of plumbing to visitors, students, fellow Livery Companies and the wider public.

The Worshipful Company of Plumbers extends its warm thanks to the Worshipful Company of Lightmongers for visiting the Plumbing Museum and Workshop Trust, and hopes that the day provided an enjoyable and lasting insight into the heritage, skill and continuing purpose of the Plumbers’ Company.