Where: Sappho Rocks, Little Mollands Farm, Mollands Lane, Essex RM15 6RX
When: 21 to 23 September OR 23 to 25 September 2026, 10am to 4pm each day with a lunch break (lunch provided)
Cost: £300 (three free bursary places available for those from under-represented communities or facing financial hardship – subject to availability)
Join the Heritage Crafts 2025 Precious Metalworker of the Year Stephen M Goldsmith for this three-day intensive training course aimed at intermediate metalworking practitioners.
With over 50 years experience in the silversmithing allied trades, Stephen M Goldsmith has a unique affinity for metal, especially gold. He has elevated the endangered craft of polishing beyond recognition and his skills are widely considered unparalleled in the precious metals world.
With support from the Goldsmiths' Foundation, Heritage Crafts has partnered with Stephen to produce an hour-long film on polishing, helping to capture and transmit the skill for future generations. Stephen is delivering two three-day courses for students eager to learn polishing skills. The film will be provided as a key learning resource to enhance the hands-on experience.
Taking place at Sappho Rocks Jewellery School in Essex, students will learn the fundamentals and advanced techniques of metal polishing, how to make the most of their bench tools, which materials to use, and how to reclaim precious material from the workshop environment. Students will be given one piece of gilding metal and are asked to bring their own projects to be polished with guidance from Stephen. Sappho will also be on hand and will provide catered lunches. You will be supplied with a polishing kit to take away with you at the end of the course.
This course is not intended as an 'experience'; it is for working practitioners who intend to incorporate these skills inot their metalworking practice. Both masterclasses cover the same areas and each have five places available, providing a focused and supportive learning environment. To ensure equitable access to this vital training opportunity, we are providing three free bursary places for individuals from under-represented communities or facing financial hardship – subject to availability.
Participants will be asked to bring their own metal projects to polish – this could be jewellery, trophies, vessels, etc in silver, gold, copper or other metals, but preferably not platinum.
Please note, places will be allocated based on suitability. Please fill in the application form below and Heritage Crafts will contact you with news of whether you have been accepted onto the course.
Programme
21 to 23 September 2026
- Day 1 – The three-step process; polishing principles using gilding metal
- Day 2 – Polish your own project; tips and tricks of the trade
- Day 3 – How to reclaim precious metals from the polishing process
23 to 25 September 2026
- Day 1 – How to reclaim precious metals from the polishing process
- Day 2 – The three-step process; polishing principles using gilding metal
- Day 3 – Polish your own project; tips, tricks and techniques of the trade
Getting there
Situated on the London/Essex borders. The studio is on a small industrial estate in a semi-rural location. Links to London are very good with a train just 30 minutes from London Fenchurch Street. Motorway links are excellent we are in between Junction 29 and 30 of the M25 and 10 minutes from the Dartford River Crossing. Ample free parking on site.
How to get to us by public transport
- London Fenchurch Street c2c train to Ockendon (30 minutes)
- Southend to Ockendon c2c (45 mins)
- 370 London Bus Romford - Lakeside
- Nearest tube - Upminster
Is there any accommodation nearby?
Local hotels include Premier Inn Chafford Hundred, Thurrock Hotel (Best Western), and Stifford Hall Hotel.
Sappho also offers a full board option at a very reasonable £149 a night which includes dinner, bed and breakfast as well as transport to and from the hotel.
If you have any further questions feel free to email Finn Arschavir at finn@heritagecrafts.org.uk.