There is a special quiet that falls over the Frosterley Village Hall kitchen on Wednesday evenings. Beneath the warmth of the lights, a dozen local residents stand side-by-side, their hands coated in stoneground flour, working together to shape traditional sourdough loaves.
This is the newly launched Weardale Baking Circle, sponsored in part by The Stanhope Artisan Bakery. The project seeks to do far more than teach breadmaking skills—it uses the tactile rhythm of baking to combat social isolation across our rural communities.
“Baking sourdough takes time, patience, and warmth,” says Cheryl, our Root & Branch Cafe Chef. “By gathering people to kneaded dough, we create a space where conversation happens naturally. You don’t have to look each other in the eye the whole time; you focus on the loaf, and the stories just flow.”
All loaves baked during the circle are either taken home by participants or donated directly to the Root & Branch Community Cafe for their Thursday pay-what-you-can lunch menu. If you would like to join the next cohort, details are available at the Stanhope Artisan Bakery or on our What’s On calendar.