Highlights of the Ulverston's The Gill carnival night held in 1993

The striking sculptures, made from natural materials like cardboard and hazel coppice wood, had been created by Martin Brockman and a team of helpers at carnival night workshops at Welfare State International’s headquarters in The Ellers.

Phil Powell, of Ulverston, at a Welfare State International lantern workshop in preparation for the lantern procession in Ulverston in 1995

For the carnival night celebrations freelance sculptor Mr Bookman had designed huge weathervane sculptures to decorate all the stalls and masterminded two tall arches providing an entrance to The Gill.

Martin and his team had also created a decorated stage for the live entertainers.

“I designed the sculptures on the theme of People and the Land and Hiring Fairs in Ulverston,” said Martin.

In July 1995 hardworking volunteers had crossed the threshold of a new barn they were building at Welfare State International’s headquarters in Ulverston.

During a ceremony held in the grounds of the arts organisation’s premises The Ellers, the team drank a ‘threshold toast’ to the success of the scheme to build a traditional Cumbrian Cruck barn.

Each of the volunteers took it in turn to add wine to a drinking cup, specially carved in oak by local volunteer Adam Rubinstein, 37, from Urswick, before tasting the barn’s future success.

The ceremony was held to mark the completion of the foundations.

Sue Downward, of Ulverston, at a Welfare State International lantern workshop in 1995

Researching South Cumbrian vernacular architecture, the volunteers would use traditional oak timbers from the Graythwaite estate for the major frames and incorporate the Walter Segal self-build method.

The construction would be held together with 250 hand-made oak pegs.

Almost 50 volunteers had signed up to build the barn, including artists and craftspeople skilled in environmental conservation and practical community arts techniques.

Cup carver Adam Rubinstein with other volunteers at the threshold ceremony for the Cumbrian cruck barn being built at Welfare State International’s headquarters in Ulverston in 1995

Led by qualified supervisors Chris Coates and Peter Wilshaw, some volunteers were working for a week or two while others were staying up to eight weeks to experience the unique project.

The barn would serve as an extra arts workshop and shadow theatre.