We Tried 5 Forgotten Jobs In History

The 2026 Chalke History Festival tickets are on sale now! www.chalkefestival.com

Join us at Chalke History Festival, the UK’s biggest celebration of living history, as we explore how human careers have evolved from the Stone Age to the Age of Exploration. Join Kyle Cairns as he tries his hand at ancient and historic trades — from Neolithic cordage weaving to the mastery of sail making.

Each craft is judged on skill, difficulty, working conditions, social status, and whether our host could actually do the job — all to find the ultimate historical career! Expect hands-on lessons, fascinating insights from living historians, and a fresh appreciation for the trades that built civilisation.

Huge shoutout to our contributors at Prehistory To Present, Heritage Blades, Chanz De Reiz, The Historic Sailmmaker, Pario Gallico, and of course Chalke History Festival for making it all possible!

Directed and produced by McKenna Fernandez. Written and presented by Kyle Cairns. Edited by Matthew Wilson and Ben Keir.

00:00 Introduction
01:23 Stone Age Cordage Weaver
08:08 13th-Century Cutler
13:29 Iron Age Colour Merchant
22:28 Medieval Chainmail Maker
26:54 17th Century Sailmaker

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