Cutting off the oppertunity to learn.

Such a sad day - our tutors just broke the news to us that our Jewellery and Accessories course is being shut down. We get to graduate after our final year but there will be no more students coming into first year and carrying on the course which is extremely sad. The course has invaluable qualities and is 100% one-of-a-kind. Tutor/student time is invaluable with all five tutors giving their all to help throughout the four years of study, numerous guest lecturers, working crafts people and designers coming in to talk to us throughout the year and a year set aside for work eperience and placement in the fashion/jewellery industry which is something completely unique to the course. The oppertunities and experiences given to students on this course are invaluable and like no other. We are the only course in the university that sits and uses the metal workshops on a regular basis, as well as making the most of other workshops such as ceramics, photography, laser cutting, wood workshops, casting/plaster workshops etc. We use such a vast space across the university and make having those assets worthwhile to the university. We are a specialist course, yet we use so many different mediums. We make the most of our unique course! Employablitiy after graduating is very very high and our course is ranked amongst the highest seen at BA level in the UK. Why are they taking us out of the equation? We have exceptional links to the industry. Our course is not protentious, we do not design for the sake of it. We are thinkers and we are makers. Our skills are vast and our techniques are specialist. We don't want these specialist skills and techniques to be lost. We are the future of craft and design and making. Middlesex have made a very big mistake.

Cecil Beaton, Imperial War Museum

The Crypt, St Pancras Church, Euston

V&A Handling Session

Chatelaine - 18th century, cut steel, worn at the waist with attachments such as mirrors, sewing tools, every day tools for use in every day life for the working woman.
French word for 'mistress of the castle' who used to carry all responsibility in running the household. The mistress of the castle would have keys suspended from her waist.
This chatelaine would have been made by a metalsmith rather than a jeweller as these types of chatelaines would have been gifted as a functional item, hence the heavy weight ready to deal with wear and tear of every day life.