Phil Parkes, Maille Maker

Wales Maker of the Year Award 2024

Maille maker Phil Parkes has won this year’s inaugural Wales Maker of the Year Award, supported by Silverlining, including a £1,000 prize awarded at a special presentation at Eltham Palace on Tuesday 26 November 2024.

The award, supported by Silverlining, celebrates a heritage craftsperson in Wales who has made an outstanding contribution to their craft within the previous year. It recognises a contribution that is far beyond the ordinary, either in pushing their craft to new levels, contributing to its promotion or continuation in an exceptional way.

Phil Parkes is an accredited conservator with over 30 years’ experience. Since 2018 he has been studying maille (sometimes known as ‘chain mail’) and working to disseminate understanding of this endangered craft. In this relatively short time, he has become recognised for his incredible skill, and recently completed a piece of 15th century style maille for a researcher in Australia to study the effects of different types of arrowheads against maille armour.