Creating counterfeit gemstones will be the subject of Alison Whitaker’s talk Faking Jewels at the New Ashgate Gallery in Farnham on October 11 from 10am to 11am.

Artist and researcher Alison, who works at the gallery, will delve into the covert 16th century practice and follow a trail left by counterfeit jewels on the former Shrine of St Swithun at Winchester Cathedral - destroyed by Henry VIII's men - which leads all the way to Farnham.

Alison will share research from her new book The Jewel Forger of Winchester: A Composition of Sources. She said: “When I first learnt of the counterfeit jewels in historic Winchester, I became intensely curious about the process of making them at that time.”

For free tickets visit newashgate.org.uk/whats-on