Raku pottery

Barley Wood Craft Barns, Wrington





Stage 1 - Throwing a pot.

Stage 2 - Throwing a pot



For the second year running my pottery friends and I went to the lovely Barley Wood Walled Garden craft barns in the village of Wrington ,nestling below the Mendip hills.  What a lovely venue for the teaching of crafts.  In our case we went to received pottery tuition, just as we did last year. 

The walled garden dates from 1901 and were constructed for Henry Herbert Wills, director of the Imperial Tobacco company in Bristol.  Walled kitchen gardens were the zenith during this time, supplying every kind of fruit including figs, grapes and nectarines to the family in Barley Wood house. Although not part of the house any longer, they are still beautifully tended by the current owners, and the craft barns, a relatively new addition, lend themselves perfectly for creativity in this glorious location.  In addition there is a delightful cafe/restaurant within the walled garden complex.  They serve wonderful freshly cooked country fayre.  A wonderful day out if you are a gardener, of the craft persuasion or simply for a ride in the country with a delightful lunch.  I can't speak highly enough of this venue.

I must not forget our pottery tutor Bill Moore, an excellent craftsman with enormous patience.  This extremely talented man has a display of all his own work in one of the craft barns, and it's all for sale if you are looking for a gift or just collecting pottery. This place and the whole experience for my friends and I have been a real find over the last year or so.