An amazingly creative business in the heart of the village
Nestled on the edge of Grayshott village is a thriving business, surprising for such a small community. Grayshott Pottery is one of our attractions during our Hidden Gardens 2023 weekend
and it is well worth a visit. It is one of the last working potteries in the South of England, and although you won’t see the potters at work during the event you can browse exclusive creations in the Gallery and explore an extensive range of gifts in the Emporium. The Pottery's Kiln Café will also be open for lunches and refreshments.
Handmade Studio Art Ceramics All the Studio Art Ceramics are designed and handmade on the premises using traditional materials and techniques combined with the latest technology. Established in 1956, producing ceramic giftware for London department stores and boutiques, this has extended to creating bespoke catering ware for leading restaurants, such as the Pig Hotels, Soho House and Wagamamas, as well as some celebrity chefs. In 2005 Grayshott Pottery acquired Dartington Pottery, which are distinctive pieces due to their unusual shapes, their glazes and firing processes. They are stand out pieces to be admired.
One of our volunteers had the chance to explore the inner workings of the pottery and was astonished to learn that the pottery employs 40 very experienced potters from the surrounding area. She was able to see the full journey of how bowls, plates, tea pots and jugs are produced using various techniques, including ram-pressing, jolleying, slip casting and handthrowing. This photo shows the many jolleying tools that are used just to create different shaped items.
Watching the potters create the tableware in rapid succession you realise that “throwing the clay”, creating pieces in moulds, painting on intricate designs, applying the finishing touches like handles, firing in kilns and dipping pieces in glazes is an art on an industrial scale.
The team are highly skilled with artists having amazing talent in creating beautiful imagery which are painted or carved into the pieces. It was lovely to see their most recent collections of tulips and hellebores being worked on in the pottery and then on display in the Gallery. If you get a chance over the weekend browse the 8 tableware ranges, which include traditional pieces, contemporary and a delightful children’s range, which can be personalised.
It is wonderful to see such a thriving business within our community and we are delighted that they are one of our key sponsors for the Hidden Gardens event.
Did you know that Grayshott Pottery creates:
200 different shapes with 30 different glazes which can potentially produce 6000 different combinations!
The Blue Plaques seen on historic buildings – see if you can spot this one on Crossways Road in the village
Mugs – if you want your own, check out their “mug wall” which contains one off unique designs to treasure. The artists like to experiment with new ideas to create one of a kind.
Limited edition handcrafted lamp bases, look out for them in the Gallery.
In addition to the wonderful attractions like Grayshott Pottery, there are also over 20 gardens for you to explore, plus an incredible selection of plants to purchase!