We’re delighted to share this short film of Richard Ede making a withy pot (traditional willow crab/lobster pot). We hope you enjoy watching as Richard masterfully makes a pot, and listening as he shares in his personal recollections and reflections about the endangered craft. Made as part of the Withy Lore project, this film weaves in extracts for an oral history recording with footage of pot making.
Born in Yorkshire, Richard spent his early years mastering fly fishing in rivers, taking the long trip down to Cornwall for family holidays. A voyage out to sea with Porthgwarra fisherman Dick Rawlings in 1948, when Richard was aged 6, sowed a seed that would lead to a lifetime passion and career. Richard later brought a boat and moved to Cornwall. Not being from a fishing family didn’t stop Richard who was determined to learn. This learning included mastering the traditional craft of withy pot making. Richard makes a beautiful pot. Over the years of making withy pots, Richard has made his own adaptations to the design to strengthen the pot and increase their lifespan.
Filming Richard make a pot in May (which is out of the typical pot making season) meant an added challenge for Richard, who had to soak his willow and use more force to manipulate them. This was certainly an impressive sight to behold and it’s easy to see why he draws in a crowd when demonstrating pot making around Cornwall. Now 80, Richard is determined to carry on making, with a clear passion for heritage crafts and the environment.
It’s not long now until our exhibition with artist Anna Pope at the Royal Cornwall Museum (1st March- 22nd June 2025) and we’re looking forward to showcasing one of Richard’s pots, alongside extracts of his oral history and this film.
This project has been made possible with thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, FEAST Cornwall, Cornwall Community Foundation, the St.Aubyn Foundation and the Fishmongers’ Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust.
