Withy Lore

From common sight to critically endangered craft

Until the 1960’s and 1970’s willow crab/lobster pots, known locally as withy pots, were a common sight around the South West coastline. Crafted with great skill over the winter months and cast into the sea with the hope of a good catch, these pots were a lifeline to fishermen and their families for generations. With the introduction of plastic pots, withy pot making rapidly declined and today few pot makers remain. Pot styles/techniques vary from place to place, person to person, like a signature. In turn these signatures reveal stories about place and community. As pots generally lasted 1 season, and most makers didn’t document their process, many designs have already been lost. Withy pot making is now classified as ‘critically endangered’ on the Red List of Endangered Crafts, meaning it is at serious risk of no longer being practised in the UK. There is therefore an urgency to document and support this fascinating craft and its heritage, that is deeply connected to our relationship with the natural world.

Withy Lore- what we’ve be doing…

Opportunities for withy pot makers to share, with both us and each other, has enabled us to capture stories, knowledge and reflections about this unique craft. This was shared through film, illustration, installation, audio, photography and collage. A touring exhibition and accompanying engagement programme, launched at the Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery in Spring 2025. It’s now due to tour the Museum of Cornish Life in Helston, Kresen Kernow in Redruth and the National Lobster Hatchery in Padstow.

Oral Histories and Films

Over 2024 Withy Lore spent time with those involved in the withy pot craft, recording oral histories and documenting the craft through the creation of a series of short films. Extracts from the project’s oral histories are presented in the exhibitions through a listening station and series of collaged stories. Using found imagery and old postcards, these collages illustrate sections of the stories, presenting them as open books. A series of films present personal stories of the craft. The recordings will be archived in full at Kresen Kernow, ensuring this craft is well documented for future generations to learn from.

: Films on display

: Listening station

: Story collages at the Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery

Illustrations and Jewellery

Withy Lore is being delivered in partnership with multimedia artist Anna Pope, who has who has a passion for withy pots and a personal family connection to the craft. As part of the project Anna is producing a series of illustrations and intaglio prints that share pot designs from around the South West. She is also sharing her beautiful etched brooches, which tell a seasonal story of the craft.

Community Installation

Inspired by an archive photograph in which clusters of withy pots appear like barnacles, Withy Lore worked with withy pot makers to produce a large-scale installation. This showcased different pot styles, and involved passing on skills to young people. The exhibition in Truro provided further opportunities for the installation to grow, with participants of all ages to contribute through simple weaving techniques.

: Withy pot barnacles at Penberth Cove

Engaging Younger Generations

Various opportunities for children and young people are woven throughout the project, supporting learning, wellbeing and creativity. These have included a workshop with Marazion Primary school, supporting students from Cornwall College in Camborne to make films and a series of engagement events such as families days to accompany the exhibition.

Withy Lore Exhibition

The Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery from 1stMarch – 30th June 2025.
Talks and community events, ran alongside the Withy Lore exhibition, celebrating the community of makers past and present and preserving its heritage for the future. This immersive exhibition used a narrative, sensory rich approach to interpretation making it accessible and engaging to a wide audience.

: Story collages and prompts at the Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery

Withy Lore Exhibition Tours

The Withy Lore exhibition is now being reimagined and will tour venues around Cornwall. Read more here.

The Museum of Cornish Life, Helston
Saturday 13^th September- 1^st November 2025

As part of this we’re thrilled to be involved with Helston Makes It- a week-long annual celebration of makers and craft, which this year will focus on willow. Over the week we have a range of activities and talks planned, which you can read more about here.

St. Peter’s Street Studios
Saturday 13th September- 27th September 2025

The Withy Lore films will be included in an exhibition at the former bible Christian Chapel in the heart of St.Ives. Here you can find out more about the exciting new development for local craft and arts workers led by St.Ives Community Land Trust.

Kresen Kernow, Redruth
November 2025- January 2026

The initial oral histories we conducted for the Withy Lore project are now safely archived at Kresen Kernow, so it’s another great venue to take the exhibition to.

The National Lobster Hatchery, Padstow
February 14^th– April 19^th 2026

We definitely wanted more on lobsters in our exhibition, so an exhibition at the National Lobster Hatchery feels like a great pairing.