‘Withy Lore’ Category

A whirlwind of withies with Richard Ede

Posted on: 13th December 2024 No Comments

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 the net loft with Barry

Posted on: 27th October 2024 No Comments

Last winter we had the pleasure of spending time with Barry and media students from Camborne College in Barry’s net loft. Perched on the edge of Mullion harbour, this net loft has been used by Barry’s family for generations, itself housing a treasure trove of stories. Over the course of 2 days Barry artfully crafted […]

Every Withy Pot tells a story

Posted on: 6th September 2024 No Comments

The more time we spend with withy pot makers through the Withy Lore project, the more aware we’ve become of the differences in style, size and character of withy pots (willow pots used to catch shellfish). Looking at a pot now, we see subtle differences in technique, form and materials. Each of these elements tells […]

Weaving and story-sharing at Marazion school

Posted on: 12th July 2024 No Comments

This week we had the pleasure of going into Marazion school to work with year 6 children as part of the Withy Lore project that we’re delivering in partnership with artist Anna Pope. Over the course of the day, children heard and shared personal stories, did some weaving and had a special visitor! Stories lead […]

Rediscovering withy pot making on St.Michael’s Mount

Posted on: 2nd July 2024 No Comments

Anyone who knows Stephen Mathews will tell you what a treasure trove of local knowledge and stories he holds. A fascinating and modest man, Stephen has a family history of living and working on St.Michael’s Mount that goes back between 300-400 years. Having met Stephen when recording the Gwelan project, we have been fortunate enough […]

Withy Lore Oral Histories

Posted on: 30th May 2024 No Comments

With the Withy Lore project now underway, we have been enjoying spending time with people who have experience of making withy pots- willow pots to catch shellfish. Only a handful of people with this skill remain, so now feels like an apt time to capture oral histories from a time when making withy pots remained […]

A trip back in time with Cornwall College media students

Posted on: 18th March 2024 1 Comment

Walking to the old net loft on the edge of Mullion harbour, with freshly cut tamarisk piled outside and Barry Mundy’s deep Cornish voice coming from within, it would be easy to believe that we’d been transported back in time. This was the scene which greeted media students from Cornwall College in Camborne, as they […]

Withy pot makers pass on skills to younger generation

Posted on: 11th March 2024 No Comments

Following on from the first Withy Lore event, which saw withy pot makers from around the South-West come together to share and make, we were delighted to welcome a younger generation to the project. Passing on skills In the past withy pot makers would have passed the skill of pot making down the generations. It […]

Withy Lore kicks off with sharing and making

Posted on: 4th March 2024 No Comments

Following our recent funding success for the Withy Lore project, we were delighted to welcome withy pot makers from around the South -West to our first project event. Kindly hosted by the Royal Cornwall Museum, this event was focused on providing space for those interested in the withy pot craft to come together, share, learn […]

Anna Pope recording memories of withy pot making

Withy Lore receives funding to document the withy pot craft

Posted on: 21st February 2024 No Comments

We are delighted to share the brilliant news that we have received funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, FEAST Cornwall, Cornwall Community Foundation, the St.Aubyn Foundation and the Fishmongers Company for the Withy Lore project. With thanks to this funding Storylines will be working with artist Anna Pope to capture, preserve and share stories and knowledge about the withy pot […]