Withy Lore will soon be touring!
- annapope83
- Aug 18, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 19, 2025
It has been over a month since we took down our Withy Lore exhibition at Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery. Sarah from Storylines and I recently found a moment together to sit down and read the feedback crabs filled in by visitors and we were both overwhelmed by the wonderful positive responses we received, thank you, it means so much!
Storylines and I are also delighted to tell you that we have been approached by a few exciting venues who wish for us to display the exhibition with them also! These will enable communities within other parts of Cornwall to explore and learn about the wonderful world of withy pots and its connection to their heritage. This has been made possible through grants from the Little Parc Owles Trust, the Fishmongers Company and The Basketmakers' Association. During these exhibtions there will be opoortunities to take part in workshops and listen to talks. Here is a little more information:
13th September - 1st November - Museum of Cornish Life, Helston
We will begin our journey in Museum of Cornish Life museum in Helston. The museum was once the town's market building and showcases thousands of objects all linked to Cornwall. During our time with them, they will be hosting their annual week long celebration of craft and makers', through an event called Helston Makes It, and this year it will be themed around one of my favourite plants, willow!
We will be getting into the Helston Makes It spirit by running a few activities for you to get involved in:
Family day activities Museum of Cornish Life
Saturday 20th September - FREE drop in workshops
Corky Baban Making – Make your own corky baban using willow and words. Cast your wish to sail back home with you.
Withy Pot Barnacles – Add to the withy pot barnacle installation by weaving with found plastics.
Withy Pot Detectives – Become a withy pot detective and investigate the characteristics of withy pots through tracing and looking.
Willow Bracelet Workshop
Monday 22nd September 2025, 10.30am – 3.30pm, £22 per person- booking required
The Museum of Cornish Life, Helston
Upcycle old jewellery, off cuts of willow and recycled silver to create a bracelet to take home!
Talk with withy pot maker, Barry Mundy
Tuesday 23rd September – 11am – 12.30pm FREE
The Museum of Cornish Life, Helston
You can learn more about Barry by watching this film:
During our time there we will also be hosting a rare opportunity for 3 young people to try their hand at making a working withy pot from a master withy pot maker:
Intergenerational Withy Pot Making
31st October- 1st November FREE
The Museum of Cornish Life, Helston
Traditionally withy pots are made during the cooler months, when the willow is at its best to be woven. This opens a small window of opportinity for the craft to be passed onto the next generation.
We have organised a two day workshop for 3 young people aged between 18-25, to learn how to make a working withy pot from start to finish by a master withy pot maker.
To find out more please get in touch
Illustration work
As part of our exhibition in Helston I will be showcasing new illustration work of a withy pot made by local withy pot maker Tom Chambers. This will also include terminology passed onto him by his late father, withy pot maker George Chamers. Their family have had a long relationship with the museum and have also been a fantastic support throughout our project, it feels only too right to celebrate them. This work has been made possible through a grant kindly given to us by the Basketmakers' Association.
....and finally below are two more tour dates for the diary:
Exhibition at Kresen Kernow, Redruth
8th November 2025- 31st January 2026
We are thrilled to have some of Withy Lore archived with Kresen Kernow, including Storylines oral histories and soon some of my black and white withy pot illustrations which also document some of the terminology/language used. During our exhibition with them we will showcase elements of Withy Lore and some of the archives withy pot related collections.
Exhibition at the National Lobster Hatchery, Padstow
February 14th– April 19th 2026
Learn more about not only withy pots, but also lobsters!!!
Please get in touch if you if you have any memories or links to withy pot making in the area.
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