Withy Lore | annapopedesign

Celebrating withy pots from around the South west

Over 2024 Storylines.org.uk and I will be working in partnership on a project called ‘Withy Lore’. We will spend time with those involved in the withy pot craft, recording their memories, knowledge and reflections. These will be celebrated through film, photography, storytelling, and art, beginning with an exhibition at the Royal Cornwall Museum from 10th March – 22nd June 2025.

Richard Ede withy pots - Photo taken by Simon Colgan - Cornwall College.jpeg

A bit about withy pots

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. Withy pots, naturally biodegrade, leaving behind little or no trace and many styles sadly have now been lost. This fascinating craft and its heritage, that is deeply connected to our relationship with the natural world, is now at risk of disappearing.

Meet The Team

Anna Pope (Left) and Sarah Trevillion (right)

Sarah and I both have experience working with members of the withy pot community through projects including Jewelwithy and Storylines Guardians of the Reef. We are really excited to be working together and with members of the withy pot community, who will play an important role in shaping this project.

Cornwall College learner' during Jewelwithy 2021.JPG

Cornwall College, Camborne, Media and photography

Cornwall College learner's will be working with us on a live brief to document a local withy pot maker through film, which will be shared at the exhibition and also archived for generations to come.

Penberth scattered with withy pots_edite

Royal Cornwall Musuem

RCM, have generously allocated a workspace at their beautiful museum to run intergenerational workshops, where withy pot makers' and young people will take part in creating part of a 'Withy pot barnacle' installation. This has been inspired by an archive photograph of Penberth, which shows the cove scattered in withy pots, appearing like barnacles.

Withy pots

Withy pots form a very important part of the Withy Lore project. We will continue to add to the withy pot photo gallery collection which began during Jewelwithy.

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Funders
We are excited to annouce that we have received funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund, FEAST Cornwall, Cornwall Community Foundation, the St.Aubyn Foundation and the Fishmongers Company towards digitally documenting the critcially endangered craft and to hold some intergenerational workshops. I am still waiting to hear if funding towards my aim to produce an exhibition book, to document similarities and differences between withy pots from around the South west, largely through artefact illustration has been succesful and I will keep you all in the loop!