Following family footsteps for a week – by Jack Rees
Posted: July 28, 2026
The History
Work experience at Muchelney Pottery has been more than just a week of work, it’s been a chance to follow the footsteps of my family, a chance to throw pots on a wheel in the workshop my grandpa, Nick Rees once did during his 46 year stint at Muchelney Pottery. Nick worked as master potter, producing the wood fired oven to tableware pots supporting John Leach. It’s been a chance to work along side my aunt, Rachael Rees, who has been keeping everything working smoothly and efficiently behind the scenes for nearly 20 years.
The Firing
The pots are fired in a traditional wood-fired kiln for 36+ hours by a team of stokers, with flames that “lick” the surfaces of the pots to create the natural glaze variations and their unique “toasted finish”. I have been lucky enough to be part of the team of stokers, feeding wood into the kiln alongside my dad, Tom Rees. During my work experience it has been interesting to see the packing of the kiln, watching Mark and Hannah carefully load the kiln without the pots touching and strategically arranging the pots for the desired look.
Unfortunately the July firing has been postponed, I was scheduled to be part of the team of stokers but due to the extremely dry landscape, thatched roofs and the risk of wild fires, the difficult yet responsible decision was made. Although it has been postponed I am still looking forward to the next firing and unpacking the pot I made during my work experience!
The Shop
During my work experience I had the opportunity to revamp the shop displays to give the space a fresh, welcoming look ahead of the open day. I reorganised the pots by Mark Melbourne and my Grandpa, Nick Rees, creating eye-catching displays and to make sure the area was tidy and easy for the customers to browse. This helped me understand how the presentation of the displays can influence a customers experience. It also showed me that small changes within a shop can make a big difference in creating a successful retail environment.