Our Heritage

Widely considered the most important and influential artist-potter of the 20th century, Bernard Leach pioneered the revival of the English studio pottery movement, setting up the St. Ives pottery, with the help of his friend Shoji Hamada, in 1920.

The Leach Pottery re-opened in March 2008 following major restoration, including the pottery cottage and the old pottery, both Grade II listed. The Leach Pottery once again become an international centre for the study, creation and exhibition of pottery.

In 2024 they began further development of the site which is due to be completed autumn 2026.

Visit the Leach Pottery website for more information on the history of the pottery, exhibitions, courses and the exciting development plans.

www.leachpottery.com

David was Bernard’s eldest son. He trained with his father and went into partnership with him until leaving in 1955 to set up Lowerdown Pottery in Bovey Tracey, Devon. He became particularly well known for his porcelain work.

www.tate.org.uk

John was the son of David Leach and the eldest grandson of Bernard Leach and was born at Pottery Cottage at Leach Pottery in St. Ives. Aged 18, John began his five-year apprenticeship. learning from talented and influential potters including Colin Pearson (Aylesford Pottery), Ray Finch (Winchcombe Pottery), his father David (Lowerdown Pottery) and grandfather Bernard (Leach Pottery, St. Ives).

Following his successful apprenticeship John travelled to the States to teach and set up a pottery with Harold Guilland in Mendocino, California in 1963. On his return to England he was keen to set up his own pottery and family home. After much searching, Muchelney was the chosen place.

The standardware range still produced in Muchelney was designed by John and influenced by his time at the Leach Pottery and Lowerdown Pottery. John’s shapes, in particular, celebrate form and function as made by a craftsman’s hand to be part of one’s everyday rhythms.

John’s personal shapes were inspired by other cultures and times. He loved medieval pots and pots of the Appalachian Way. He often taught on his travels and as well as travelling around the UK he spent time in Alaska, Denmark, Sweden, USA, Jamaica and Africa. He particularly loved his time in Nigeria which had a later influence on some of his ‘Black Mood’ pots. The Black Mood pots are fired in a saggar filled with sawdust which creates the black bodies with serendipitous white wavy lines. No two pieces are the same and they are prized items in collections around the world.

John Leach Interview (by Terry Flaxton as part of his Portraits of Somerset Working People series)

Nick began potting in 1972 when he joined John Leach for an apprenticeship at Muchelney Pottery. Apart from a 3-month stint working with Brian Newman in 1976 (Aller Pottery, Somerset), Nick remained at Muchelney as a Master Potter for 46 years until his retirement in July 2018. His days at Muchelney were spent producing the woodfired  catalogue range of oven-to-tableware pots and supporting John in the running of the pottery. Alongside the day-to-day production cycle Nick also developed his own signed pieces, his work demonstrates a subtle and refined approach to shape and design, accentuated through carving, fluting and experimenting with slips and glazes. This surface detail combined with the electric kiln firing process which he uses in his home studio, allows Nick to produce a range of work that is both distinctive and organic.

In 2024 Nick had two pieces  acquired by the V&A Museum in London as part of their permanent ceramics collection.

Nick’s work is available to buy through a number of shops and galleries including the Leach Pottery, St Ives, MAKE Southwest, St. Ives Ceramics and here at Muchelney Pottery where there is a permanent selection of work on display.

www.nickreespotter.co.uk