Celebrating withy pots from around the South west
Since 2024 myself and Storylines have been working in partnership on a project called ‘Withy Lore’. We have spent time with those involved in the withy pot craft, recording their memories, knowledge and reflections. These are celebrated through film, photography, storytelling, and art, beginning with an exhibition at the Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery from 1st March – 30th June 2025.
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.
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