Anvil Pottery
Hand thrown, traditional Welsh and Celtic Pottery.
We
make a range of pots in stoneware,
earthenware, and terracotta.
A proper pottery in the picturesque
village of Llanrhaeadr, Denbigh, North
Wales.
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Anvil
Pottery:
The Pottery
occupies what was until the late 1960's
the village smithy. Since the village of
Llanrhaeadr (which means the holy place
by the waterfall) is thought to have been
an occupied site since the 6th century
A.D., it can be assumed that the smithy
had existed as such for hundreds of
years, though the present building may
only be two to three hundred years old.
The restoration of the smithy, largely
completed in 1981, was undertaken so as
to intrude as little as possible on the
former use of the workshop. The Pottery
workshop occupies what was the smith's
workshop. Both the remaining forges, the
workbench and toolrack and the housing
for the forge bellows are intact and left
as they were when used by the smith.
The pottery kiln and glazing area are
housed in the former shoeing bay where
some twenty horses were shod in a day
within living memory. Coincidentally, the
last smith to live and work here, and his
forefathers, had the fine name of Hughes.
Anvil Pottery started trading in April
1981 by Allan Hughes and John Hughes (no
relation) in partnership. Both potters
share equally in the range of activities
which go to make a pot. The clays used
are slightly grogged stoneware and
earthenware bodies and are ready for use
when delivered. All the pots are thrown
on the potters wheel and the full range
of domestic ware is produced, the
emphasis being on use rather than
ornament. The decorating techniques used
are sgraffito, incising, and slip
trailing and the inspiration for the
design of decorations comes from
naturally occuring shape and line and
from things celtic paying homage to the
Welsh connection.
The finished stoneware pots are bisque
fired and then glazed with feldspathic
glazes using iron oxide as the main
colouring agent. The pots are then given
a further firing in an oxidising
atmosphere and are then whole and
complete.
A smaller range of earthenware pots are
made using clear glazes for the kitchen
and from oven to table. Some pots are for
the garden and are also made in unglazed
earthenware.
The potters also make a selection of
reproductions. These pots are virtual
copies of historically interesting pots
which were made in country workshops
during the last two centuries; such as
wassail bowls, milk cups and money boxes. |
Some
Pictures:
The tall jugs at either side are
about 18" in height.
Contact us
at:
Anvil Pottery
The Old Smithy
Llanrhaeadr, Denbigh, North Wales. LL16 4NL
Tel: 01492 530423
From outside of UK Tel: 00 44 1492 530423
We are just off the A525 between Denbigh and Ruthin
in the village of Llanrhaeadr, next to the beautiful Old Church and Holy Well
of St Dyfnog.
The Pottery is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays
and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. Visitors are welcome to call during
these hours. Evening visits by parties for workshop demonstrations can be accommodated
by arrangement. tel 01745 890533
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