Ancient Pottery Workshop – Hands-on Learning with Potted History

Expand Your Workshop Group

Want to bring more people along? You can add up to four additional participants to your day for £50 per person.

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Why Join a Potted History Workshop?

Since 2002, Potted History has worked with museums, universities, and heritage sites, offering expert insight into ancient pottery technology and recreating some of the world's most remarkable ceramic finds.

This workshop is designed to share that knowledge with history lovers like you.

What Makes Pottery So Important?
Archaeologically, pottery is a treasure trove of information, revealing details about trade, technology, diet, and cultural practices. Throughout the workshop, we will guide you through the fascinating insights that pottery provides about the past.

What You Will Learn

• Identifying and dating pottery forms
• How residue analysis helps us understand ancient life
• Trade and commerce in ancient times
• What pottery reveals about customs and practices
• Tool use, including making your own pottery tools (where applicable)
• Selecting and preparing materials for ancient pottery
• Traditional production methods for crafting your replica pot

What You Will Take Home

• A handmade replica pot from your chosen era (fired and posted to you after the workshop*)
• An ancient pottery tool kit (where applicable)
• The skills and knowledge to continue your pottery journey at home

No previous pottery or archaeological experience is needed—just an interest in history! If you do have experience, you’ll be able to deepen your knowledge and skills.

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Available Workshops

Our expertise covers ancient pottery from Britain, Ireland, and associated European sites. Choose from:

• Neolithic Pottery
• Bronze Age Pottery
• Roman Samian Ware
• Roman Head Pots
• Roman Barbotine Ware
• Roman Household Shrines & Deities
• Anglo-Saxon Pottery
• Medieval Pottery

Custom Dates Available

If you’d like to arrange a workshop on a different date than advertised, please contact us at pottedhistory@rothburycreates.co.uk.

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Who Are These Workshops For?

We welcome history lovers, sherd nerds, museum enthusiasts, and pottery geeks—those with a passion for learning and an insatiable curiosity about the past. If this sounds like you, we’d love to have you in our workshop!

Who Are They NOT For?

These workshops are not traditional pottery classes. While making is a core part of the day, the focus is on understanding historical pottery technology rather than casual clay crafting. If you’re looking to make a trinket or ornamental piece, this workshop isn’t for you—we’ll be diving deep into the world of ancient ceramics.

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Materials & Equipment

We provide all the materials and tools you need to make your pottery and tools. However, we recommend wearing old clothes and bringing an apron to protect against clay and slip.

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Location & Logistics

Workshop Venue

If you’d like to visit us, our Rothbury Studio is located at:
Gregory Court, Coplish Lane, Rothbury, Northumberland, NE65 7PJ

Rothbury has a selection of places to eat, stay, and explore, making it an ideal location for a memorable day out.

Workshops at Other Locations

If you’d prefer a workshop at another location, please contact us before booking, as additional travel costs apply for locations more than 40 miles from our studio.

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Workshop Timetable

This schedule provides a framework—we can adjust the day to suit your group’s needs.

Morning

🔹 10:00 – Handling Ancient Pottery

• Examine replica and original potsherds
• Discuss making techniques, raw materials, and firing methods
• Learn about how pottery was sourced and prepared

🔹 11:00 – Tools of the Trade

• Create your own toolkit (materials vary by era)
• Tools may include bone, antler, slate, shell, wood, flint, etc.
• Learn how tool marks provide insight into ancient pottery techniques

🔹 12:00 – Introduction to Basic Making Methods

• Demonstration of ancient pottery techniques
• Begin handcrafting your own pot

Lunch Break (13:00 – 14:00)

Bring a packed lunch or visit one of Rothbury’s local eateries.

Afternoon

🔹 14:00 – Making & Decorating

• Continue shaping and refining your replica
• Explore ancient decorative techniques

🔹 16:00 – Finish

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Refreshments

☕ Tea and coffee available throughout the day

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Parking

There are two spaces outside the workshop that fill up quickly.

If you require close parking for medical reasons, please let us know in advance. Otherwise, there is plenty of free parking within a 5-10 minute walk.

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Firing & Postage

• All pots and tools you make during the workshop are yours to keep.
• One pot per participant will be fired at our studio and posted to a single UK address once ready.
• Small objects (e.g. stamps) may also be fired, depending on production levels.
• International postage varies—please contact us in advance for a quote.

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Terms & Conditions

• Payment is required at the time of booking to secure your place.
• Refund Policy:
  • Full refund if cancelled 4+ weeks before the workshop.
  • 50% refund if cancelled 2-4 weeks before the workshop.
  • No refund if cancelled less than 2 weeks before the workshop or if you fail to attend.
• If we cancel the event, you will receive a full refund (this is extremely rare).
• In cases of extreme weather, we will try to reschedule rather than cancel.
• Photography Notice: We may take photos of participants and their work for promotional use. If you prefer not to be photographed, please let us know on the day.
• This workshop cost excludes Samian Ware workshops, which require more time and materials and must therefore be booked via emailing [email protected]

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Book Your Place & Learn More

For further details, please contact us at [email protected].

🔹 Need a custom date? Contact [email protected]