The Mud Rooms - an independent potters’ studio launching
January 2025
Where are we?
Our beautiful studio is based in a fabulous community arts building in Bells Yew Green (just outside Tunbridge Wells, Kent) in the East Sussex countryside. Buckhurst Works is home to dozens of makers and creatives including fine artists, prop and scenery makers, embroiderers, florists and jewellery makers to name a few.
How The Mud Rooms membership works
Potters sign up for a monthly membership which entitles you to a weekly slot at the studio. You simply choose which day of the week you’d like to come and select either the morning or afternoon window. (AMENDED. The slots run from 9am-1pm, or 1pm-5pm, Monday-Saturday and you can come and go within these times whenever you like). This means you’ll be getting 16 hours a month - even more when your day falls five times in the calendar month(!).
If you need to move your session for any reason, that’s completely fine. Just let us know, and, subject to availability, we’ll shift you to another day.
We’re also happy for you to pop in any time if you just need to wire something off or wrap something up etc.
(We’ve had some interest in evening slots, please do get in touch if this appeals to you and we’ll try to accommodate.)
Our facilities
Our facilities include; wheels, dipping glazes, a slab roller, workbenches, storage, tools, tea and biscuits. We also run a kiln service, which is charged separately. We will be firing bisque loads and cone six for stoneware. As you will be working independently, you will need to have had some pottery experience before joining - just to make sure you understand the basics of the workings of a pottery studio.
How much does it cost?
Monthly membership is £110. We’ll ask for an initial 3-month commitment and then a full month’s notice if you want to leave.
Clay
You can throw and build with whatever clay you like in the studio, but we can only fire stoneware. We will be selling smooth, white stoneware in house at £16 for a 12.5kg bag. Please also note, that if you are not using clay bought from us you will need to purchase your own canvas sheets for use on the slab roller to avoid cross clay contamination.
About Beth Ivory Pottery
Beth is a budding ceramist who is going to be launching her first collection of tableware at the Buckhurst Works Christmas Fayre (29 Nov 5pm-9pm and 30 Nov 10am-4pm). She’s been renting a space at the building since January and jumped on the opportunity to open up a studio for her fellow potters when the space became available.
Come and visit us
We’ll be hosting an open studio at the Buckhurst Works Christmas Fayre (details above), so why not pop along and have a look around? Or contact us through the form below and we’ll arrange for you to come in at a time that suits you.
