Weybridge Pottery

Addison Adult Education Institute

I spent many happy years at the Adult education institute in Addison Road, West London. The pottery allowed me to make practical stoneware pots for myself and my friends. Every year the classes would start with 15 regulars form the year before, and 5 or so new people. Those 5 would usually last about 6 weeks, and then we would be down to the same crowd. Most of the regulars would work to their own agenda, asking help only occasionally from the teacher. Many of them made quite a number of hand rolled vases at the table, and spent the Tuesday evening chatting away to each other. All my time was spent on the wheel.

1974 - 1980

The first thing I wanted was some wide flanged soup bowls. They came out flatter and the glaze rather boring. They are so heavy and thick they still are in use today
My first casserole (it says C1 on the underneath). Good solid design, with thich edges, this casserole has survived all these years, and is in constant use (usually for Sharon's onion sauce).
A very early mug
We used to love to make chicken liver and smoked salmon pate. Not very practical lids
Chillum, with blast hole in bottom
Experimenting with leaf design
Stoneware ashtray with melted glass inside (marbles). We all needed big ashtrays in those days. Still in use these days by kids in pool room
Coffee set
Casserole with small house on top. Of course the chimney broke off almost immediately
The first sensible bowl
wide dish with small foot
Wide dish with Japanese characters. (Fou Gum Moc Soy ! Four of the five basic Chinese elements: fire, gold/metal, wood, water)