Milland Pottery Hampshire

Milland Pottery is tucked away in the beautiful rural valley of Milland in Hampshire / Sussex. It is run by ceramicist, Angela Carter. Situated 1 mile off the B2070 Liphook - Petersfield road, just 5 miles from Midhurst in the heart of the South Downs National Park, the pottery is open most weekdays and Saturday mornings (not Sundays and Mondays). It is advisable to telephone before visiting, 01428 741530.

There is a small showroom where pots are on permanent display. The pots are produced on the potter's wheel using a red earthenware clay and decorated with coloured slips under a transparent or matt glaze. Most of the pots are functional, either one-offs or small production runs. Commissions are welcomed, either commemorative pieces or bespoke pots, plates, bowls etc. Ideal for wedding, birthday, Christmas presents.

November 2011 saw the release of a new range of non functional pots using a variation on primitive bonfire firing techniques. Sawdust, seaweed, coffee grounds, wire wool, copper wire and common pottery chemicals are burnt to give random and exciting colours on the pots.

The black pots are fired in a sealed "saga" full of sawdust. The oxygen supply is restricted, the saw dust does not burn cleanly and turns the pots black. The pots are burnished before firing and polished after to bring out the colours. To keep the burnish, the pots cannot be fired very high so they are porous and should only be used for decorative purposes.

Each year Angela joins forces with Hilary Charlesworth (weaver) to organise a contemporary exhibition and sale of work by local craftspeople. The 2011 exhibition was a great success, it had the best attendance yet and the refreshments raised £350 for Samaritans.

Pottery Classes

Clay is one of the most satisfying and soothing materials to work with. In its most simple form it can be dug from the ground and fashioned into simple forms and heated to a high temperature (fired) to form a usable pot. Clay is made up of millions of tiny plate shaped particles. When water is present in the correct proportion these particles will slide easily over each other without breaking and the clay can be easily moulded or shaped. From the earliest times people have used the qualities of clay to form functional and decorative artefacts.

At Milland Pottery, we like to share the excitement of shaping a lump of clay into a pot. The pottery is well known for classes for children and adults. Sessions are usually for one to one and a half hours long. To truly understand the making processes it is preferable if a couple of visits are possible. Groups are kept small so everyone gets plenty of attention. Techniques of hand building and throwing on the potter's wheel are all covered. Many adults find making pots on the wheel so absorbing that all life's stresses get forgotten for a while.

Birthday Parties

Birthday Parties are another popular event at the pottery. Under the banner of 'Messy Fun for the young'; it is self descriptive. Parties for the 'not quite so young' are also popular. A pottery session fits in well to a ‘hen party’ weekend or a friend's 'get together'. A gift voucher for a pottery session or two makes an original birthday, Christmas or special occasion present. These can be easily arranged via our email.

Our History

Started in austere times after the Second World War, the pottery was built using traditional techniques of wattle and daub and chestnut timbers cut from the nearby woods.

Angela Dannreuther Carter and Jane Hawkins have been working together at MILLAND POTTERY for many years. Jane studied at Guildford Art School before setting up the pottery at Milland in 1947. In the early days she worked with fellow potter, Ray Marshall and later with her husband George Hawkins until his death in 1977. Angela joined Jane in 1979 after a three year Ceramics course at West Surrey College of Art & Design, Farnham.

Angela Carter	Pottery Shrowroom	Jane Hawkins
	Woodblock print of pottery by Pat Kettle

Hampshire Artists Cooperative

http://www.hampshireartistscooperative.co.uk
info@hampshireartistscooperative.co.uk

Angela is also a member of the Hampshire Artists Cooperative exhibiting at Selborne gallery. The Hampshire Artists' Co-operative is a non-profit making group of individual artists, created to give local professional artists and craftspeople an opportunity to work and exhibit together. Members are Hampshire based, producing contemporary art of high quality - paintings, artists' prints, sculpture, ceramics, jewellery, textiles and glass.

This exciting and dynamic new venture was launched at the Selborne Gallery in the summer of 2007. Exhibitions by members are staged throughout the year, with fresh collections of work displayed every ten weeks or so, ensuring there is always something new to see, with plenty of variety and choice for all.