Nestled in the flood plains of the levels in the heart of Somerset, smoke curls from a tall chimney, the smell of woodsmoke and clay dust in the air. The pots are packed and the team of stokers are hard at work as the ‘fire gods’ look on, watching over another firing at John Leach’s Muchelney Pottery as we celebrate 60 years of crafting excellence since its foundation in 1965.
John Leach (1939 – 2021), was the son of David Leach and eldest grandson of Bernard Leach. Bernard Leach learnt his language of clay in Japan at the turn of the last century. He began the Leach ceramics tradition, establishing the Leach Pottery in St Ives in 1920 where John was born in Pottery Cottage. Aged 18, John began his five-year apprenticeship, learning from talented and influential potters including Colin Pearson (Aylesford Pottery), Ray Finch (Winchcombe Pottery), his father David (Lowerdown Cross Pottery) and grandfather Bernard (Leach Pottery, St. Ives).
Following his successful apprenticeship, John travelled to the States to teach and set up a pottery with Harold Guilland in Mendocino, California in 1963. On his return to England, he was keen to set up his own pottery and family home. After much searching, Muchelney was the chosen place.
This beautiful rural site turned out to be the perfect place to establish Muchelney Pottery. John was a keen conservationist and interested in local crafts and traditions. He delighted in nature and natural materials. He bought land around the pottery and over time dug a pond into the clay earth. He often described the pond as the ‘best pot he ever made but never fired’. Aware of the environmental cost of the wood burnt in the firing process he planted trees. He created a nature reserve to be shared by many. It became known for its rare dragonflies and was visited by David Attenborough amongst others. John was a man ahead of his time.
The standardware range still produced here was designed by John and influenced by his time at the Leach Pottery in St Ives and with his father at Lowerdown Cross Pottery in Bovey Tracey. John’s shapes, in particular, celebrate form and function as made by a craftsman’s hand to be part of one’s everyday rhythms. This references the Mingei movement that was developing during Bernard’s time in Japan. Alongside the standardware range, every Muchelney potter has been encouraged and supported in the search for their own unique style. The Leach tradition of the humble mug being equal alongside signed pieces of artistic design showcases the unending potential of clay in the hands of a craftsman.
Each firing is the main event of 3 month’s work with up to 2000 pots packed by hand into the chambers. A team of stokers then work around the clock feeding ‘the dragon’ with wood offcuts. With every firing there is always a moment of anticipation and excitement when the kiln is ready to be opened. The final ‘toasty’ finish is the result of 60-foot flames ‘licking’ the surface of the pots through the 36 hours or more of hand stoking. John loved this process and was always there with the crew as the wickets came down. We toast his memory at every kiln opening and feel he is still with us as we throw, as we glaze and as we stoke.
The 60th anniversary of Muchelney Pottery is certainly a landmark to be celebrated over the coming year. A special mug has been created and decorated with a seal designed by Ben Leach in commemoration of the 60 years this site has been producing. There will be an exhibition celebrating artists that have worked with John and the pottery over the years in early summer, followed by our main celebration which will be on Saturday 26th July – a very special Open Day! We hope to raise a mug with as many friends and supporters of Muchelney Pottery as possible in 2025 and look forward to welcoming you!
Important people in the development of Muchelney Pottery
John was at the heart of everything at the pottery until his death in August 2021. He loved and excelled at his craft and travelled the world. As well as revelling in making our standardware, particularly the larger pieces, he also liked to make individual signed pieces. He was inspired by other cultures and times. He loved medieval pots and pots of the Appalachian Way. He often taught on his travels and as well as travelling around the UK he spent time in Alaska, Denmark, Sweden, USA, Jamaica and Africa. He particularly loved his time in Nigeria which had a later influence on some of his Black Mood pots. The Black Mood pots are signed individual pieces – each piece is fired in a saggar filled with sawdust which creates the black bodies with serendipitous white wavy lines. No two pieces are the same and they are prized items in collections around the world. You can still see such pots in our gallery at Muchelney Pottery today.
John was the sole potter and the business was growing. John made the pots and wife Lizzie ran the business. Nick had visited the Pottery to ask to learn the craft and John decided to take him on in 1972. Nick completed his apprenticeship and became John’s right hand man. In 1976 John had promised that it would be part of Nick’s apprenticeship that they would build a wood kiln together so they ended up converting the oil kiln to wood and the signature wood fired toasty finish was born. During the early years they worked on and produced the first catalogue range of pots. Throughout they taught students and welcomed an international audience. Nick was an integral part in the running and success of the business and remained at Muchelney for 46 years until he retired in 2018. He now continues to make his own personal work at his home studio, exploring surface detail and experimenting with slips and glazes while firing his pots in an electric kiln.
Master Potter Mark Melbourne also started at Muchelney as an apprentice. His pottery journey had started earlier having been taught by Bill Marshall and Simon Leach as well as having worked at Dartington. Mark first arrived in 1991, spending three years with John and Nick. He returned in 2002 having travelled extensively in Africa to be a full-time member of the crew. The influence of his travelling can be seen in his personal signed work, often characterised by his decoration and rich glazes. After John died in August 2021 Mark has become the sole potter; responsible for carrying on the tradition of Muchelney Pottery and producing all our kitchenware range of pots.
It is testament to their skills as craftsmen that all three potters have work in major collections including the Victoria and Albert Museum London.
The current ‘pottery crew’ are continuing in the ethos of John’s designs and working practices. They are carrying on the rich pottery tradition he created at Muchelney.
Today Muchelney Pottery is managed by Ben Leach who is in partnership with his mother, Lizzie. Ben is ably assisted by Nick’s daughter Rachael who runs the office and Mark who makes all of our beautiful standardware. The Leach family heritage continues, Bernard lay the foundations, David was the second generation, John Leach was the third, Ben is the fourth and now Mark is teaching and passing on the Muchelney heritage to Hannah Leach, the fifth generation. Long may Muchelney Pottery continue!
Muchelney Pottery 60th Anniversary Open Day:
Saturday 26th July, 10am – 4pm
Demonstrations
Pots unpacked from the kiln
Food available
Live music
Celebratory 60th anniversary exhibition launched
Free entry, plenty of parking
For all enquiries please contact Rachael Rees
Muchelney Pottery, Nr Langport, Somerset, TA10 0DW
01458 250324
www.facebook.com/MuchelneyPottery
