Poetry & Pottering around Studios in Ledbury
Collaborative spaces and places to have go yourself
Out on the eastern edge of Herefordshire, within sight of the Malvern Hills, Ledbury is a lively market town bubbling with creativity. You might have heard of its yearly Poetry Festival, where poets from all over the world gather to share their work. Or perhaps you’re a cider enthusiast familiar with the town thanks to its fabulous situation, with oodles of orchards and cideries nearby. Here, independent shops, selling everything from gorgeous homeware and clothes to niche-interest books and maps, rub shoulders in medieval streets, which also host a stellar selection of cafés, restaurants and pubs.
Crowning it all is, of course, the beautiful work of the thriving artistic community – truly not to be missed. The quaint mews and higgledy-piggledy lanes of this historic town really make it the perfect place to lose yourself in a good, old fashioned mooch.
A hive of artistic activity, plus painting with poetry
Start your tour in town with a visit to Take 4 Gallery – a hub of creativity and collaboration, where you’ll find fabulous pieces by over 20 local artists and makers. Reopened earlier this year, this wonderful little gallery has work from a range of disciplines, so there’s sure to be something for everyone. Jewellery and raku pottery sit alongside textile art, ceramics and more, all in a highly eclectic, though cooperative, space.
With Ledbury’s deep poetry roots, it would be rude not to visit Bridget Macdonald’s Poets in the Landscape collection, over at Ledbury Poetry House. Throughout her career, Bridget has drawn inspiration from poetry, and the relationships poets have with the landscape of their times. Visit on Sunday 14th, and you can learn more about these intriguing paintings and drawings from Bridget herself, with a tour of the exhibition starting at 2pm.
Handmade chocolates & al-fresco eats
When the hunger pangs start calling after a busy day of pottering, take a few steps in any direction, and you’re likely to stumble across a great place to sit down for a coffee or some lunch.
Ledbury is exceedingly well stocked for independent cafés, pubs and restaurants. Call in at Choccotastic for an ice cream milkshake and light lunch or, weather permitting, baggsy a spot in the courtyard garden at the charming Malthouse Cafe. The Shell House Kitchen is also a super place to kick back over brunch and it has a sunny secret garden to boot.
For a larger lunch, visitors on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday can enjoy the hearty all-Italian menu at the popular Olive Tree.
Pottery galore, then painting with felt
Over at Wisteria Workshop, Caroline Bousfield Gregory produces a vibrant array of stoneware that she paints with her homemade slips and glazes. Throughout the week, she’ll be putting on demonstrations for you to watch her at work, and learn how she creates gorgeous pieces from scratch. Much of her work is influenced by how food is made and served, so, if you’re hoping to spruce up your crockery collection, it’s certainly worth having a nosy.
Whether you’re new to pottery, or already a keen ceramicist, there are a couple of enticing stops nearby where you can have a go yourself. At Eastnor Pottery, a short drive from town, Sarah Monk and Jon Williams are running daily workshops for anyone who wants to have a go on the wheel, from beginner to seasoned thrower. Also nearby is the Art in the Orchard group show, where there’s a whole host of classes to enjoy: from clay wall work and clay vessel making to bookbinding, découpage on glass, and 2D wet felting.
Speaking of wet felting, Sarah Brooker’s studio is home to an impressive collection of what Sarah calls ‘painting with felt’. After training in sculpture and metalwork, Sarah fell in love with hand-rolled, wet felting as a medium to create vibrant, fine art pieces. Lately, she’s been using appliqué to create still life as well. Have a chat with Sarah while you’re there to discover how she brings her ideas to life through textiles.
Through the woods, up onto the hills
All around the town, paths wiggle their way through an intricate patchwork of woods, orchards and hop fields. Some routes will even take you right up into the Malvern Hills, where you’ll be treated to the same breathtaking views beloved by the likes of CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien, and Edward Elgar. Here, you’re in a place that has inspired and ignited many a creative soul, from the local artists and makers whose studios we’ll be visiting, right back to legendary poets including John Masefield and Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
If you don’t have time to get up into the surrounding hills yourself, Gilly Hancock’s studio is as good an alternative as you could wish for. Make a quick trip up the road to Colwall Green to enjoy her beautiful oil depictions of the Malvern Hills through the seasons. When she isn’t painting her home countryside, Gilly’s recreating the Welsh mountains, as well as the colourful towns and tiny harbours of Greece. Then, while you’re in the Eastnor and Colwall area, call in at Lower Mitchell Barn to see the work of 14 local creatives at the Colwall Collective.
Sculpture, Leatherwork and Jewellery
Only four miles outside Ledbury, towards Malvern, Ed Elliott is opening his studios and creative hub. Browse Ed's collection of distinctive sculptures, from larger-than-life wooden creations to tiny bronze busts, and chat with him about his creative process. Next door, at the Trumpet Gallery, discover more handmade creations, from handbags and leather accessories to jewellery and 2D mixed media. Then, simply sit back and enjoy delicious homemade cake and a cuppa at the tearoom.
Castles, manors, and... cider!
Getting creative can be thirsty work indeed. If you’re visiting the Ledbury area towards the start of Art Week, make the most of the overlap with Herefordshire’s Craft Cider Week too. Gregg’s Pit Cider, a little south of Ledbury, is open on the afternoons of the 7th and 8th September. Call in to sample a scrumptious range of all-natural ciders and perries, and see how traditional methods and an 18th-century stone press can turn the simple apple into this signature Herefordshire drink.
Hellens Manor, a splendid example of Elizabethan architecture just up the road from Gregg’s Pit, is a wonderful place to stop in. Delve into the property’s thousand-year history, discovering a treasure trove of art, historic furnishings and stories inside. The house, garden and tearoom are all open on Wednesdays and Sundays, but you need to book ahead for a guided tour of the house.
Back towards Ledbury, the magnificent Eastnor Castle is quite the place to experience seemingly endless whimsical grandeur. You can visit the castle on any Sunday or Monday throughout September, and it’s one of only a few historic houses to let dogs inside as well. Built during the late Georgian era, Eastnor is a real fairytale castle, with medieval armour, lavish paintings and an archetypal Gothic drawing room to marvel at. Make sure to look up at the jaw-dropping vaulted ceilings while you’re there!
Somewhere to rest your head
If you’re looking to stay in the area for a couple of days, check into one of Ledbury’s historic coaching inns. Both The Feathers Hotel and The Seven Stars are picture-perfect, timber-framed specimens, where you can expect stylish yet cosy rooms, as well as excellent food. The Feathers serves up a famously good afternoon tea, and The Seven Stars produces most of their food using seasonal ingredients from their own farm near Malvern.
