Art and Craft at Blackthorpe Barn
Centre for showing and learning art and craft near Bury St Edmunds
Be Inspired
Blackthorpe Barn on Rougham Estate is a thriving centre for art and craft enthusiasts, providing a vibrant platform for local and regional talent. The Barn hosts inspiring exhibitions, transforming its space into a dynamic gallery to showcase a diverse range of artistic expressions.
Commitment to the arts extends beyond exhibitions, encompassing hands-on workshops taught by experienced tutors as well as the renowned Arts and Crafts Fair in November and December, attracting talented makers from around the country.
Craft Workshops
Come and discover the art of a traditional craft, perhaps for pure pleasure or to satisfy your creative aspirations. Take part in our in-person workshops in the Meadow Room at Blackthorpe Barn, where learning a new craft is a perfect stress-relieving remedy.
Led by skilled and artistic professionals, each workshop offers a delightful and relaxing learning experience in our rural Suffolk setting.
Upcoming Workshops
Art Exhibitions
The exhibitions at Blackthorpe Barn showcase a range of artistic disciplines, from contemporary pieces to traditional art forms, creating an inspirational and enriching experience for visitors.
The old thatched barn provides a unique location for both established and emerging artists, fostering a vibrant artistic community. The carefully curated exhibitions not only celebrate the beauty of art but also contribute to the cultural enrichment of the community, making Blackthorpe Barn a must-visit destination for art enthusiasts.
Arts and Crafts Fair
For over 30 years the Arts and Crafts Fair has been held at Blackthorpe Barn
- featuring textiles, ceramics, glassware, metalware, woodwork, beauty products, leather items, jewellery, basketry, food and much more
- held over 5 weekends during November and December
- showcasing some of the country’s most talented artists and craft-makers
- makers specifically chosen to ensure quality and a wide range of crafts
- each weekend features a new mix of creators and artists
Where to find us
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
SatNav: IP30 9HZ
Plenty of free parking on site.
Please keep to the 20mph speed limit.
Disabled access available
This is a rural location and paths can be muddy.
The car parks close when Roots Café closes and the entrance gates are locked after this time.
Blackthorpe Barn is situated just south of Junction 45 of the A14, three miles east of Bury St Edmunds, in the village of Rougham.
Look out for the entrance gates to a long tree-lined avenue at the White House junction.
The Barn is down the avenue, on the right.
The Rougham Post
NEVER MISS A THING
Follow us on Instagram
Step away from the rush and give yourself one intentional day to breathe, reset and return to what matters. At Rougham Estate you`ll move slowly and purposefully with a guided woodland walk, restorative yoga and a soothing sound bath designed to melt tension and sharpen clarity.
Feel the steady warmth of a wood-fire sauna, the crisp shock of a cold plunge, then settle into a late light lunch.
Leave with steadier breath, clearer thinking and the simple calm.
What’s included:
👉 Mindful Woodland Walk
👉🏻 Restorative Gentle Yoga (all levels)
👉🏼 Wood-fire Sauna & Cold Water Plunge
👉🏽 Soothing Sound Bath
👉🏾 Light Lunch, refreshments and drinks
Give yourself that day you deserve.
Friday 29 May, 9.45am-3.30pm
Book your place by following the link in the bio or visit our website.
@roughamestate
@the_roaming_sauna_ @thecreatespacecollective
#resetretreat #treatyourselfbetter #andbreathe #roughamestate #wellbeingcommunity
Last chance to book on to our Fused Glass Cactus Sculpture Workshop!
Love cacti but hate watering plants? Join our workshop on 13th May at Rougham Estate and create a unique, forever cactus masterpiece!
Led by glass artist Danielle Hopkinson from the popular @stained_glass_studio, who has 30+ years experience. This workshop is suitable for all abilities.
What You’ll Do:
 Cut and shape your own glass cactus
 Decorate with colorful frits, stringers, and enamels
 Get your fired sculpture ready for collection a few days later 
Tickets: £65 per person – Book now, closes 11th May! 
Book your spot by following the link in our bio!
#FusedGlass #CactusSculpture #RoughamEstate #GlassArt #CraftWorkshop BeginnerFriendly
This May we’re delighted to be welcoming back three talented Suffolk-based artists to Rougham Estate. Cyndi Speer, Carol Pask and J. “Mac” McCaughan are returning with a beautiful exhibition of new paintings, ceramics, textiles and metalwork.
Cyndi brings her dreamlike oil paintings, including the use of metallic leaf or spray paint, with each one rooted in a deep love of the natural world as well as embracing colour, contour and movement.
Carol presents her striking sculptural, smoke-fired ceramics alongside her Land-to-Cloth textile range, which includes hand-dyed and hand-knitted wool accessories made from native British sheep breeds.
Mac is exhibiting his beautifully crafted metalwork, blending traditional blacksmithing with contemporary design, creating elegant, storied pieces with forged steel.
This show has something for everyone.
Details:
📅 Thursday 21 May – Monday 25 May, 10am – 4pm
🎟️ Free entry, with all works available to buy
📍In the Meadow Room, behind Roots Café and Blackthorpe Barn
Make a note of the dates.
More information on our website.
#artexhibition #suffolkartisans #suffolkliving #handcraftedintheuk
It’s a bank holiday and also a new week.
So what does that mean?
A new special… Spicy Chorizo Scramble on Sourdough with spicy chorizo, scrambled with eggs, served on toasted sourdough and avocado, topped with buffalo hot sauce and jalapeños.
Available Monday–Sunday this week from 9am til 4pm daily.
Don’t miss out!
#specials #foodie #roughamestate #rootscafe
We are hiring a Chef de Partie (CDP) for our popular Roots Café.
This is a daytime role focusing on seasonal, fresh food, offering a work-life balance with no late nights.
The role involves running a kitchen section, requiring dedication, creativity, and high standards.
If you think you fit the bill and would like to find out more, visit our bio in or you’ll see the link in stories.
#CDPvacancy #roughamestate #rootscafe #chefdepartie #kitchenchef
It’s a bank holiday weekend and the weather looks good! So for many, that can mean time in the garden.
If you are in need of gardening essentials but also gardening accessories we have plenty in store.
We also have @watsons_plants with their pop-up stand ready with some established plants or to get some green finger advice.
Happy Bank holiday!
#watsonplants #roughamestate #blackthorpebarn #bankholidayweekend☀️
Goodbye April!
It was a month that we enjoyed seeing the energy return to the Estate.
The days got longer, the bluebells made a show, wildlife started to come to life and farming was in full flow.
There was even the occasional al fresco dining on the decking at Roots Café and BBQ items started to make an appearance in the shop.
Such a treat it was. But now we get to say hello May!
#roughamestate #blackthorpebarn #goodbyeapril
Today we say farewell to Danny our head chef.
For the last couple of years, Danny has been the culinary creative behind the delightful dishes on our menu, and has shaped how Roots is today.
We would like to thank him and wish him well in his next chapter.
And…
Don’t miss out on his final special with us this week of Hash Brown, Suffolk Black Pudding Purée, Avocado, Poached Egg, Sumac.
More news will follow on our new head chef and in the meantime our menu will remain the same.
#thankyou #bestwishes #foodgenius
Tag us @RoughamEstate
