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Arts & Crafts Fair Weekend 2 2024
Key details
When:
Date:
Time:
22nd Nov
10:00 - 16:00
23rd Nov
10:00 - 16:00
Where:
Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
SatNav: IP30 9HZ
Pricing:
Day Tickets (usually made available during September)
Online: £2.50
On the door: £3
No charge for children 16 and under
Weekend 2 of Arts & Crafts at Blackthorpe Barn
A visit to Arts & Crafts at Blackthorpe Barn is like stepping into a world where history and creativity come alive.
Embedded in the heart of the Suffolk countryside, this centuries-old barn brims with the energy of skilled artisans showcasing their finest handcrafted treasures—delicate ceramics, intricate textiles, and beautifully crafted woodworks.
The warm glow of the Barn’s rustic timbers, combined with the festive atmosphere, creates an enchanting setting for discovering one-of-a-kind pieces. Whether you’re hunting for unique gifts or simply soaking in the charm, Blackthorpe Barn’s craft fair is a captivating celebration of artistry and tradition and just perfect for a Christmas outing!
MAKERS at the barn for Weekend 2
Art and Weaving by Katie Green
Aulwynd Bindery
Birdfeeder Tree
Carol Page
Caroline Hyde-Brown
Ceramics Buy Anja
Claire Folkes Ceramics
Clare McEwan Illustration
Corinne Pearson-Evans
Cyndi Speer Fine Artist
Dee Ayles Jewellery
Gabriella Lane
Hand and Spark Silver
Hannah Dowding Furniture
Hassina Khan Glass
Heirloom Fairies
Honeybee Natural Beauty
Jacquie McNeill Glass Design
Jane's Handmade Hats
Janet Powell
Jasmin Rowlandson
John Gray Furniture
Julia Hulme
Juliet A Gorman
Where to find us
Plenty of free parking on site
Please keep to the 5mph limit
Disabled access available
This is a rural location and paths can be muddy
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.
FAQs
The cost of the maintenance of an ancient barn such as this one is considerable, as is running an event like the Arts and Crafts Fair.
In order to support the makers and artisans we distribute these costs over both the stall-holders and visitors, thereby keeping the stall-holder fees down.
We charge a small entry fee for every visitor over 16, pricing our tickets very modestly compared to most other craft shows of this calibre.
The £2.50 (online) or £3 on-the-door day-ticket price is less than, for example, standard online postage costs, dropping to £1 per day for an online season ticket. That’s significantly less than a cup of coffee!
Our prices have remained the same over the past years despite the costs rising. By contributing the small entrance cost, you are supporting both Suffolk heritage and the talented craft-makers.
Thank you!
There is a wide range of arts and crafts for sale at the fair, from jewellery and ceramics to leather-, glass-, metal- and woodwork, food and drink, art and much more.
Each maker is specifically selected to ensure quality and variety.
You can see more about the makers on the Arts and Craft Fair page.
Makers sell their creations from individual stalls directly to visitors, using the days between the weekends to replenish their stock.
A day ticket for the Arts and Crafts Fair gives you entry to that one day of the Craft Fair, where around 50 makers have gathered.
You can buy the ticket online for £2.50 or for £3 on-the-door.
The season ticket is a great option if you are a fan of quality, handcrafted items.
For £10 (online) or £12 on-the-door, the season ticket gives you access to all 5 weekends (10 days) of the Arts and Crafts Fair. (This price is less than a single day ticket for many equivalent craft fairs in the region.)
The Arts and Crafts Fair attracts a wide range of very talented artisans, some of whom are local to the area and others travel considerable distances to join us.
Find out which makers are joining us on each weekend by seeing the Arts and Crafts Fair page.
You can sort the makers by week and by craft.
Yes, there is a different mix of makers at the Barn every weekend.
A very few makers stay with us all 5 weekends, but most makers are at the Barn for one or two weekends, with new makers joining every weekend. This means there is always something new to see each weekend.
See the Arts and Crafts Fair page for more information about which maker is with us on which weekend. You can sort the grid of makers by week and by craft.
Most of the makers prefer to take cards, but it is up to each maker how they wish to take payment.
Yes, we accept both cards and cash for the Arts and Crafts Fair.
Or you can buy a ticket for a reduced price online.
Children 16 and under are admitted for free.
Only assistance dogs are allowed in the Arts and Crafts Fair.
Yes, the different parts of the Barn has heating; Roots Café and the toilets have underfloor heating, the shop and the long barn have gas heating and the thatched barn has radiant electric heaters.
Many of the makers do take commissions, but this is up to each individual maker.
Related Events
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We are a perfect location for those slow January days…
Take time to recharge in our Suffolk setting with a stroll or simply a wander round our @roughamestateshop or time out in our Roots Cafe.
It’s what we do best.
#roughamestate #slowdays #rootscafe
Applications are now open for Rougham Estate Arts and Crafts 2026, held in Blackthorpe Barn near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.
We are looking for art and craft of the highest standard, especially contemporary design. You must design and make all the work yourself and be available to be at your stall all weekend.
The event is held over 5 weekends from 14th November to 13th December.
We love to welcome new makers to the medieval thatched Barn, as well as seeing old friends again from around the country.
The first tranche of stalls will be allocated by the selection committee, usually in March.
From textiles to glasswork, ceramics, woodwork, jewellery, metalwork, art, sculpture and more, submit an application to join the talented craftspeople this coming Christmas.
Please share this post with makers who would be interested in joining us. All the information can be found from our website.
We look forward to hearing from you!
#artsandcraft #artisanmarket #handmade #craftsmanship #britishcraft artsandcraftsmovement artisanmade eastanglianartists
One of the things people often notice at Rougham is our network of hedges, stretching for nearly 30 miles.
While many hedgerows were removed by estates and farms in the 1960s and 70s, Rougham Estate largely resisted this, which is why our landscape still feels so rich and enclosed today. We also continue to plant new hedges across the estate and along field boundaries.
Caring for our hedges is essential work. They need regular management, carefully timed to avoid the bird nesting season.
Over the coming months, you may notice one or two hedges looking quite different. This is because they are being coppiced, a traditional practice where a hedge is cut back close to the ground.
It can look dramatic at first, but coppicing helps us carry out vital ditch clearance work and, in the longer term, actually benefits the hedge. Strong regrowth creates a thicker base, providing better shelter and habitats for wildlife. All work is carried out in winter, ready for healthy growth in spring.
Three years on, the hedge will be fuller, stronger and healthier than before as you can see in these pictures.
So if you notice our hedges seemingly disappear for a short time, they will be back bigger and better than before!
#roughamestate #hedgerows #coppicing #landmanagement
We are looking for a Cafe Supervisor to join our team at Roots Cafe.
Roots Café is all about great coffee, delicious homemade food, and genuine hospitality so this is an exciting opportunity for the right candidate.
You will be working closely with the Cafe Manager to help lead the cafe team.
More information can be found from roughamestate.com/welcome - link in profile.
#RoughamEstate #BlackthorpeBarn #cafevibes #recruitment #vacancy #CafeSupervisor
Have a heart warming start to the day with this weeks vegan brunch special of Coconut porridge with spiced poached pears, black cherries and pistachios.
It’ll give you the energy and warmth needed to beat the January blues.
#brunchspecial #roughamestate #rootscafe #veganuary
The winter months see the popular return of sheep to the farm here at Rougham Estate. A mix of breeding ewes and last year’s lambs, they play such an important role in our move towards more regenerative farming across the Estate.
They are here to feed off the cover crops we planted back in August.
We direct-drilled a diverse cover crop mixture (basically a mixture of superfood plants for the soil) into the previous crop’s stubble. The focus was on the sandier, lighter soil at the northern end of the Estate which is prone to nutrient loss and erosion.
The crops include fodder radish, forage rape and vetch which now provide a valuable winter soil cover, helping to protect these lighter soils from any erosion and also create a natural food source for the flock.
Each plant brings its own valuable benefits to the soil structure and biological activity in soil profile. Fodder radish, for example, sends a deep taproot down into the soil, improving structure and helping to break up compaction while encouraging biological activity below the surface. As the sheep graze, they also return valuable nutrients and organic matter back into the soil, supporting healthier land for future crops.
It’s a simple but powerful way of working with nature, keeping the land healthy and productive for years to come.
#roughamestate #regenerativefarming #sheepfarming #covercrops #soilhealth sustainablefarming britishfarming farmingwithnature
If you love the calm and charm of the Rougham Estate, why not bring a little of it home?
Our Lifestyle Shop @roughamestateshop is full of carefully chosen items that ignite the senses from scented candles, diffusers and soaps for smell, soft blankets and lighting for touch, warmth and sight. And for a true taste of Rougham, pop into our Pantry Shop, where local honey, jams, chutneys, biscuits, wine, beer and other treats let you enjoy the flavours of the Estate at home.
Together, they’re the perfect way to make your winter cosy, welcoming and unmistakably Rougham.
#RoughamEstate #LifestyleShop #BlackthorpeBarn #treat
From the start of February, you’ll see scaffolding and hoarding going up around Blackthorpe Barn as we begin one of the most important projects we’ll be undertaking this year – a full rethatching of the roof.
Around 12 highly skilled thatchers will be on site for around 40 days, carefully renewing the roof of a building that has stood at the heart of Rougham Estate for more than 500 years. The barn was originally built in the 16th century and is over 30 metres long and and was used for the threshing and storage of grain. Over time has become much more than an agricultural building. Today it’s the setting for arts & craft fairs, art exhibitions, weddings and seasonal events. It is the true symbol of the estate.
Looking after its roof using traditional thatching methods isn’t just routine maintenance, it’s a way of respecting its history and making sure it can be enjoyed for generations to come.
When we charge for exhibitions and events in the barn, it’s these funds that go back into maintenance of the building. That includes major projects like this rethatching, as well as ongoing care and upkeep so Blackthorpe Barn continues to be a welcoming place for events our visitors can enjoy.
Rethatching is a traditional craft and fascinating to watch unfold. It’s a big job, an essential one, and something we’re really proud to be investing in as part of Blackthorpe Barn’s long story.
#RoughamEstate #BlackthorpeBarn #HistoricBuildings #Thatching #TraditionalCraft Heritage CommunityEvents SustainableRestoration ArtsAndCulture HistoryMatters
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