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.
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
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Looking for somewhere to enjoy the Bank Holiday weekend?
Come and spend some time at Rougham Estate. Take in the beautiful Sunken Garden as you enjoy great food and drink from Roots Café for some great food, coffee – perhaps before or after exploring the Estate’s walking routes to build up an appetite!
Don’t forget to have a browse around our Lifestyle Shop too, where you might find something special to take home, and Chris from @watsons_plants is with us too, selling his beautiful plants in the courtyard.
Whether you’re looking for a relaxing stroll, a family day out or simply somewhere to enjoy a good lunch, there’s plenty to discover at Rougham Estate.
Find out more from the link in our bio.
#RoughamEstate #BankHolidayWeekend #VisitSuffolk
Art, creativity and a beautiful setting come together at Blackthorpe Barn this September.
The @artworkseast exhibition returns for its 26th year, bringing together 30 established artists from across East Anglia, with a fantastic collection of contemporary 2D and 3D work on display.
From colourful abstract pieces and botanical illustrations to landscapes, portraits, ceramics and sculpture, there’s plenty to discover, and all of the work is available to buy.
There will also be opportunities to meet the artists and see them demonstrating their work, alongside the popular Mini Artworks Prize Draw, which supports the Artworks Schools Programme and an East Anglian charity.
So pop it in your diary:
12–27 September
10am–4pm daily
Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham Estate
Free entry and plenty of free parking.
Find out more on our website, or from @artworkseast
All these images are from past exhibitions.
#RoughamEstate #BlackthorpeBarn #ArtworksEast #ArtExhibition
There’s still time to make the most of your garden before summer comes to an end.
As we move towards autumn, it’s the perfect time to add colour, texture and interest to your outdoor space, whether you’re looking to refresh a border, fill a few gaps or simply find something new to enjoy.
Don’t miss @watsons_plants here at Rougham Estate this weekend and Monday. Chris will be here to offer advice and inspiration on choosing the right plants and making the most of your garden as the seasons change.
Pop by, have a browse and get your garden ready for autumn.
#RoughamEstate #WatsonsPlants #Gardening
Looking for something to do with the family as we head into the last few weeks of the summer holidays?
Rougham Estate has ancient woodlands waiting to be explored. With winding paths, towering trees and plenty of nature to spot along the way, it’s a world of discovery for children, grown-ups and dogs alike.
It’s a great way to get some fresh air, stretch your legs and enjoy the Estate together before the summer holidays come to an end. You can also stop for a treat at Roots Cafe after!
#RoughamEstate #AncientWoodland #SuffolkWalks #FamilyDaysOut
What could be living in here?
Last chance to book on our Fermentation Workshop on Saturday 5 September.
Join chef Rowen Halstead of @wastenotrowen for a hands-on 90-minute workshop exploring the simple art of fermentation and how it can help reduce food waste at home.
You’ll learn the science and techniques behind fermentation before creating two ferments of your own: a curried root vegetable kraut and spiced pickled pears with whey. You’ll then take your creations home to enjoy.
No previous experience is needed, and everything you need is provided, including ingredients, recipe cards and jars if required.
Tea and coffee are included too.
Saturday 5 September, 11am–12.30pm
£38 per person
Meadow Room, behind Blackthorpe Barn
Suitable for ages 16+
Places are limited and booking is essential. More info and to book via link in our bio.
#wastenotrowen #roughamestate #limitfoodwaste
Two new specials this week not to miss out on!
Our brunch special is a breakfast bap of brioche bun with sausage meat pattie, bacon, emmental cheese, sun-dried tomato mayo, fried egg with salsa verde.
Or…
Salad of the week – strawberry, rocket, feta, cucumber, sunflower seeds with balsamic glaze.
Only available this week so don’t miss out.
#roughamestate #specialoftheweek
A look back at the last days of Rougham Sunflowers 2026🌻
It’s been a week since the sunflower field closed its gates for this season, and what a great year it was! The flowers were glorious this year, with the early rain and then the long, warm, sunny days. Thank you for coming to see them and spend time at the field. We’ve really enjoyed seeing you here!
The sunflowers ended in style with the Sundowner evening on Saturday, which was everything we hoped it would be: good food, great music, drinks in the golden hour and the most wonderful atmosphere as the sun went down over the flowers.
On the final Sunday afternoon, the Canvas Club workshop group painted their sunflowers at the field and some truly beautiful paintings went home with some very happy painters.
None of it would be possible, however, without our brilliant team, who worked so hard throughout the season to make the sunflower experience what it was. The team encompasses so many people who all contribute to the end result – from drilling the seed earlier in the year, to setting up everything in the field for visitors including making games and props, to those manning and servicing the field and the Roots kiosk each day, who open up early and close and clean up each evening, and those in the background who pull the event together in many other ways – it’s a HUGE team effort. Thank you to each of you!! You have been amazing and we are very grateful to every one.
🎃Now it’s time to look ahead to the autumn festival of pumpkins in October. They will be in the same field as the sunflowers this year and will be open every weekend in October and daily for the final week, from 24th-31st.
There’s a great line-up of food trucks and two evening Pumpkins by Torchlight events being planned. Keep your eyes open for more details, here on socials and on our website.
✨And while the pumpkins are in full swing, on 19th October, the Christmas Festival will begin with the opening of the Christmas Shop at Blackthorpe Barn just half a mile down the road.
There’s so much to look forward to! We look forward to seeing you again soon!👋
#roughamestate #burystedmunds #suffolkdaysout
We’re hiring at Rougham Estate!
We have a number of seasonal vacancies available across the Estate, with roles to suit people looking for weekend work, seasonal hours or the chance to join our team during some of our busiest times of year.
We’re currently recruiting for a range of roles, including opportunities around our Pumpkin season and in Roots Café as we head towards Christmas.
If you enjoy working with people, being part of a busy team and working in a unique setting, we’d love to hear from you.
You can find our current vacancies and full details, including how to apply, on Indeed – or the link in our bio.
#RoughamEstate #JobsSuffolk #SuffolkJobs
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