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.
Forthcoming Exhibitions
There are currently no events to show. We’re working on adding some soon.
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
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One week today the magic of Christmas arrives at Blackthorpe Barn, here at Rougham Estate. ✨
You’ll be able to step into the story of Christmas as the beautiful old barn comes alive with festive displays, sparkling decorations and inspiration for the season ahead.
Behind the scenes, the elves are doing the finishing touches ready for you to explore and discover those special pieces that make Christmas feel like magic.
The countdown is on!
We can’t wait to welcome you back!
#RoughamEstate #ChristmasAtRougham #ChristmasShop #BlackthorpeBarn SuffolkChristmas
With Weekend 2 of the pumpkins finished, it’s time to think about next weekend’s fun already, and it will be a step-up again 🎃🎉🕺
Yesterday we had @thephonks playing some cool tunes on the Saturday afternoon.
Next Saturday (17th) the brilliant @Megan_Rae_Music will be playing live from 2-4pm.
It’s still free entry, no booking needed. If you want some great autumn festival vibes, come along, enjoy the entertainment while feasting on fabulous food.
Then, why not stay on for Pumpkins by Torchlight and the first of the two famous Rougham Pumpkins Silent Discos this year. From 6pm-9pm the patch will be open for you to search for your pumpkin in the dark. Free entry and no booking needed, but if you want headsets for the silent discos, you need to book these soon (tickets selling fast). Book on our website.
There will be a waiting list for headsets on the night, if you don’t manage to book in advance, and 3 different channels of music playing, with one specifically child-friendly.
If you prefer not to be bothered by music when looking for pumpkins by torchlight, don’t worry – you’ll be surprised at how silent the silent disco really is.
Don’t forget to dress warmly, dress up if you want, pull on your wellies and bring your torches.
Pumpkins by Torchlight is happening on the 17th and 24th October. We can’t wait to see everyone boogying around and having a good time.
These are the food trucks with us next weekend, 17/18 Oct:
Roots&Co – bagels, baps, crumble, cakes, drinks including a bar
@whatthe_peck – Suffolk-reared fried chicken
@BadBoiBurritos – toasted burritos
@Pigs_In – all your pork favourites
@Tikka_Tonic – New Delhi style street food
@TheCreperieShack – sweet & savoury crepes
@ItsOtisBreading – sourdough toasties
@GeeGeeBakes – cheesecakes, milkshakes & coffees
@KiernansCoffee – coffees, drinks & snacks at the Pitch in the Patch
@FullThrottleCoffeeCo – coffees
@GreysCoffee_ – coffees and cakes (Sunday 18th only)
We’ve had a great weekend this weekend – thank you to everyone who visited. 🙌
And we can’t wait to really get this festival going next weekend! 🎃🕺🎉
#roughamestate #roughampumpkins #suffolkevents #burystedmunds
Weekend 2 of Rougham Pumpkins is already here and it’s a good one! Pick your pumpkins from the patch, right where they’ve been growing.
And there’s so much more! Space to run and play games, climb bale pyramids, pedal tractors, sand pits, football goals (bring your own ball)
📣Live music this Saturday afternoon 10th (not 11th as on the slide 🙈) from the fabulous @thephonks (unmute to hear them) 2pm-4pm
Face painting by @faceitfaceart
Enjoy something delicious from these amazing food trucks this weekend:
Roots&Co – bagels, baps, crumble, cakes, drinks including a bar
@whatthe_peck – Suffolk-reared fried chicken
@BadBoiBurritos – toasted burritos
@Pigs_In – all your pork favourites
@Tikka_Tonic – New Delhi style street food
@TheCreperieShack – sweet & savoury crepes (Saturday 10th only)
@GeeGeeBakes – cheesecakes, milkshakes & coffees
@KiernansCoffee – coffees, drinks & snacks by the swing and pyramid at the Pitch in the Patch
@FullThrottleCoffeeCo – coffees (Saturday 10th only)
@greyscoffee_ – coffees and cakes (Sunday 11th only)
Bring your own picnic if you like.
🎃NEW FIELD! The pumpkins are in a new field this year, south of J45, A14 on Elderstub Lane. SatNav: IP30 9HZ
Driving directions in a previous reel, maps and directions on our website
🎃Free entry, free parking, no booking needed
🎃Open 9am-5pm each weekend in October and then daily from 24th to 31st. Open until 9pm on Saturdays 17th and 24th
🎃Find the golden pumpkin and win 1 barrow of pumpkins
🎃Pumpkins by Torchlight and Silent Disco on 17th and 24th October 6pm-9pm. Last headset tickets still available
🎃SEN-hours ticketed-entry only on 27th and 29th October 9am-10am
🎃Well-behaved dogs welcome on a short lead in the picnic area and in a small area of the patch
All the details from our website.
We can’t wait to welcome you to the Pumpkin Festival!!
See you at the patch 🧡
#roughamestate #burystedmunds #suffolkevents #pickyourownpumpkin
Autumn brings plenty of seasonal ingredients that are perfect for preserving, pickling and fermenting.
Chef Rowen Halstead returns with his popular for a hands-on fermentation workshop at Rougham Estate on Saturday 31 October, where you’ll learn new techniques and create two seasonal ferments to take home: spiced pumpkin sauerkraut and orchard fruit kombucha chutney.
If you’ve joined us for one of our previous fermentation workshops, you’ll be pleased to know this is a new workshop with new techniques. Each session uses different seasonal ingredients and explores new recipes and techniques, so there’s always something new to discover.
It’s suitable for beginners and those with a little more experience, with plenty of practical guidance along the way.
Find out more and book your place on the Rougham Estate website.
#RoughamEstate #FermentationWorkshop #Fermentation
A little autumn atmosphere over our fields…
A special scene of mist rising over a field of freshly drilled Winter Barley, with the soft autumn light, we felt was worth a share!
While the countryside is settling into autumn, the farming year is already looking ahead, with the next crops getting established across the Estate.
#RoughamEstate #AutumnAtRougham #WinterBarley
What if your dreams are trying to tell you something?
On Saturday 7th November, join psychotherapist Gilly Crow for Wake Up to Your Dreams, an interactive talk exploring why our dreams can be so intriguing and what they might tell us about ourselves.
Gilly has spent more than 35 years working as a psychotherapist in the Suffolk countryside, with dreams at the heart of much of her work. Her approach is not about trying to find a neat meaning for every dream, but about exploring what our dreams might reveal and why they can be meaningful.
Whether you have recurring dreams, are curious about your unconscious or simply wonder why we dream at all, this promises to be a fascinating morning.
Saturday 7 November
9.15am–12pm
£15 per person
Tea, coffee and mince pies will be provided, and Gilly’s book will also be available to buy on the day.
Booking is essential.
Find out more via the link in our bio.
#RoughamEstate #WakeUpToYourDreams #GillyCrow
There’s definitely an autumn feel to this week’s specials at Roots Café.
Brunch special: Rougham Estate apple and strawberry crumble with a coconut granola topping and crème anglaise.
Or our soup of the week: Cream of Rougham pumpkin soup, served with garlic croutons and dukkah spice, alongside friendly loaf bread.
Pop in after a walk around the Estate and warm up with something delicious.
Roots Café is open daily from 9am–4pm.
#BlackthorpeBarn AutumnAtRougham
Not sure how to find Rougham Pumpkins, because we’re not in the same field as last year? We’ve got you covered!
Finding the Rougham Pumpkin Patch is easier than you think, just follow this reel and you’ll know exactly where you’re going before you even leave the house.
We’re about 3 miles east of Bury St Edmunds, just south of Junction 45 on the A14, in Elderstub Lane.
(This is the same junction as last year, but south of the A14 instead of north.)
SatNav: IP30 9HX
What3words: others.flaunting.anchorman
Open 9am – 5pm at the weekends in October and daily 24-31 October.
Free entry, free parking, no booking needed.
Thousands upon thousands of pumpkins.
Games, bale pyramids, sand pits and more.
A fabulous festival selection of street food trucks.
Evening openings and SEN hours.
One golden pumpkin to be found in the field each day, winning the finder a free barrow-load of pumpkins.
All the info from our website, link in profile.
See you at the patch! 🎃🧡
#RoughamEstate #RoughamPumpkins #PickYourOwnPumpkins #SuffolkAutumn #BuryStEdmunds
Tag us @RoughamEstate
