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
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As we celebrate Rougham Estate in Bloom, and if you are visiting the Estate over the weekend, we encourage you to take a moment to discover what goes on below the forest floor with our carved oak sculpture.
It reveals the hidden world beneath woodland floors, where trees, plants and fungi are linked through vast underground networks, sharing nutrients and supporting one another in ways we are still learning to fully understand.
It’s a reminder that a forest is far more than what we see above ground; it’s a deeply connected living system where everything plays its part.
The oak itself once grew here on the Estate for around 400 years and is now thoughtfully repurposed to tell this story of ancient woodland and natural resilience.
A fitting companion to Rougham Estate in Bloom, where everything on the Estate is connected, above and below ground.
#treesculpture #RoughamEstateInBloom
Rougham Estate in Bloom is all about celebrating nature in motion, and now you can take some of that inspiration home with you too…
We’re welcoming Watson Plants back again, and what an appropriate time as we celebrate Rougham Estate in Bloom for his special pop-up plant stall, bringing a wonderful selection of plants alongside expert growing advice and seasonal inspiration for 3 days over the bank holiday: Saturday 23rd to Monday 25th May.
From first-time gardeners to seasoned green fingers, it’s the perfect opportunity to add a little more bloom to your own space and get in the spirit of the Chelsea Flower Show.
#RoughamEstate #RoughamEstateInBloom #ChelseaFlowerShow #Biodiversity #WildlifeUK
Celebrating the tastes of the Estate, we will be using edible flowers and honey from the Estate on our special dishes throughout the month.
The first dish is Sticky Date Sponge with caramel sauce, apple compote, honeycomb and vanilla ice cream, dressed with viola flowers.
When it’s gone, it’s gone, so don’t miss out on this delicious sweet treat!
#RoughamEstate #RoughamEstateInBloom #LocalProduce #Biodiversity #WildlifeUK
One of the quiet highlights of Rougham Estate in Bloom has to be the Sunken Garden, now flourishing more beautifully than ever since it was established.
Many of you may have seen how the space has gradually changed and evolved over the years, growing season by season into the beautiful garden it is today.
Now filled with colour, texture and movement, it has become a wonderful place to pause and enjoy the season, while also supporting insects, pollinators and biodiversity.
At this time of year especially, the garden feels full of life and a perfect reflection of what Rougham Estate in Bloom is all about.
#RoughamEstate #roughamestateinbloom #chelseaflowershow #biodiversity #wildlifeuk
To mark the spirit of the Chelsea Flower Show, Rougham Estate is celebrating its own seasonal showcase: Rougham Estate in Bloom.
Across the Estate, nature is quietly doing what it does best, every year.
From the gentle hum of the hives and the sweep of wildflower fields to the rhythm of farming, pondlife and the smallest insects at work, it all comes together in one living, interconnected landscape. Every corner has its part to play, and at this time of year it is all beautifully visible.
Rougham Estate in Bloom is a chance to pause and take it in properly, to celebrate biodiversity in motion and how all these natural systems underpin the Estate.
Alongside this, there will also be a couple of events capturing the detail and wonder of it all. Keep your eyes peeled!
Week one celebrates Flowers, coinciding with the Chelsea Flower Show, with beautiful displays across the Estate – and in our foyer!
Week two turns its attention to Minibeasts, celebrating the bees, insects and tiny creatures working quietly across the Estate’s wildflowers, hedgerows and ponds.
Week three focuses on Farm & Conservation, exploring the relationship between farming, wildlife, hedgerows and wildflower meadows, and how conservation sits at the heart of the Estate.
Week four looks at Wildlife & Trees, from deer moving through the woodland and birdsong across the Estate to the traditional tree coppicing that helps create vital habitats for wildlife.
A reminder that everything here is beautifully connected, and at this moment in the season, everything is quietly in bloom.
#roughamestate #roughamestateinbloom #chelseaflowershow #biodiversity #wildlifeuk
Don’t forget from Thursday til Monday next week, we have our Art Show on in the Meadow Room at Rougham Estate.
Showcasing three excellent Suffolk artists, Cyndi Speer, Carol Pask and J. McCaughan, it really isn’t one you want to miss!
Cyndi Speer presents dreamlike oil paintings, mixed media collages and giclée prints, alongside greetings cards, all shaped by a close connection to the natural world.
Carol Pask shows sculptural ceramics and her Land to Cloth textile range, including hand-dyed, knitted and woven wool pieces made from native British sheep breeds.
Mac McCaughan exhibits contemporary metalwork, blending traditional blacksmithing with modern design, often inspired by natural forms.
Together, the exhibition brings three distinct practices into one space, rooted in craftsmanship, material and place. It’s a chance to see the work up close and discover pieces you’ll want to spend time with.
All works available to purchase directly from the artists.
#art #suffolkart #roughamestate
Do you feel moments when life feels a little full, a little fast and what you really need is space to pause?
The Reset Retreat at Rougham Estate has been created exactly for that.
A gentle, restorative experience set within the calm of the Estate, where the pace naturally slows, the noise fades a little and you’re given time to simply breathe, reflect and reset. It’s not about doing more, it’s about stepping back from everything and giving yourself permission to stop for a while.
Held at Blackthorpe Barn, it’s a peaceful setting that allows you to fully switch off and come back to yourself, even if just for a few hours.
With an easy woodland walk, gentle yoga, wood-fired sauna and cold plunge baths, a relaxing sound bath and a light lunch, if you’ve been waiting for a sign to take some time out, this might be it.
Places are limited so book via the link in our bio to avoid disappointment.
#RoughamEstate #ResetRetreat #Wellbeing #TimeForYou #SuffolkEvent
Just a friendly reminder ahead of the weekend…
Ramble & Roots for this month is on Monday 18th May, starting at 10am from Blackthorpe Barn here on Rougham Estate.
If you’re thinking of easing into the week a bit more gently, this is a lovely one. A relaxed countryside walk at a leisurely pace, followed by something well deserved from Roots Café when you get back.
It’s also a really nice thing to do if you come along on your own. There’s a friendly, easy-going feel to it and people often end up chatting along the way, so you might even leave with a few new friends.
Nothing complicated, just fresh air, open Suffolk views and a bit of time out that feels like a proper reset before the week really gets going again.
If a Monday needs softening a little, this is a rather nice way to do it.
Email [email protected] to register your interest in joining
#RoughamEstate #RambleAndRoots #SuffolkWalks #RootsCafe #VisitSuffolk
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