Arts and Crafts Fair
Come and buy directly from some of the best designer-makers in the UK at Blackthorpe Barn, listed in the “10 Christmas crafts fairs to get you in the festive spirit” by the Crafts Council UK.
Key details
When:
Date:
Time:
14th – 15th Nov
10:00 – 16:00
21st – 22nd Nov
10:00 – 16:00
28th – 29th Nov
10:00 – 16:00
5th – 6th Dec
10:00 – 16:00
12th – 13th Dec
10:00 – 16:00
Where:
Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
SatNav: IP30 9HZ
Entrance from the main car park, opposite the walkway to the overflow car parks.
MapPricing:
Day tickets:
Advance (Online) £2.50
On the door £3.00
Age 16 and under free
Season ticket (entry for all 10 days):
Advance (Online) £10
On the door £12
Age 16 and under free
Quality craftsmanship in a charming medieval barn
** The 2026 Application Form is now available.
This event is an amazing five weekends celebrating some of the best artisan crafts from across the country. The festive, unspoilt 16th century Barn is filled with talented, independent makers selling their own handcrafted work directly to visitors.
We are proud to have been showcasing art and craft as part of Christmas on Rougham Estate for over 30 years, starting in 1991.
Each designer-maker is carefully selected to ensure quality and to provide the ultimate eclectic mix of pieces to enjoy.
This year there are many new makers alongside some popular regulars, each with intriguing pieces for sale. The mix of makers changes each weekend, so there is always something new to see each time you visit.
The Art and Craft Fair is only open at the weekends to allow the makers time during the week to practise their craft and make their wares.
The modest entrance price, compared to similar craft shows, distributes the costs of maintaining the ancient barn and hosting the event here, directly benefiting the makers by ensuring reasonable stall-holder fees. Children aged 16 and under are admitted free of charge.
Only assistance dogs are allowed in the Arts and Crafts Fair.
Here are some clips from Arts&Crafts in 2024:
Tickets bought on the door cost more than tickets bought online
MEET THE MAKERS
Every independent designer-maker is thoughtfully selected, ensuring both the quality of their work and a wide range of pieces crafted for your enjoyment. All the makers will be personally present, ready to meet visitors and engage in conversations about the inspiration behind their wonderful creations.
Discover an array of crafts ranging from weaving, ceramics, glassware and metalwork, wood creations, natural beauty products, leather items, jewellery, books, foods, baskets and much more. These beautiful items for home and garden are perfect for gifting or perfect for keeping yourself.
Makers’ Grid 2025
- See which makers are coming to Arts and Crafts at Blackthorpe Barn this year by using the grid below. Makers are still being added as the application process proceeds.
- Sort the makers by the Week that they are at the Barn, or by Craft, or search by Name in the Search box, by using the controls at the top of the grid.
- Find out more about Featured Makers, marked with the tag “Featured”, by clicking on their name or picture.
Makers’ Grid for 2025
Art and Weaving by Katie Green
Aulwynd Bindery
Baadninish Weaving
BeeInspired
Birdfeeder Tree
Carol Page
Carola Smedjebacka Design
Caroline Hyde-Brown
Ceramics Buy Anja
Claire Folkes Ceramics
Claire Pirie Ceramics
Claire Porter Ceramics
Clare McEwan Illustration
Cleo and Bel
Corinne Pearson-Evans
Cyndi Speer Fine Artist
Danielle Hopkinson
Dee Ayles Jewellery
Dominic Upson Pottery
Donna Goymer Art
Elsie & Tom
Erica Just
Feather and Hare
Fleurs du Coeur
Gallery
Rougham Estate really understand Art & Crafts”
– JH
We bought a season ticket and attended each and every arts and crafts weekend. Well worth the money and a fantastic event. Thank you to everyone for all the hard work.”
– KM
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.
What others say
2026 ARTS & CRAFTS APPLICATION
If you want to apply for the 2026 Arts&Crafts at Rougham Estate, held in Blackthorpe Barn, please fill in the online application form.
NEVER MISS A THING
Follow us on Instagram
Since the Barn rethatch has been so popular, we’ve decided to share regular updates on our progress and answer some of your questions.
While you can see the transformation in person (but only from the ground), these posts are for those who can’t stop by regularly and for those who want to see it from a bird’s eye view. They also serve as a wonderful visual record of the project.
As you drive down the avenue towards Blackthorpe Barn, you’ll notice the piles of straw waiting to be transported to the Barn by digger. Progress is well underway and we’re looking forward to sharing the milestones with you!
To answer some of your questions:
Is it full of life?
Absolutely. The old thatch is a bustling habitat for spiders, beetles, moth larvae, and more. It’s its own little ecosystem!
Can we watch?
We’d love for you to see the progress! You and your children are more than welcome to observe from our designated safe zones.
Does the new thatch go on top of the old?
Yes! As long as the base layer is still in good condition, they don`t need to strip it back to the rafters. We remove the weathered surface and fix the new thatch directly into the sturdy old layer. It’s a bit like adding a fresh, protective coat over a solid foundation.
Keep your questions coming. We love to answer them!
#Rethatch #roughamestate #blackthorpebarn #restoringheritage
Before the first customer walks through the door, the Rougham Estate is already buzzing with the morning hustle, shared laughs, and a brew or two.
It’s the hidden energy, the morning prep, and the care poured into every single corner.
We love the buzz of a busy day and the team that brings it all to life. It’s what we do, and we love every second of it!
#roughamestate #blackthorpebarn #roughamestateshop #shopinburystedmunds
Our special for this week has a Mediterranean twist.
Get an early taste of summer with this dish of greek giant beans on toasted sourdough with cashew cream, tzatziki, pickled red onions and dill.
Only available this week at Roots Café so don’t miss out.
#Suffolkfood #BrunchSpecials #Eatlocal #Rootssuffolk #RoughamEstate
Sauna season has arrived back at Rougham Estate and is back for February & March.
The Roaming Sauna, led by Sophie, was recently featured by Muddy Stilettos as one of Suffolk’s local wellness experts.
Set against the peaceful backdrop of the Estate, this experience combines the deep heat of a wood-fired sauna with invigorating cold-water plunge tubs providing a powerful contrast therapy experience designed to:
– Boost circulation
– Ease tired muscles
– Clear the mind
– Leave you feeling completely reset
Whether you come with friends, family or simply for some quiet time to yourself, this offers a simple but powerful way to restore balance at this in-between seasonal moment.
You can find the sauna here on:
• 21st & 22nd February
• 7th & 8th March
• 14th & 15th March
• 21st & 22nd March
Book via link in bio or visit www.theroamingsauna.com
Tag someone who needs this or save this for your next reset!
#SuffolkWellness #VisitSuffolk #WoodFiredSauna #ThingsToDoInSuffolk ContrastTherapy
Happy Valentines Day! ❤️
There’s loads we love on the Estate but with new stock arriving all the time in the Rougham Estate Shop, we went to find out what new items are our team’s favourite.
What’s yours?
#roughamestate #valentinesday #lifestyle
This Valentine’s Day, share the love with our specials – only available this weekend, on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th Feb.
We have:
🍰 Waffle, strawberries, raspberries, Chantilly cream, Nutella sauce, white chocolate and vanilla sauce, and sprinkled with chocolate soil.
☕️Marimba vanilla ruby mocha.
🍷 Prosecco, elderflower cordial, raspberry syrup with mint – if you’re after something with a kick.
Don’t miss out.
#RootsCafe #RoughamEstate #valentinesday
Have you noticed that there are some new dishes on our menu at Roots Café? The newcomer for breakfast time is the Breakfast Bun; perfect for smaller appetites when a full fry-up is too much, or perhaps as a mid-morning snack to keep you going.
It includes grilled sausage meat, black treacle bacon, a fried egg, roasted beef tomato and marinara mayo all nestled inside a toasted brioche bun.
Available all day from 9am. Why not order it the next time you’re here!
Don’t forget our 10% off promotion for your second visit is still running until the end of February.
We’re just off the A14, J45, east of Bury St Edmunds – the perfect breakfast pit-stop.
#suffolkfood #suffolklife #roughamestate
It’s been just over a week since the master thatchers @dodsonbrosthatchers arrived at the Estate to start work on our much loved Blackthorpe Barn.
Watching this ancient craft unfold is a rare privilege for the Estate so we wanted to share the journey so far with you, as it’s not every day you get to see a piece of history being preserved quite like this.
If there is anything you’d like to know about the thatching leave a comment and we’ll try and include the answer in our next update post.
#thatching #roughamestate #blackthorpebarn
Tag us @RoughamEstate
