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
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 5mph 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
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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
We are excited to announce a new event here at Rougham Estate.
** UPDATE – EXTRA DATE ADDED: 21st Feb – tickets available from 8pm on 15th January
On Friday 20th February 2026, we’re hosting a Reset Retreat, a one-day retreat designed to help you slow down, reset and reconnect. Set in the Suffolk countryside, the day runs from 9.45am to 3pm and brings together gentle movement, time outdoors and deep relaxation.
The experience includes a guided mindful walk, a balanced yoga class with @thecreatespacecollective , sauna and cold plunge sessions with @the_roaming_sauna_ , a soothing sound bath, and plenty of space to pause and breathe. The day finishes with a late, light lunch, thoughtfully prepared to nourish and restore.
There are limited spaces available to keep the experience calm and personal. So book fast.
You can find out more and book online at https://roughamestate.com/events/the-reset-retreat/
#reset #retreat #roughamestate #BlackthorpeBarn #wellness
Tag us @RoughamEstate
