The new Brier Hey Pottery was developed by Sue and Barry Turner, building upon their involvement in the establishment of the nearby Northlight Art School in Hebden Bridge. It provides specialist communal facilities for 20 established and emerging makers and received generous financial support from the David C White Will Trust. The facilities run on a not-for-profit basis to keep membership fees as reasonable as possible.

Six years had passed since the final closure of David Constantine White’s humble wooden built pottery, set up nearby, in 1981. David produced some of the most arresting domestic, sculptural and figurative ceramics of the period up to his untimely death in 2011. He was widely respected in the world of studio ceramics and regarded as a master of the majolica technique.

Following David’s death, at his request, friend and fellow Northern Potter Sue Turner brought together 5 makers to keep the pottery open as a community facility for a further 5 years until it was finally closed by the landlord, in 2016, due to the poor state of repair of the building.

Work began at the new canal-side venue in May of 2022. Sited above the ground floor workshop of Dovetail Joinery, the whole building was renovated in a hive of activity between May and August. After a brief 3 month settling in period for 15 makers the Pottery was formerly opened, to a packed audience, by the celebrated potter Jim Robison on the 19th of November 2022.

The event was attended by many local and Northern Potters, receiving best wishes from further afield including letters from Clive Bowan, Mike Dodd, Stephen Parry, Ruthanne Tudball and Meri Wells. Our thanks to potters Geoff and Chris Cox for their enthusiastic support, memories of David and the gift of pieces of his work for our permanent collection.

Jim Robison (see photo left below), a long-time friend of David’s, spoke of his significance, skill and breadth of knowledge, expressing delight in the new facilities which offer a real testament to David’s life, friendships and the many potters he mentored along the way.

Brier Hey now houses a permanent display of David Constantine White’s work, available to view by appointment or on open days, and is always keen to receive further donations of David’s work to expand its collection.

Final thanks must again go to the Trustees of the David C White Will Trust for their faith in the project, funding and gifts of David’s work.