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The Whichford Story

Family business since 1976...

Jim and Dominique Keeling established Whichford Pottery in 1976 with two apprentices and now heads a team of 30 local people, including his eldest son Adam, designing and making a wide range of English flowerpots using traditional hand-thrown and hand-pressed methods for discerning gardeners worldwide. We are a family business, passionate about keeping our skills alive, using ethically sourced materials, providing personal customer service and supporting local businesses wherever possible.

Timeline: 1976 - 1981

A suitable premises is found in Middle Barton, Oxfordshire

Production soon starts and a Pottery is born

The yard at Barton becomes a focal point

See more in the Timeline: 1976 - 1981

Timeline: 1981 - 1990

New premises, Whichford

13 miles from the original pottery, the new premises were built in Whichford

Young Adam Keeling taking his first throwing lesson from Andy Gill

Jim Keeling happily at work in the new premises

See more in the Timeline: 1981 - 1990

Timeline: 1990 - 1995

Chelsea 1980s

We started exhibiting at Chelsea in the 1980s and have won many awards over the years.

Pots for Japan

In 1990 we began to export our pots and Japanese gardeners became our best overseas customers.

Christmas sale at the pottery - 1995

See more in the Timeline: 1990 - 1995

Timeline: 1995 - 2000

The new archway entrance to the pottery and courtyard garden

Display at Chelsea Flower Show 1999

The National Trust, Ham House

Ham House Urns designed and made for The National Trust, in situ at Ham House, Richmond, Surrey

See more in the Timeline: 1995 - 2000

Timeline: 2000 - 2005

Summer in the Stockyard

Elephant planters braving the winter conditions

Award winning display at Chelsea Flower show 2001

See more in the Timeline: 2000 - 2005

Timeline: 2005 - 2012

The largest pot ever

Adam Keeling working on the largest pot ever undertaken by Whichford Pottery - a staggering 109cm (43inches) high x 157cm (62inches) wide

The courtyard garden at Whichford Pottery

The Cypress Tree

Jim Keeling at The Chelsea Flower Show with his gilded ceramic Cypress Tree sculpture

See more in the Timeline: 2005 - 2012

Timeline: 2013 - 2014

RHS Chelsea Flower Show Centenary Flowerpot

To celebrate 100 years of The Chelsea Flower Show we created, in conjunction with the RHS, a 3D interpretation of a floral Union Jack on a halfpot

Alice in Wonderland

Our Alice in Wonderland themed garden for a Japanese client

The Straw Kitchen Opened in May 2014

Serving up scrumptious brunches, lunches, steaming teas and coffees, homemade cakes and the best bacon sarni for miles around!

See more in the Timeline: 2013 - 2014

Timeline: 2015 - 2016

Adam and Theodora

Continuing the family business, Adam and Theodora joined the directors team

2016 Churchill Fellowship

Adam Keeling has been awarded a 2016 Churchill Fellowship to explore workshop based training and apprenticeships in America and Japan to further strengthen the training programme based in Whichford.

Oxford Anagama

The aim of this project is to build and fire two traditional Japanese kilns in the heart of Oxford University's Wytham Woods.

See more in the Timeline: 2015 - 2016

Timeline: 2017 - 2021

Bespoke Handpainted Planters

Beautiful late 17th century French-style planters are proudly waved off to their new home in the USA.

Award Winners!

We were thrilled to be awarded West Midlands Family Business of the Year by the Federation of Small Businesses.

Celebrating our 45th Anniversary

Dominique, Adam, Theodora and Jim Keeling celebrate 45 years of Whichford Pottery.

See more in the Timeline: 2017 - 2021