A Potted History: Echoes of Rockingham

‘A Potted History: Echoes of Rockingham’ headline sponsored by Barista Bar - An RHS Young Designers Garden, 2025.

In this garden, the past is not remembered; it is lived. Inspired by the exquisite craftsmanship of Rockingham Pottery, A Potted History invites visitors into a living gallery, where the delicate brushstrokes of history unfurl through petals, stone, and porcelain. Winding pathways weave through vibrant planting that echoes the intricate motifs once hand-painted onto the fine Rockingham Pottery. 

Soft Crataegus blooms, woven textures of herbaceous colour, and the gentle sweep of Yorkshire hedgerows paint a picture, celebrating this cherished artistry. Amidst the planting, towering ceramic sculptures rise like echoes of the great Waterloo Kiln, their curved forms a testament to Yorkshire’s spirit of invention and design. At the heart of the garden, a secluded seating space looks toward an ornate water feature, a contemporary reimagining of the grand doorway to the Camellia House at Wentworth Woodhouse, where Lady Rockingham once gathered guests to share tea, conversation, and the finest Rockingham Pottery.  

Rooted in a personal fascination with craftsmanship, storytelling, and heritage, this garden invites visitors to experience history not as something distant, but as something that still breathes and blooms beneath open skies. 

You can find out more about the garden here.