​Surrey Pottery Making Classes
Based in Witley, Godalming in Surrey, Wildcroft Pottery provides hand-building pottery classes to beginners or those with limited experience. However, you are more than welcome to sign up for classes if you have more experience and want to refresh your skills or work at your own pace.
What does hand-building entail?
At Wildcroft Pottery, all lessons focus on hand-building techniques. No wheels are involved, hand-building relies solely on your hands and a few basic tools to mould the clay into a variety of shapes. Unlike throwing on the wheel, which only creates round forms, hand-building allows for the creation of diverse shapes and sizes. Utilising three main techniques—pinching, coiling, and slab building, plus sculpture—you can craft almost anything from clay.
Pinching - shaping a ball of soft clay by first pressing your thumb into the centre and then pinching the walls out with your thumb on one side and fingers on the other to thin and shape the clay. Make items such as small bowls, spoon rests, soap dishes, bud vases, small jugs, shallow dishes, candle holders, egg cups & ring dishes. Join two or more pinched pots to make items such dipping dishes and small sculptured animals. ​
Coiling - long, sausage-like 'coils' of clay are rolled by hand (or made using our in house extruder) and stacked, joined & blended in layers to build items such as mugs, bowls/dishes, flower pots & vases
Slab Building - the clay is rolled into flat slabs, and then cut, shaped, and assembled to create three-dimensional items such as geometric forms, box shapes and tall vessels, or draped over moulds to create dinner plates platters and bowls.
What classes do we offer?
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​​​​Taster Classes ​(pinching) & from January 2026 Coiling Taster Classes
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Weekly Courses ​
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1:1 or 1:2 Private
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ClassesFriends/Family/Colleagues
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Group Sessions (3-6 people)​
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Pinching, coiling and slab building techniques are taught in our weekly courses, so you can build almost anything including sculptured pieces.
1:1/1:2 and group bookings involve pinching and coiling techniques.
From January 2026 Pinching Taster sessions & Coiling Taster Sessions will be run as separate classes. For the remainder of 2025 pinching will be taught in Taster sessions.
To find out more about the different classes please scroll down or book a class using our Online Booking Service
What clay do we use at Wildcroft Pottery?
All our clay is stoneware, and once fired, it is safe for holding liquids and food.
Participants in our weekly classes will have the chance to work with different stoneware clays, including some that are entirely smooth and others that contain grog (crushed fired clay pieces).​
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What decorative methods are taught
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Those attending one off lessons will be able to decorate all of their pottery pieces with their choice of our wide selection of coloured slips (liquid coloured clay), add textures using tools, stamps and textured rollers, use leaves as a resist (subject to time of year), decorate using 'mocha diffusion', or add glass to the inside of decorative pieces.
All pieces produced are fired and glazed with a transparent glaze. ​
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Weekly potters are taught how to apply an extensive list of decorative techniques including; sgraffito, mishima, mocha diffusion, use of decals, adding glass (which melts in the second firing), adding texture & carving plus using coloured slips, engobes, underglazes and a choice of over 100 glaze colours to add colour and patterns by trailing, overlapping, hand painting, sponging, to name a few!
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Taster Classes
'Pinching' or 'Coiling'
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Recommended for those who want to try our hand-building pottery as a one off or before committing to a weekly course
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One 2.5 hour class for beginners (adults & children aged 17+)
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Max class size of 6 with individuals signing up & sharing the lesson
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£48 per individual
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Pinching Taster sessions - understand how clay can be shaped to form functional or decorative pieces just by using your hands.
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Coiling Taster Sessions (running from January 2026) joining sausage shaped 'coils' to create items such as mugs and bowls.
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Add texture and decoration
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Paint with your choice of a wide range of coloured slips (coloured liquid clay)
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All pieces are fired by Lucy and glazed in a transparent glaze to make them food safe
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Collection of pieces after the second firing. Approx 4 weeks after the lesson
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Clay, equipment, decor, tools, aprons and refreshments included
6 or 12 Week Courses
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Recommended for those who want to take up a new relaxing hobby
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2.5 hours at a set time each week for adults aged 17+
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Ideal for beginners or those with limited experience
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Max 6 individuals per class
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Autumn £279 for 6 weeks & £504 for 12 weeks
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Pinching, coiling & slab building plus sculpture will be taught during the course
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Each class will be structured to build on your skills, knowledge and use of different decorating techniques including use of slip, underglazes, glazes & textured items
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Understand how clay can be shaped to form all kinds of functional or decorative pieces
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Collection of pieces after the second firing
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Clay, equipment, decor, tools, aprons and refreshments included
1:1 or 1:2 Class
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Recommended for those who want focused guidance from Lucy to hand-build pottery,whether you are a beginner or have some experience
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Book one or more private 2.5 hour hand building classes (adults & children aged 7+)
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£82 for a 1:1 lesson
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£145 for a 1:2 lesson
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Discuss with Lucy prior to your lesson what pieces you want to make using pinching, coiling or sculptured pieces
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Add texture and decoration
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Paint with your choice of a wide range of coloured slips (coloured liquid clay) or underglazes and glazes if more than one lesson is booked
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All pieces are fired by Lucy and glazed in a transparent glaze to make them food safe.
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Collection of pieces after the second firing. Approx 4 weeks after the lesson
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Clay, equipment, decor, tools, aprons and refreshments included
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Friends/Family/Colleagues Group Sessions
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Book a fun, relaxing group pottery session with friends, family or work colleagues to give hand-building pottery a go
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For adults & children aged 7+ accompanied by an adult
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2.5 hour session with no prior experience necessary
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£195 for 3 to 6 people
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Understand how clay can be shaped to form functional or decorative pieces using pinching or coiling techniques
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Add texture and decoration
-
Paint with your choice of a wide range of coloured slips (coloured liquid clay)
-
All pieces are fired by Lucy and glazed in a transparent glaze to make them food safe
-
Collection of pieces after the second firing. Approx 4 weeks after the lesson
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Clay, equipment, decor, tools, aprons and refreshments included