i was born into a Fishing family in Budleigh Salterton in 1958 , My mothers side of the family the Mears fished these waters for generations, i am the fifth generation of the family to carry on this old craft.

There are as far as i can trace only about 10 people now who still make these pots, we are all based in the South West from Cornwall/Devon and into Dorset, each pot will take about 5 hours to make using freshly cut Willow, however for me to make these pots at the various shows i demonstrate at i have to use Willow that has been cut in the Winter, this willow needs soaking for a long time to make it supple again for bending and twisting into shape.

I have been able to trace the origins of these pots back at least 350/400 years by way of old oil paintings from that period in time, though in all reality it probably goes back even further than that.