Historic Craft Revived: Stephen Mathews’ Withy Pot Journey Captured on Film

Stephen Mathews, a much-loved island boatman with an encyclopaedic knowledge of St. Michael’s Mount, has brought his family’s centuries-old tradition of withy pot making back to life.

With roots stretching back 300-400 years on the Mount, Stephen’s story is rich with history and personal anecdotes. After a 30-year hiatus from making withy pots—willow pots used to catch lobster —Stephen expressed a desire to revisit this craft.

Sarah Trevillion, a film maker from Storylines, intrigued by his journey, documented the process with her camera and audio recorder. The result is a film that meticulously captures the slow, skilful process of withy pot making. Stephen, who initially learned the craft from his grandfather and fished with these pots alongside his father, finds deep personal connection in this endangered craft. The project not only showcases each step of Stephen’s meticulous craftsmanship but also includes historical Pathe news footage from 1949 of Stephen’s grandfather making a pot on the Mount, adding a touching continuity to the story.

The film will be featured in the Withy Lore project, a collaboration with artist Anna Pope and the Royal Cornwall Museum, aimed at preserving the endangered craft of withy pot making. Stephen’s film was also used to inspire a workshop at Marazion School and will be part of the Withy Lore exhibition at the Royal Cornwall Museum from March 10 to June 22, 2025. 

This project has been made possible through funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, FEAST Cornwall, Cornwall Community Foundation, Cornwall Council, the St. Aubyn Foundation, and the Fishmongers Company.