The Anchor Inn
Hello .
I do hope that this blog will become an interesting area about all things “Mudlen End” and that it may become a substantial source of information for interested (and interesting) people who enjoy collecting, or simply looking at, Mudlen End Studio, or James Hart, produced items.
There is so much that can be told about the whole ”Mudlen End Studio” era. About the actual products themselves and about the people involved in the various aspects of the business.
It is a ‘work in progress’ and as more information is sifted through and gathered things may be added and changed.
I have a particular interest in the topic as I am the youngest son of the founder, potter James Hart. “Mudlen End” is acutally my family home, and together with my siblings, and my mother, this is our story.
I also hope that you will visit the excellent website that David Purcell has created.I had the pleasure of meeting David in June 2014 ,at the Bull Hotel in Long Melford,we spent several hours discussing things “Mudlen End”.Great to meet a fellow avid collector.
Hi Ben,
Brilliant to see that you have been able to launch this blog for others who share an enthusiasm and fascination in the various models produced by your late father. Looking forward to seeing interesting topics here and hopefully contributing some as well.
Great stuff!
David
Hi Ben, We received the tea towels and post box and wanted to join your blog. Love the Mudlen End story and wonderful cottages! Do you have photos of the real buildings after which these cottages are modeled?
Hello Stephanie.
Glad you got your items O.K. Hope you enjoy them.
From the collection of 44 there are possibly 6 or 7 which are models of existing/actual buildings.
For example ‘Sally Lunns shop’ in Bath, ‘The Crooked House’ in Lavenham, ‘The doctors House’ also in Lavenham, Willy Lotts Cottage, ‘The Barn’ based upon pictures of the Red Barn in Polstead, the Corn Hall in Bury St. Edmunds.( if you Google ‘image’ these names you will see the actual buildings, except the Doctors House, it was our family doctors house and not know by that name.
You can see the influence of the Corn Hall building in the model, steps, pillars etc. but it is not an exact likeness. The Church is based upon “St.Peter’s” in Felsham.
Mostly the cottages are a general representation of the styles of houses that you might see, although some are very similar to actual buildings but maybe with a window or door added or missing.
The large Mudlen End models are all representations of actual buildings, as are the various commission pieces that were produced.
Thanks for looking at my blog and for the interest that you have in my fathers work.
Hi,
I currently have two 44s and 65 other mudlen end on bidding till Monday 20th at 12pm on ebay. Was told it was a good idea to tell people on here but not sure quite how. Thank you
Kind regards,
Rach
Hi Rachel.
I have just seen your message and I believe your auction has now ended. I was following it out of interest.
I hope you got a good price for the lot and that you are happy with the result. Things are a bit slow on the collecting at the moment, I perhaps would have advised you to list the #44’s separately and individually and also the Guildhall, Oh and to crush the “fake copy” one too!!
Regards.
Ben
Hi Ben,
I received the lovely tea towel today and decided to join your blog. I love your father’s work as I am sure so many people
around the world!
I have been collecting the delightful “Mudlen End cottages”
for a couple of years and I have No 1-41 plus a few other items,like the church in Felsham tho there is no number at the
bottom.
I continue to look for the other cottages 42-44 but I guess there are now rare & difficult to find.
My husband & I plan to visit the UK next year and we will definately go to Felsham,Suffolk,Bury St Edmunds & Lavenham to see the area where it first started.
Kind regards,
Elizabeth Reachill
Hello Elizabeth.
Glad you like the tea towel.
Good luck with the search for the elusive #44 ! They are very rare indeed.
Love that you get pleasure from my fathers work.
Enjoy your U.K. trip.
Regards.
Ben Hart
I have no 44 which will be listed on eBay shortly.
Hi.
An elusive #44, wow. All the best with the auction. You stand to make a pretty penny and make someone happy too.
Regards.
Ben H.
I brought from your fathers shop many many of the houses, from him personally, as I lived in Rattlesden and I used to ring the bells at Felsham Church.
I was so surprised to see on ebay that you are producing copies of his houses.
I just feel that it just can not be right. Also you choose to reproduce the most expensive house….the very last one.
It just seems wrong…..because what is the point of collecting for years and years if copies are being made. That’s just my point of view.
Hello Julia.
I rang the bells a few times in St. Peters, with Mike Cockell, who was my godfather.
I do understand your point of view regarding the reproduction #44 that I have made, but please allow me to make the following points.
Just to clarify though, I do not make ‘copies of his houses’, ‘houses’ implies that this is in the plural, which is not so,
I have only reproduced #44 from the numbered series and I have done this for the very reasons that you state, for people
who have collected for years and years and have not had the opportunity to obtain an original model, which as well as being extremely
rare is also very expensive.
Before going ahead and reproducing this model I did do a lot of ‘homework’ on the subject, some consultation and even some ‘soul searching’
and things came out in the positive, which encouraged me to go ahead.
I have had nothing but positive feedback from collectors worldwide who have been able to at least
obtain this reproduction to add to their collections, but have no doubt, every last one of them would still love to
have the real thing. I myself have spent a considerable amount obtaining originals, and I make the reproductions!!
Also, the reason that I request that these models are not be auctioned is that the actual value of the model is not the point here, but
rather what it represents.
My models are made from a polyeurathene resin material but actually do have the feel of pottery as I spent considerable time and effort working
out the method to create them. They are easily distinguishable from the original items and are no way intended to be ‘rip offs’.
I hope that this sways your point of view a little bit.
Kind Regards.
Ben.
Hi just come across this Blog site. I have a photocopied leaflet with the names and numbers of the houses but is there an official booklet which could be reprinted? I also have the “For Sale” house which is entirely blue, roof and walls is this rare?
Hi Ben
Reading this brings back memories I was one of the painters who worked for Dad all those years ago and yes who put their initial on the bottom of each and every painted cottage cannot believe that it is all those years ago since you lost dear Dad [was reading the other guys page too]
Hello.
Nice to hear from you.Without you and the team of decorators things may have been very different, to say the least!
It is such a shame that dad was taken from us way too soon, but he left a great legacy.
All the best.
Ben.
Hello, I just started collecting the cottages. They are so adorable and give a great feeling. Like Susan said on May 4, 2016, is there a pamphlet or booklet that I can search for? And how do I join this group?
All the way in Hawaii.
Aloha,
Kim
Hi Kimberly.
Sorry its taken so long to reply, sadly work gets in the way of the fun stuff ! Its great to know that you are collecting, I’m sure you will have a great time doing so.
There is a A4 sheet with hand drawn pictures that my father had printed, it wasn’t intended as a catalogue as such. I shall email you a copy.
You don’t need to ‘join’ as such just keep an eye on the site for any updates, and you are absolutely welcome to discuss and comment whenever you wish.
Enjoy your collecting.
Regards.
Ben Hart.
Just found I have 3 of these pretty little cottages (I looked underneath and put in Google the studios name came up so I had a look. . I have 7 (s) 15 (e)and 21 (c )all marked. Perfect Tku 🙂
Hi Anne.
I hope it leads to a larger collection, it can become somewhat of an obsession though, beware !!
How do I know if my cottages are authentic? They all have a stamp on the botttom that says “Mudlen End Studio Pelsham Suffolk England”. Thanks!
Maureen
Hi.
If they have a stamp with Mudlen End on it then rest assured they are the original item. It is actually Felsham.
Hi, I have just purchased a no 44 Omega House “Twilight Home for Destitute Potters”, I got it in a charity shop this morning, Can anyone give me an idea of its worth as I would like to sell it, Val
I have just bought LR3 in snow but there is no Mudlen End stamp on it..I can see it is based on number 26.
The marks are the same as all my other models so I hope it is genuine.
I bought my first model in 1970……!
Hi.
The Lark Rise series is totally unique to Mudlen End and as you know your stuff, being a long time collector, I would say it would be original. The bonus is the snow, that’s a good find. The stamps can fade away or be missed off altogether at the packing process.
All the best.
Ben Hart
My wife and I are sure we met and became good friends with Mr Hart in 1987 àt harmony hall antigua. If he is still in this world we would ve to touch base with him,
COLIN and Sonja Plummer Antigua
Hello.
Sadly my father, James, died in 2004.
He loved his trips to Jamaica and it’s nice that you met him. I hope he left you with some happy memories.
Regards.
Ben Hart.
Hi l have just found your little houses in Australia l have just brought 7 of them, l have 5r-24t-6s-13t-9x-10 what does the different letters mean? Can l also have a list of the ones produced l have just found my new hobby buying this gorgeous house.
Hi Amanda.
Glad to know that you are getting the cottage “bug”.
My website contains all the information that you may need to get a comprehensive understanding, e.g. the letters after the numbers being the decorators mark.
I don’t have a list as such but I could forward to you some pages that was a catalogue.
Where abouts in Australia are you ? or were you travelling and found them here.
Thank you Ben! I am a new recruit and true admirer after I stumbled across a display of these cottages 3 days ago in Suffolk!! I bought several as gifts for friends but I am REALLY finding it hard to part with them!! I think I might be in contact with the antique shop to ask if I could be posted another ONE…or maybe TWO?!
I love the story behind your current project and I wish you all the very best in keeping your dear father’s work alive for us all to admire. Ps my 2 cottages DO have a stamp and a number on each so I assume they are originals? With best wishes and thanks for bringing pleasure to so many followers including the new ones😊😏
Thanks for your kind words Judith.
I do hope that you have great fun from your new ‘hobby’.
May I ask if it was Times Past Antiques in Needham Market ?, thay have a large amount of cottages and other items.
Regards.
Ben.
My wife and I saw a collection of little ceramic houses in a thrift store a few years ago and were attracted to them. They were just jumbled into two plastic bags without any wrapping or protection but we bought one at $5 for about 15 pieces and took it home. Once we liberated and examined them we were intrigued and went right back to buy the 2nd bag. Miraculously, very few of them were chipped. There were only half a dozen duplicates or variations. We realized that we had discovered a treasure. With a little research online, we learned more about them and now cherish our Mudlen village – which takes a prominent position on our mantle every Christmas. Thanks for this site and all the additional information it provides.
Hi Ben,
Thank you for informing my daughter Zoe Reachill of the recent 31 Mudlenend cottages on auction on Ebay yesterday.Sadly I got outbidden and lost my dream of owning the No44 Omega House.
I would have almost got the whole set.
Anyway,now that I have started collecting again for my granddaughter I am always looking out for the ones I have not got for her.
I keep looking and hope I will have the full set oneday.
Thanks again.
Elizabeth Reachill
Hello Ben, I have a very good collection of Mudlen End buildings, but a couple of years ago I bought a much larger church building. Can you tell me anything about it. Thanks John Robertson.
Hi John.
The church is a model based on St.Peters in the village of Felsham, Suffolk.
It is a model that compliments the cottage series and a serious collector would most certainly need one in their collection. They were all made ‘in house’ not decorated by the team of outworkers that painted the cottages. The mottled effect comes from aiming a loaded paint brush at it and flicking the paint onto it, it was quite a knack to get it right and consistant. The can be found in grey and also a brown colour.
All the best with the collecting.
Regards.
Ben H.
Hello Ben,
T has been a long time since I made my original contact, but I came across my large church today and thought it is about time have another look at my houses. I went to your Website and saw it is the main picture to come up first. I measured my Country Church, and it is 13cmx10cmx5cm. Can you tell me how many of these were made and are they very collectible. I consider it to be one of my best finds. Thanks John Robertson
Hello Ben,
My late mother in law collected Mudlen Cottages. When she died 5 years ago, my wife inherited her collection of ten houses. We had never seen anything like them before. We did a little research, came upon your website and printed out the images of the houses. We put the research away and just enjoy looking at the houses, which feature in our living room year round and also at Christmas, when, with the addition of cotton “snow” and mirror “ice ponds” they become a Christmas village! Very enjoyable.
Today, while in self-imposed quarantine due to the prevelance of the Coronavirus, we happened upon an estate sale near our house. We started looking around, and lo and behold, we found eight (8) more houses! One house from LarkRising (#2) and two churches from Keller Charles that are very close in scale to the mudlen houses. How fun! It’s like hearing from our late mother/mother-in-law. We used your website to research what we have. We found that we have three (3) duplicate models, all with distinctive and different paint jobs! The collecting bug has surely bit!
Thank you for maintaining this resource. It gives us some sense of what our late relative enjoyed so much.
Hello, Ben. Almost 40 years ago, I came across a small collection of Mudlen End Cottages in a gift shop in Elm Hill, Norwich. My husband bought me two for our first wedding anniversary, one of which was the round gatehouse. After that, for many years cottages would appear as birthday and Christmas presents. I was fortunate, as my In laws moved to Suffolk and bought me any new cottages as they appeared in Bury St Edmonds Cathedral gift shop where my mother in law was a volunteer. My mother in law told me a little of the history of these cottages and their maker. My collection moved from house to house and I bought a display case for them. Whenever I visited antique shops, I would look out for any Mudlen End Cottages sometimes forgetting my list and buying something I already had. Retirement is now very close and in the process of moving, I cleaned and catalogued my cottages. I was surprised to find I had most of the set and only three duplicates. I don’t expect to ever own no 44, although I do have 42 and 43. I am missing seven cottages, most of which are not rare and are readily available to buy on line. The question is, do I complete my set in a few swift clicks or maintain the excitement of the search? I was so pleased to find a cottage I was missing in my local bric a brac shop four years ago. Somehow, purchasing on line lacks the thrill of the chase. I don’t think I want to buy the four cottages I’m missing available on line today, but maybe, they won’t be there next month or next year. Perhaps that’s the point. I am either a collector of Mudlen End Cottages or I own a collection. Cleaning my cottages and placing them in their new display case has made me really appreciate how unique and special they are. I think I shall enjoy searching for the final seven cottages in my retirement.
Diana
Hello Diana.
Thanks for your comment. It is a bit of a issue I admit. A collector ‘collects’ and when all is collected they are a owner of a collection. However I must say that there never seems to be an end in sight to the collecting bit.
My wife often implores me to stop and asks how many is enough ! I can’t answer her in honesty. As each and every cottage is unique there would seem to be no end point ! Maybe you could just treat yourself to one now and again from the web, then you will most likely find that exact model in a shop when you least expect it ! that’s usually how it works !
I am just happy that the work of my father has given so very many people so much joy and hope it continues into the far flung future ( whatever that may hold for us ).
All the very best.
Ben Hart
I wondered whether you or any of your readers might know where it would be possible to purchase a copy of the book: Mudlen End Studio: A Collector’s Guide? I tried to order a Kindle version as I couldn’t find a hard copy, but unfortunately the e book arrived with the pictures seriously pixilated in black and white and Amazon don’t seem able to do anything about it. Everywhere I look online just says, ‘Unavailable.’ I would love to be able to get hold of a copy. Do you have any advice please?
Hi Judith.
I know its been around for quite some time now, it has no connection with Mudlen End at all and I don’t think its updated and relevant today, any information that you may need is readily available on my blog. I’m very happy to answer any questions that you , or anyone, may have.
Regards.
Ben hart
Hi Ben. I believe I talked to you shortly after your father passed, and I can’t believe that I only just found this blog! My collection of Mudlen End is the first thing people comment on when they visit. I have the whole collection, including #44 and duplicates of many of them, and a perfect place to display them. I also have the phone booth. Most of my collection were purchased in Suffolk during my many visits, but I just today bought another Grannies Cottage on eBay because it was painted quite different than the one I have.
I have one of the yellow pamphlets with the pictures and names that only goes to #41 plus a Country Church.
I love my collection.
Hi Barbara.
Nice to hear from you. I’m happy to hear that you have the elusive #44, they are few and far between. I have found however that that is not the end of the collecting ! Like yourself I’m always on the lookout for ‘different’ ones from the ones I have. When you remember that each one is unique in its own right the scope for collecting is endless, and I often ask myself will it ever end, and the answer is usually no!
Did you see the page on ‘trees’ on this site. They ars super rare but look great with the collection, they crop up every now and again.
Many regards.
Ben.
I was very happy to read all the correspondence about your dear Father’s cottages, Ben.
I owned a craft shop – Pot Luck (my surname is Luck!) Spexhall, Suffolk and we ordered the cottages every month delivered by your Father and a very high proportion of the order: was it 48? were preordered. Do you know how much they were in 1979?
I have 82 different cottages but have never checked their numbers! What does the famous 44 look like please!
You are doing a great job preserving this wonderful potter father of yours!
All best
Cate Luck
Is the phone box his design?
Hi Cate.
I am so very sorry that I didn’t reply already. I often re-read all the comments and was just not aware that I had not responded to your email.
It is nice to know that you knew my father. He most likely delivered a carton of 60 cottages, possibly in liquor boxes that we collected from Greene King brewery.
The cottages fitted nicely 5 to a compartment making 60 in total. In 1979 they were just a few pence each, I remember seeing an old invoice book from that era where my father was nearly apologising that they had to go up in price !
The #44 Omega House can be found in the ‘collection’ page it’s a nice model and if you are able to get hold of one , treasure it !!
The phone box was his model of the iconic English phone box and together with the market cross and the trees was his way of enhancing the ‘cottage collection’.
I recently had to return to Suffolk for a while and was able to go through my several hundred cottages I have there, I’m trying to find an outlet to actually sell them in, hopefully in Lavenham, Long Melford , Bury St. Edmunds area. They are still quite popular and the later models can fetch quite a sum.( although I do not really care about the financial aspect.)
I am so happy that I am able to keep my fathers legacy going and am very proud of him for all the joy he has bought to people through his pottery.
I apologise once again for the lateness of this reply.
Regards.
Ben Hart
Hi Ben. I saw your excellent site after searching for information on Mudlen Cottages and being directed on to you by Redbellows, after I and my other half recently picked up a small collection of 37 of them whilst buying other items at a local auction house. It’s great that you are honouring your father’s work in this way. We love the charm that they have. We have sorted through them, very interesting to find out about the different ones. One that we have seems to be harder to research, and I wonder if you have any information please? It is marked 7 and has the FELSHAM address underneath, but it has a yellow FOR SALE sign with CHAS BOARDMAN of HAVERHILL and CLARE on the sign. It is definitely the FOR SALE Cottage in brown and white, not the Thatched Cottage with a For Sale sign. Many thanks.
Ben you mentioned you were looking for a outlet locally for possible sales, could I suggest you contact Andrew conquest who along with his wife are running the felsham post office and shop on a voluntary basis. They live in the village.
There seems a natural connection.
I like many others during covid revisited my small collection acquired in the mid 1970s to which I have added to, only missing 44, snow or specials, how ever I have just realised there are colour variations to collect as well. being a bury boy I am hunting for moyses hall and I know I have seen a couple of the bury in bloom ones..
One question did your father produce a couple of large sheep for Bayer veterinary back in the late 70s to your knowledge.
Hi Colin.
I was editing my site and found your email ! I don’t recall seeing it before, let alone answering to it, sorry.
I now have cottages in the Visitors Center in Lavenham, which is nice. I have always thought about the Post Office as an outlet but have never followed up on it.
My father certainly did make sheep models and it would not be outside the realms of possibility that he made some styles for individual companies. I am not aware of nor have I seen any however, but that is not to say definitively that he didn’t.
There are occasionally #44’s to be had on eBay, as you are probably aware, but one would need fairly deep pockets ! also Moyses Hall models pop up now and again, it’s a really nice model. Best of luck with getting them..
Regards.
Ben.
Is this site still operating? I have posted a question but as yet have had no response.
I look forward to hearing from someone soon. I would be very sorry to hear the site is no longer active as it is so informative
Hello Judith.
My greatest apologies to you. Life just gets in the way, and I find this site gets put on the back burner until I have time to slow down and get into it again.
The Swan was one of the larger models that my father produced. There are two versions, one being on a plinth, which were the original style, and the other without.
They are intricate to decorate and my father mostly did this. He did sign the base, also it may be etched onto the rear of the plinth with the name of the hotel and his mark.
They are not particularly rare as such and have in fact been sold on platforms such as eBay for surprisingly little (which is both a good thing and a not so good thing, depending on your circumstance!)
Sorry again for the very slow reply.
Regards.
Ben Hart