Ray Finch tankard

Finch, Raymond

Ray Finch, a South Londoner born in 1914, approached Michael Cardew in 1935, seeking employment. Cardew told him to go away and get some experience. He studied for a year at the Central School of Art, in London, and then was accepted by Cardew at Winchcombe Pottery.

When Cardew went to Wenford Bridge in 1939 he left Finch in charge of Winchcombe. Production was interrupted by the war, but when it re-started in 1946 he purchased the business from Cardew.

He ran Winchcombe until 1979 when he handed the running of the business over to his son, Michael.

Winchcombe Pottery

The Winchcombe Pottery dates back to 1926, but there previously had been potteries on the same site. It was started by Michael Cardew when he left St Ives, having been a student, a potter and a friend to Bernard Leach.

The old kiln at
Winchcombe

Cardew was joined by Elijah Comfort, Sidney Tustin, and later, Sidney's brother, Charlie. In 1939 Ray Finch took over the management of Winchcombe while Cardew went back to Cornwall to set up another pottery at Wenford Bridge. After the war, Cardew's hands were full - with his new pottery, and work in Africa - and he sold the Winchcombe to Ray Finch.

Throughout the post-war years, Finch enjoyed the company of many potters - notably Colin Pearson in 1953/4, John Solly in 1951, John Leach in 1959/60, Dan Finnegan in 1978 - in fact Winchcombe's roll of honour would make a good basis for a Who's Who of studio potters. Various members of the Finch family were involved in management and production. Mike Finch has run the pottery since 1979.

Further Reading:

Winchcombe Pottery: the Cardew-Finch Tradition by Ron Wheeler and Helen Brown

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Winchcombe Pottery: the Cardew-Finch Tradition by Ron Wheeler

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