Hi! We’re Stuart and Nicky from Hartley & Noble, a husband-and-wife team designing and manufacturing pottery equipment from our workshop in Northamptonshire, England.

In 2018, we were running a CNC cutting business when a local carpenter asked us to make 200 pottery batts. At the time, we didn’t even know what a batt was. That one enquiry opened the door to a pottery community that welcomed us in and completely changed our lives.

What started with just the two of us has now grown into a small team of passionate local people who care deeply about the products we create and the potters we create them for. Today, our equipment is used by potters all over the world.

Early on, we became obsessed with understanding what made good pottery equipment and why so many potters were frustrated by the tools available to them. We researched the materials commonly used to make pottery equipment, sourced alternatives, and carried out extensive testing to find the ultimate batt material. Eventually, we discovered our Premium MDF, which completely changed what was possible in terms of durability, resistance to water and warping, and versatility. No more bendy batts or splinters (Hurray!)

Stuart is an engineer at heart and loves solving problems through design. As the business grew, I became a potter myself and fell in love with both the craft and the community around it. Learning as a beginner has helped us understand just how much the right equipment can improve the pottery experience and make the process far more enjoyable.

Many of the products we create start with conversations with potters who tell us about the frustrations and challenges they experience in the studio. We love listening, developing ideas, and creating tools that genuinely help.

We want potters to feel free to create, without their equipment getting in the way. Every product is tested in the studio by potters before it’s added to our catalogue. We never want potters spending money on equipment that doesn’t do the job properly, doesn’t last, or makes the process harder than it needs to be.