Sarah Le Breton Named 2025 Maker Residence

The Society of Antiquaries of London and Heritage Crafts are excited to announce Sarah Le Breton as the 2025 Maker in Residence at Kelmscott Manor, where she will work from April to October

This year sees the third of three residencies at Kelmscott Manor for members of Heritage Crafts, with a particular focus for 2025 on rural crafts. The project presents an opportunity to showcase such crafts in an iconic rural setting visited annually by over 26,000 people. During her residency Sarah will be focusing on the crafts of basket making and chair-seat-making.

Natasha McEnroe, FSA General Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Society of Antiquaries, said:
“The Society of Antiquaries is delighted to welcome Sarah Le Breton as this year’s Maker in Residence at Kelmscott Manor. Her work combines beauty with practicality and a use of traditional crafts in a way that I am sure William Morris and his circle would recognise and appreciate. I am looking forward to seeing how Kelmscott will shape and influence Sarah’s creativity, for the benefit of all of our visitors.

Sarah’s appointment as the 2025 Maker in Residence at Kelmscott brings with it the unique opportunity to reflect Morris’s advocacy of heritage and the handmade, and contribute to his legacy by playing a distinctive part in the Manor’s programme of public engagement. Visitors will be able to discover the crafts of basket making and chair-seat-making through hands-on workshops and demonstrations led by Sarah throughout her residency. Sarah will also share her skills with education groups as part of the Manor’s Learning & Outreach programme.

Sarah Le Breton, 2025 Maker in Residence, said:
“To be showcasing the rural craft of basketry as this year’s Maker in Residence is a dream
come true. The values, beliefs and creative power of William Morris have long been interwoven in my life and are held within all that I design, create, make and teach. I look forward to this incredible opportunity of engaging with and responding to the Manor, gardens and its visitors as well as supporting in widening the learning programme. I’m also very excited to be able to forge new work in this special place that will not only honour my heritage craft form, but that I hope will innovate and inspire.”

Sarah’s appointment as the Maker in Residence is made possible as part of the NHLF-funded £6
million ‘Kelmscott and Morris: Past, Present and Future’ project.

Kelmscott Manor is open to the public from 3rd April- 25th October.