Farnham World Craft Town was honoured to welcome HRH The Duke of Edinburgh KT KG GCVO to the town on Thursday 12 February 2026, marking a landmark moment in Farnham’s continuing journey as England’s first designated World Craft Town.
The Duke is passionate about the arts and spent the day learning more about the special role of craft in Farnham.
He was welcomed to Farnham Pottery, a historic ceramics site with roots in the nineteenth century that has been carefully restored and transformed into a thriving creative community hub.
The visit celebrated Farnham’s long tradition of making, alongside its contemporary craft economy, built on strong partnerships between cultural organisations, educators and the Town Council.
“Farnham Pottery has always been about people, skills and shared creativity. Welcoming His Royal Highness was a tremendous honour and a recognition of the collective effort that has gone into restoring this place and building a vibrant creative hub. The involvement of the World Crafts Council and our local partners shows the strength and reach of Farnham’s craft community.”
Guy Hains, owner of Farnham Pottery
”Farnham was the first town in England to receive recognition in the World Craft Cities network in 2020. From the outset, Farnham demonstrated that craft here is not only a tradition but also a living, evolving force, rooted in heritage, sustained by makers, and strengthened through education, enterprise, and community collaboration. What is especially inspiring is how Farnham continues to invest in the future of craft: supporting makers as businesses, engaging young people and schools, and creating opportunities for skills to be passed on, adapted, and renewed. This is exactly what the World Craft Cities Programme seeks to encourage worldwide”.
Professor Aftab Gharda of the World Crafts Council
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