The Old Kennels

Situated on the Devon Somerset border, in the heart of the Blackdown Hills close to Dunkeswell Airfield, we offer a quiet rural retreat, where you can learn or improve skills in a variety of traditional arts and crafts.

The Old Kennels is a flint barn, originally being part of the Stentwood Estate built by Squire Eccles in the 1890s. Classes are held in the garden room, studio or on the lawn, as is appropriate to the class and the weather.

At the turn of this century, The Old Kennels is home to our sheep, cats, wild ducks and breeding herd of Alpacas (who are kept solely for their fibre).

We hope you will enjoy the serenity of our surroundings and our programme of events.

Our classes are tutored by local, national and international professional craftspeople and are designed to be attended either as a single day, or to interact with other days, to allow you continuity and further development, if you so wish.

Should you require overnight accommodation, we offer B&B in the comfortable loft above our studio, or there are a selection of pub, hotel, bed & breakfast and self catering accommodation all within a few minutes drive.

If you decide to extend your stay, the Blackdown Hills offer a wide range of attractions, including excellent dining, many varied air activities, motor and water sports, fishing, walking, cycling, the Jurassic coastline and the beautiful Blackdown Hills themselves.