We meet Tom Horsfield, Rose Grower and Nurseryman

An article by Brian Elliott:

Tom Horsfield made me most welcome when I called at Pot House Hamlet
on a lovely spring day. We were served coffee in daughter Kate’s
Potting Shed Cafe, part of the historic corn mill, lovingly restored in
a project that took almost four years. Although it was a Monday morning
several customers were already enjoying the relaxed atmosphere. Tom
knew a good number of them and there was a cheerful exchange of
greetings - even the ducks seem relaxed and enjoying themselves on the
beck.

Like his father, Tom has a great passion for building, very much a
hands-on interest. Later, walking around the site, I was amazed how
much had been achieved with just one main helper, Tommy Beet. It
reminded me of the kind of mixed skills and feeling for natural stone
and wood that monks used in the same locality over 400 years earlier.
The site is well-named (see our main article). The latest building
phase relates to the old furnace, a wonderful tribute to 17th Century
Silkstone glassmakers. An impression of the conical furnace structure
has been thoughtfully recreated on the gable. Inside, equal care has
been expended in complementing its usage as ‘Pookie’, a women’s fashion
outlet, run by daughter, Rose.

Tom took me into the nursery where another daughter, Emma, has
responsibility and I also met son, Tom, who studies Estate Management
at university. The plants are of outstanding quality. We walked
towards the old barn, a restoration project already being thought
about.

A champion rose grower and rose breeder, Tom’s interest began at the
tender age of twelve when he was given a thousand roses - and his own
cheque book - by his father, Henry. On a farm of only 36 acres, roses
seemed to be the right choice. At the height of the business some
55,000 roses were grown.

Tom told me that a good grower needed a lot of patience and dedication
- and, most importantly, a love of roses. He began the long processes
of breeding and getting accreditation for his own varieties and was a
regular exhibiter at Yorkshire shows, winning a variety of awards.
Tom’s gold medal roses were listed in catalogues and people were drawn
to his nursery. He recalled standing alongside one of the legendary
figures of roses: the flamboyant Harry Wheatcroft. The development of
‘instant gardening’ and ‘all season’ planting via containers - and the
decline in fashion of growing beds of roses - meant diversification
into a far wider range of plants in the garden centre age. But quality
roses are still grown, about 5,000 a year along with a few hundred
standards.

Nowadays, it is the name of the modern hybrids which are important to
customers, bought for special occasions such as anniversaries and
birthdays. However, Tom told me that old breeds such as Fragrant
Cloud, Peace and Just Joey are among his favourites: ‘Hold the rose in
your hand, look into it, at its form and colour and the beauty is quite
remarkable.’

Tom Horsfield and his family have done much to attract people to this
lovely part of South Yorkshire and it is good to know that the future
of Pot House Hamlet has been safeguarded in a Trust.

Article written by Brian Elliott for Spring edition of Around Town

Someone enjoying the wet weather

Pencil Grass is loving this wet weather! even if no one else is

Welcome to the Hamlet

Pot House Hamlet Trust would like to welcome Gill Bishop who has recently moved into The Old Mill and taken over The Watershed Fine Furnishing, Gifts and Crafts. We would like to wish Gill every success with her new venture.

Sunshine and Ice Creams

We were very welcoming to the sunshine today, which made a very pleasant change from the recent wet weather. The Ice cream parlour had plenty of takers!

The Hamlet on Calender News!

On Wednesday 18th July Katie Oscroft the Yorkshire TV roaming reporter popped in to film around the Hamlet and did a short news snippet on Calender that night. We really enjoyed meeting Katie and her crew and would like to thank them very much.

Live music at the Potting Shed Cafe

Why not enjoy some live music with dinner at the Potting Shed Cafe.

Saturday 21st July - The Lp's Jazz Duo, http://www.thelps.com/

Friday 17th August - Catherine Ollerton

Saturday 29th September - Sally Doherty

For further information please call the Potting Shed Cafe: Tel: 01226 792 525

Silkstone to Hoylandswaine group walk tonight.

Barnsley and Penistone ramblers group are meeting at the Potting Shed Cafe tonight 7pm for a Silkstone to Hoylandswaine evening walk.

SE 289 056 Potting Shed cafe, Pot House Hamlet, Silkstone

For further information please click on the link below

http://www.ramblers.co.uk/walksfinder/walkInfo.php?id=102355

Roses in full bloom at the nursery

Rosa Standard Ruby anniversary looking good in full bloom at the nursery.

Summer Gardening with Emma Horsfield

Now we are into the Wedding season many ladies and indeed gentlemen start to think of flowers and colour schemes. This can be a very pleasurable or stressful experience. Every Bride or Mother of the Bride have been planning and forming ideas from early on. I recently went to a wedding where the flowers were just red roses and a little greenery in the way of different types of Ivy. I was most impressed with the simplicity and indeed the effective striking display of this monotone plan; so much so that I took lots of picture and have them filed away for possible future use!!

On the other side of the coin, attending many weddings sometimes second or third weddings, you have to ask yourself; what do you give the couple that have everything….?? Going back to the flower scheme, why not a rose. I have yet to meet anyone that does not like roses. Their shape, colour, form beauty, perfume etc is so wonderful, the list is endless. A rose bush can squeeze into that small space in the corner of the garden or in a pot on the patio. A rose comes into flower each year during the wedding season to remind the happy couple of their special day. There are so many modern hybrid roses with relevant names such as Bride, Wedding day, Happy Event, Honeymoon, Special Occasion and many many more.

Of course the rose is my favourite flower, as a child during the summer our house (Rosefield House) was always filled with highly perfumed large hybrid tea roses and old English roses which my father Tom used to bring from the rosefield as a romantic gesture for my mother Clare. Needless to say they have many roses in their garden which bloom every summer reminding them of their special day. On that note may I congratulate them on celebrating their 34th wedding anniversary this year. I may even treat them to the luscious pink hybrid tea Congratulations rose.

Reminders for summer
Liquid feed baskets and tubs twice a week
Dead-head roses, this encourages a new flush of blooms
Keep nipping the tips out of your herbs to encourage bushy growth
Prune early large flower clematis to encourage a smaller flush of flower in autumn.
Mow the lawn on a regular basis
Regularly dead-head container and basket plants
Feed roses to encourage more flowering
Keep supporting and training climbers

For further information and help with your garden please call Horsfields Nursery Tel:01226 790441

Summer Styling with Rose Horsfield - Pookie womenswear

Key Looks and Trends with Rose Horsfield
Pookie Womenswear, Pot House Hamlet

This summer beams a huge array of trends and styles for you to embrace. There is a look to suit every taste, but here is a quick run down of the key players.

The Swinging Sixties are back! The main players in this look being the shift, smock, tunic and empire line dresses in bold shades with retro and psychedelic prints. These versatiles can be worn as day time cool, short or teamed with trousers, and for a sophisticated evening look, embellished necklines. The monochrome sixties look is still going strong with black and white striped tops and dresses. Accessorize this sixties look with Alice bands, the chicest way to hold hair back.

White still dominates much of this seasons outfits, either creating a romantic look with a pair of white jeans or trousers teamed with slouchy neutral tops or kaftans. Create a look of sleek sophistication with skinny white jeans, tailored jackets and metallics.

Shorts remain strong this summer with tailored and turn up shorts dominating. However short shorts, do not appeal to everyone so go for casual and slouchy cropped trousers and sporty cargo pants.

Seventies influences appear in the form of maxi dresses in floral prints, denim hot pants, all in ones, jumpsuits and rompers. Accessorize this look with a big bag and floppy wide brimmed hat.

If you prefer the classics and an air of timeless elegance, then Riviera Chic will appeal to you. Cool pastelle and neutral shades in tailored shorts, floaty dresses, masculine wide leg pants and anchor button detail on short and cropped jackets.

“The Waltons” vs. “Little house on the Prairie” comes head to head with a new and alternative look towards the end of summer .Gingham prints, dungarees, overalls, smock dresses and faded denim all help to achieve the Huckleberry Finn look.

The buzz words for August and September, skinny jeans and oversized bags.

To speak to Rose or ask her advise please call Pookie womenswear Tel:01226 792 555

Silkstone Church

A fabulous view of Silkstone church from the chimney in the upstairs of the old glassworks.

Silkstone church is hosting a wonderful flower festival this weekend.

The new Pot House Hamlet van

Pookie womenswear summer sale - 50% off

Summer sale

Up to 50% off

Open Monday -Saturday 10am - 5pm

Sunday 12 noon - 4pm

For further information please call Pookie on 01226 792 555