In the Gardens of Forde Abbey

Forde Abbey, a former Cistercian monastery founded over 800 years ago, is certainly one of Somerset’s most beautiful historic gardens. Its courtyards, walled gardens, and sweeping parkland make the perfect stage for a storybook sculpture. We’ve been steadily growing our collection there, building a little Wonderland of our own. 

In the courtyard of the newly opened café and restaurant – The Abbot’s Table – visitors can sip tea beside the Mad Hatter as he pours endlessly from his bronze teapot, joined by the Mad March Hare and the drowsy Sleeping Dormouse within the great Tea Party urn.  Alice, the White Rabbit, the Cheshire Cat, the Dodo and the Knave of Spades can be found nearby, catching the eye as you meander between flower beds.  

Within the Walled Garden, you’ll also spot some of Beatrix Potter’s favourites: Mr. Tod,  Jemima Puddle-Duck, and Peter Rabbit himself – caught red-handed with a radish in the vegetable patch. Among the roses, dahlias, and kitchen borders, these figures add a touch of playfulness to the abundant planting. It’s a setting that feels both timeless and full of life.

Across the Atlantic – Washington, D.C.

Across the ocean, our characters have made themselves at home in one of America’s most quirky museums. The O Museum in Washington, D.C. – famous for its maze of hidden rooms and more than 70 secret doors – hosts the ongoing installation ‘Through the Looking Glass’. 

Here, visitors discover Alice, the Queen of Hearts, the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party urn once again, Thelwell Pony and other companions in unexpected corners.

A Collection in Virginia

In Virginia, our work has recently found a home at Abernethy & Spencer, a long-established glasshouse and plant nursery with a reputation for quality and imagination. The owners commissioned a series of pieces for their extraordinary conservatory, where lush planting and ironwork frame the bronze figures beautifully. 

A large Tea Party urn takes centre stage, alongside Alice in Wonderland and a collection of bronze miniature characters placed throughout. It’s a truly magical ambience where sculpture, flowers, and fabulous lighting all work together to set the scene. 

We wrote more about the process of this installation in a recent blog post, Creating a Garden Wonderland in the USA.

The Robert James Workshop Gallery

Back home in the English Countryside, we’ve recently created the Robert James Workshop Gallery. This is where every piece begins, shaped in clay in our workshop and studio before being cast into bronze, and now visitors can see a much fuller collection in one place. 

Visits are by appointment only, so the experience feels unhurried and personal. Over tea, we’ll share a look behind the scenes – showing pieces in progress on the workbench, talking about current projects, or simply letting you enjoy the characters gathered together. 

We’re on the border of Somerset, Dorset and Devon – right by Forde Abbey and only a short drive from the Jurassic Coast – so a visit to the gallery can be part of a lovely day out in the West Country. 

Nearby highlights also include the seaside town of Lyme Regis, the literary home of John Fowles, author of The French Lieutenant’s Woman. Here you can walk along the famous Cobb harbour and take in the sweeping seascape. There are also walks along the Jurassic Coast’s dramatic cliffs, and the market towns of Axminster and Bridport to explore. It’s a corner of the country full of charm!

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An Invitation 

If you’re looking for something lovely to do during the last days of summer and the build-up to autumn, the gardens at Forde Abbey, the conservatory at Abernethy & Spencer in Virginia, The O’Museum, or our own new gallery here at the workshop are all worth a visit. Each offers its own chance to step into a story and to meet familiar characters in new surroundings. 

If you’d like to arrange a visit to our gallery, or would like to talk to us about our brozne sculpture collection, please do get in touch – we’d love to chat.

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