The Making of Our Handmade Ceramic Cheese-Baking Dishes
There’s something rather special about making something by hand.
It’s an ethos we understand well here at Shepherds Purse. Our cheeses are made in small batches, using traditional, hands-on methods with plenty of care, patience and attention to detail. So, when we decided to create something new to help people enjoy our cheese at home, we knew we wanted to work with someone who shared that same approach.
At the beginning of the year, we met with Little Wren Pottery in Northallerton, less than five miles from our farm, with an idea: to create a bespoke ceramic baking dish designed specifically for baking and serving our Bluemin Whites.
What started as an idea on paper, and an initial meeting over cups of tea, has become a beautiful piece of North Yorkshire craftsmanship.
From an idea to a finished dish
We wanted a dish that was not only beautiful, but practical too. The perfect size and shape for baking a whole Bluemin White and capable of taking it straight from the fridge to the oven, and to the table.
Over the following weeks, we worked closely with Victoria and Chris, the father-and-daughter team behind Little Wren. We looked at samples, discussed shapes and finishes, refined the design and decoration, and tested different ideas until everything felt just right.
As with any handmade project, it took time. There were trials, tweaks and plenty of testing along the way, including road-testing the dishes here at Shepherds Purse to make sure they functioned perfectly.
The result is a beautifully considered dish, made specifically with our cheese in mind.
Made just a few miles from our farm
One of the things we love most about this project is how local it is.
Our cheeses are made here on our family farm in North Yorkshire, while the dishes have been handcrafted less than five miles away by another family of artisans.
There’s a lovely connection between the two crafts. Cheesemaking and pottery may be very different skills, but both rely on experience, patience and a willingness to let the process take its course.
Every dish is completely unique
Each dish has been individually hand-thrown and carefully decorated by Victoria, meaning no two are ever exactly alike.
We chose a selection of blue glazes for the outside (obviously!) along with our Shepherds Purse logo on the inside.
Subtle variations in shape, glaze and finish are all part of their charm. Rather than perfect uniformity, these little differences give each piece its own character and are a reminder that it has been made by hand.
Beautiful, practical and completely unique, they’re a reminder that some of the very best things take time, patience and skill to create.
We’re incredibly proud to make our cheeses here in North Yorkshire, and we love that these dishes carry a little piece of that same sense of place.
They're available to buy on our website individually and as part of our Baked Bluemin Box which we launched earlier in the summer in celebration of our Bluemin Whites being awarded an incredible 3 Great Taste Stars in 2026.
Later this year we'll also be including them in our second ever Shepherds Purse & Friends Collection for Christmas. Limited to just 100 boxes, last year they sold out really quickly, so if you'd like one for your festive celebrations, keep your eyes peeled from early October when we launch them.