Wenford Bridge Pottery was established in 1939 by Seth's father Michael Cardew (1901 to 1983). Michael Cardew started potting at Braunton in Devon in 1921. From 1923 to 1926 he worked with Bernard Leach at St Ives and then moved on to Winchcombe Pottery in Devon. Between 1942 and 1965 he spent a number of years in Ghana and Nigeria.  The pottery has two wood-fired kilns, the first built in 1939 and the second in 1949/50. This is the main kiln and the original uses an updraft from the main kiln for firing biscuits.