| Title | Oral history interview with Leonard Castle, 2005 |
| Creator | |
| Date created | 13 May 2005 |
| Description Summary | Len recalls his childhood in Herne Bay, Auckland. He describes living in Titirangi with his wife Ruth and moving to Warkworth. He describes the clay of West Auckland and talks of integrating nature with pottery. Len details his relationship with Japanese potter Shoji Hamada and his ongoing relationship with antiquities and museums. He recalls exhibitions, kilns, early pots, use of glazes and the development of Earth Books. |
| Subjects | |
| Other Notes | Born in Grey Lynn, Auckland, 1924, Len Castle recognised that clay was his chosen medium at aged 8. While attending teachers training college, Len began to develop skills in working clay. Working from his Titirangi studio, he became a commercial craft potter. At the same time, he was drawn to the Auckland Museum and its collections - specifically Japanese pottery and natural history collections which have been a source of inspiration. |
| Historical Notes | For further information on the life and work of Len Castle see: Len Castle, potter by Len Castle (2002). |
| Keywords | Jova Rancich; Briar Gardner; Jim Hatcher; Chris Anderson; James Mack; Olive Jones; Lucy Cranwell; Shoji Hamada; Atsia Hamada; Ray Chapman Taylor; Auckland War Memorial Museum; Herne Bay; Bethells Beach; Te Henga; Waitakere Ranges; Warkworth; Clays; Glazes; |
| Time span | c1935 - 2005 |
| Language | English |
| Copyright Holder | Waitakere Central Library, Henderson |
| Access Rights | Contact the West Auckland Research Centre, Waitakere Central Library in Henderson, to listen to recording or view abstract. Not available for loan. |
| Digital access copies | First copy. Wav file. |
| Available copies | Local History, Waitakere Central Library; Len Castle |
| Original medium | Audio; analogue, cassette |
| Duration | 2 x C60 |
| Supporting materials | Blumhardt, Doreen. (1976). Len Castle. In New Zealand Potters, their work and words. A.H. & A.W.Reed, Wellington; p 62 - 68; Take 100,000 tones of clay. Unidentified, undated newspaper clipping [2002]; Potters. From New Zealand Potter Vol 9 No 1 August 1966; A pictorial, potted history of one of our greatest potters. Book Review, New Zealand Herald. |
| Contributor | |
| Oral History ID | WOH-1005 |
