Building restoration and provision of workspace
The project has acquired, restored, preserved and enhanced the Leach Pottery site and unlocked the potential of the pottery, generating significant levels of long-term sustainable employment and creative activity, as well as fostering emerging talent, creating a showcase gallery for contemporary studio pottery and increasing public access to this internationally significant site.
The project has: restored the existing Grade II buildings in line with recognised conservation standards; creating a new museum exhibition space attached to the pottery workshop and provided full public access to the site; created a flagship contemporary studio pottery showroom supporting Cornwall’s strong pottery cluster (numerically strong but needing reinvigoration) and raising its profile, created a new incubation and pottery business start up facility supporting the University college Falmouth’s programme fostering emerging talent and new SME’s Improve visitor facilities and access across the site.
Leach Potter St. Ives consist of a pottery studio and kiln room, built in 1920 by Bernard Leach, a cottage added in 1927, and a modern timber framed showroom, on the main tourist road into St. Ives (B3306) in St. Ives North Ward. The site is currently used as a pottery workshop, showroom and museum, but was put on the market in 2003, putting at risk the jobs, visitor income and listed buildings.
SWRDA funding contributed towards: purchase of site, repair and conservation of listed buildings, creation and equipping of new pottery incubation and business start up workspaces, project management and professional fees.
PHOTOS FROM THE OFFICIAL OPENING
