Leach Pottery
The studio pottery in St Ives founded by Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada in 1920; its museum is closed for restoration, but the shop is open.
Alleen afzonderlijke secties laten voorlezen
Over het museum
The Leach Pottery in St Ives was founded in 1920 by Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada and is regarded by many as the birthplace of British studio pottery. Potters, students and apprentices from many countries have trained here, which kept the pottery’s tradition of exchange between East and West. Janet Leach, Bernard Leach’s third wife, ran the pottery from 1956 and lived in Pottery Cottage, now the shop, until her death in 1997.
The site was reopened in 2008 by the Bernard Leach (St Ives) Trust, a registered charity, and today has six buildings, two of them listed Grade II, including the original home and workplace of Bernard Leach. It contains a museum, a pottery shop, an active studio that continues to make Standard Ware, learning and workshop spaces and residency accommodation.
A major capital project is changing the whole site: a new Learning and Production Centre has replaced an older building, the listed Old Pottery Cottage and the museum spaces are to be restored, the 2008 Cube gallery is to become an archive study centre, and a new reception and cafe are planned. Museum admission ended on 1 November 2025 while the work is carried out, and the museum is expected to reopen in 2027. The shop in Pottery Cottage stays open throughout.
Hoogtepunten
- Studio pottery founded in 1920 by Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada
- Shop in the listed Pottery Cottage with work by up to 65 potters
- Active studio making Standard Ware, with courses and apprenticeships
- Museum closed for restoration; reopening expected in 2027
- Beheerder
- Bernard Leach (St Ives) Trust
Toegangsprijzen & kortingen
Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.
Toegankelijkheid
- Rolstoeltoegankelijk
- Lift: geen informatie
- Aangepast toilet: geen informatie
- Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: geen informatie
- Hulphonden welkom
- Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
- Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
- Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
- Audiodescriptie: geen informatie
All public areas are accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs, and there is a ramp into the shop. There is currently no disabled parking on the site because of building work, so visitors with specific access needs should contact the pottery beforehand. Dogs are welcome on a short lead.
Kinderen & gezin
Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen
- Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
A family programme of making activities and site history runs during holidays and weekends, with special activities in the main school holidays.
Bereikbaarheid & parkeren
Met de auto
Parkeerplaats aanwezig
There is limited parking on site. Free overflow parking is at St John’s in the Fields church, about a four-minute walk away (sat nav TR26 2FB; park on the grass from April to October and leave a note saying you are visiting the pottery; no overnight parking). The Trenwith car park next to St Ives Leisure Centre is free and the St Ives Rugby Club car park is paid, both about ten minutes’ walk away.
The pottery is in Higher Stennack, a walk of about 20 minutes uphill from Royal Square in central St Ives. From the A30 follow the brown Tate St Ives signs and take the B3306 towards St Ives; the pottery is on the right after the fire station.
Route plannenService & horeca
- Café: niet aanwezig
- Museumwinkel
The shop in the listed Pottery Cottage stocks work by up to 65 potters, books on Leach history and twice-yearly seconds sales; an online shop is also open. There is currently no cafe or refreshment service, but a cafe is planned in the redevelopment.
Evenementen & zaalverhuur
Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.
Je bezoek plannen
| Aanbod voor scholen | ja |
|---|---|
| Goed om te weten | Schools workshops, courses for beginners to professional potters and tour groups are offered; the studio itself is not open to the public. |
