Work is progressing well on the exciting project to transform and improve the world-famous Leach Pottery for its next 100 years, with the first phase – the construction of the new Learning and Production Centre – due to be completed early next year.
Funded by St Ives Town Deal, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and Arts Council England, the two-year project will also see the repair and conservation of historic buildings on the site, with a refurbished and extended museum, an expanded shop, new galleries, a welcome space and café. The full project will be completed in late 2026.
The project team recognise the importance of ensuring that the legacy and the heritage of the Leach Pottery live on for future generations. They have worked closely with a wide range of partners and stakeholders, including the local community, to shape the values and principles of the development.
The design of the new Centre includes a production studio, teaching studios and a classroom for schools, offering opportunities to stage more classes and community workshops and increase pottery production.
The completed project will help to create new all-year-round jobs, as well as provide additional training, work facilities and apprenticeships.
The project team are very aware of the importance of the location of the Pottery at a major entry point into the town. The building has been designed to celebrate the studio rooflines and traditional materials that define the character and artistic heritage of the town. This includes the use of zinc shingles, an exterior cladding which will quickly weather to resemble the slate shingles found on the side of many local buildings in St Ives.
Although the site will continue to provide accessible parking and encourage green travel, with bike racks and a bus stop outside the entrance, the focus on providing community facilities means it has not been possible to increase spaces for cars. Visitors travelling by car are encouraged to use the main town park, which is a short walk from the site.
The construction of major projects in towns can be disruptive to local residents. While the team have worked hard to minimise the impact of works on the main road into St Ives over the past few months, an unregistered gas pipe was discovered to be blocking the new route of a main sewer being installed earlier this year.
Unfortunately, it was not possible to complete the diversion before the summer embargo on lane closures came into force. This led to secondary roadworks with three-way traffic lights in operation at the Higher Stennack and Penbeagle Lane junction in September, while Wales and West moved the gas pipe. “We would like to thank our neighbours and the community in St Ives for being so patient with the road works outside the Leach Pottery”, said Libby Buckley, Leach Pottery Director.
“ We are working hard to secure a successful future for the Leach Pottery, to match its global importance and its historically positive impact on St Ives.
