Leach Pottery and St Ives Digital Trail

Investment in the Leach Pottery will create a community hub with a new production studio, kilns and a learning suite on a world class site where local people and visitors can come together to train, develop their creativity, improve their wellbeing, support each other and bring clay to life.  This will help to create new all year round jobs, as well as providing additional training, work facilities and apprenticeships.

The creation of a heritage digital trail will highlight opportunities for locals and visitors to explore St Ives away from congested high traffic areas. This will bring economic benefits not only to organisations on the trail but also to the wider town as people explore previously “hidden” areas.

The project has been awarded  £4.9 million from the St Ives Town Deal Fund.  

This is a large scale transformational project which will require additional external funding and would be delivered in two phases.

Planning permission for the first phase was granted in May 2023.  Phase 2 was given planning permission in January 2024, with work due to begin in early 2025.

The final stage is due to be completed in Summer 2026.

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Following the appointment of specialist contractors Classic Builders, a temporary kiln shed was constructed to allow the potters to continue working and training onsite.

The stored collections, Library and Archive were relocated to Kresen Kernow, with the learning team now delivering the learning programme from Newlyn School of Art and in the Museum.

This was followed by the demolition of the former Beagle Cross cottage and kiln sheds in May, with much of the interior fixtures and materials from the buildings recycled by the local community.

Foundations are now being laid for the new building to house the new Learning and Production Centre which will enable more classes and workshops to be provided and increase pottery production.

The museum, shop and gallery remain open and unaffected during the project. 

Cornwall Council Leader and St Ives Councillor Linda Taylor, portfolio holder for the economy Louis Gardner and the newly elected Chair of St Ives Town Deal Board Andrew Baragwanath visited the Pottery in July to see the progress which is being made to deliver this exciting and ambitious project transformation project.