Historic pottery museum restoration project begins

Work has started to restore a pottery museum and enable visitors to see "important pieces of pottery from across the world".

The one-year project was designed to enhance the experience for visitors to the Leach Pottery museum in St Ives which was established by Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada in 1920.

A new gallery will be created in which pieces from other collections such as the Tate, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Centre of Ceramic Art in York can be displayed.

Director Libby Buckley said the new space would cater for "everyone from professional experts to those encountering ceramics for the first time".

She said the new space would allow visitors to learn more about the life of those that have lived and worked at the Leach Pottery through objects and spoken recollections.

"Our museum and volunteer teams have been collecting first-hand accounts and stories from people in Cornwall and from all over the world to share with visitors," Ms Buckley added.

She said visitors would also be able to handle ceramics, follow the process from clay to finished pot and make their own clay creations in the restored museum.

The museum renovation forms part of a two-year project and a new learning and production centre is due to open early in 2026.

Leach Pottery has received funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England's MEND fund, Wolfston Foundation and the Headley Trust for the restoration project.

Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].