Wroxham Barns potter hangs up her apron for the last time
Tricia Francis Pottery at Wroxham Barns. Picture: TRICIA FRANCIS - Credit: Tricia Francis
An established potter will be shutting up shop at Wroxham Barns, Tunstead, after 27 years with the craft centre.
Tricia Francis Pottery. Picture: TRICIA FRANCIS - Credit: Tricia Francis
Tricia Francis opened her shop in 1989 which also acted as her workshop.
She doubled her turnover within her first year and has sold everything she has created there.
She will be hanging up her apron for the last time at the end of this month.
She said: 'It's a unique selling space, somewhere to produce as well as meet customers face to face, with a regular flow of local and holiday visitors.
'There really is nowhere quite like it. I thank Wroxham Barns for providing an excellent business opportunity for me and to all the lovely customers.'
Mrs Francis handmakes unique pots and vases with clay and has made over a thousand bespoke house nameplates and ranges of kitchenware decorated with oak leaves and hares, with the teaspoon and teabag holder being her best seller.
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She hopes to run classes to teach others her trade and continue to create one-off items from home.
She added: 'Having trained as a teacher it seems a good time to pass on some of what I have learned in the last 37 years and I'll be welcoming opportunities to do this.'
The Wroxham Barns craft centre opened in 1983 and attracts more than 350,000 visitors a year.
Owner of Wroxham Barns Ian Russell hopes to 'find another Tricia Francis' to take her place and believes every craft centre should have a potter.
He said: 'We're keen to fill the studio with a talented local artisan wanting to take that next step into retail at the heart of our award-winning visitor attraction.
'Tricia was a remarkable asset to Wroxham Barns – an exemplar of creativity and understanding customer service.
'We wish her well on her new beginning.'
For more information about the craft studio opportunity contact the Wroxham Barns office on 01603 783762.
