October 10, 2017 10.48 am This story is over 77 months old

The Lawn marks opening of Lincoln paint-your-own pottery studio

The hub of businesses at the ongoing £2 million Lawn redevelopment in Lincoln has welcomed the addition of The Little Pottery Studio this week. Jemma Stimpson has relocated her studio from the Red Hall Manor House in Bracebridge Heath, where she has experienced growing popularity with customers from children through to retired people. She’s hoping…
(R-L) Banks Long & Co Trainee Surveyor Emily Funnell with Studio owner Jemma Stimpson in her new premises.

The hub of businesses at the ongoing £2 million Lawn redevelopment in Lincoln has welcomed the addition of The Little Pottery Studio this week.

Jemma Stimpson has relocated her studio from the Red Hall Manor House in Bracebridge Heath, where she has experienced growing popularity with customers from children through to retired people.

She’s hoping to attract the attention of tourists exploring the historic quarter of the city.

“We have a range of plain pottery, from vases, to plates and cups-and-saucers, and we encourage people to choose which “blanks” they would like to decorate,” said Jemma.

“We show them how to apply an underglaze paint and decorate their pieces using stamps and other techniques. Then they leave them with us to add the finishing glaze and fire.

Photo: Jemma Simpston

“The pieces are fired and people return a few days later to collect their work. It’s always a magic moment, because you are never 100% sure what they will look like after they come out of the kiln.”

Jemma said that her business had become increasingly busy over the past six months and she quickly outgrew her former premises.

“We are open from Mondays to Wednesdays and also at weekends, when we have had to turn people away, but now we have a 1,600 sq ft studio which will be better for us.

“I wanted somewhere central, so that we could also tap into Lincoln’s big tourist industry, but it also had to be big enough to take all our stock, kiln and equipment, which includes space for our potters’ wheels, because we are also planning to offer more ceramic classes in the future.

“We have just put out details of our first ceramic course and it was filled within a matter of days.”

As reported previously, The Lawn is undergoing a major refurbishment at the hands of new owners RW Stokes and Sons.

The premises were leased by Lincoln-based chartered surveyor Banks Long & Co, which recently let another unit at The Lawn to the expanding wedding dress business Jaynes Bridalwear.

Banks Long & Co consultant Peter Banks said: “Stokes and ourselves were delighted to attract the Little Pottery Studio to The Lawn.

“The setting is ideal for creative and artistic businesses and the central location and extensive on site parking provide easy access for visitors. I believe Jemma will provide a real attraction in this location”.