open all year round
Monday - Saturday
9.30am - 5.30pm
Sunday 10.30am - 4.30pm
trading at
Shinners Bridge
Dartington TQ9 6TQ
t 01803 847500
Totnes Bookshop
40-42 High Street
Totnes, Devon TQ9 5RY
t 01803 863273
Birthday Celebrations for Dartington Cider Press
As early as 1928, Bernard Leach, the renowned studio potter, had recommended to Leonard Elmhirst that a site close to Bidwell Brook would be an ideal spot for a retail outlet, drawing its trade from the passing motorists. It started in a small way with a single shop and tearoom, but 50 years later, in September 1977, the Cider Press Centre opened.
Now three decades on, The Dartington Trading Company is about to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Cider Press Centre. Developed on the site where Bernard Leach had constructed a pottery and written: ‘A Potters Book’ and where the Trust formerly manufactured apple juices.
The Cider Press Centre is the leading retail outlet in South Devon, which has arts and crafts at its core. In its 15 shops the centre strives to ensure all trade is ethical, as well as fair, in that it supports neither exploitation nor environmental degradation, that it helps the local community and the profits of any purchase are beneficially spent. All profits from the Cider Press Centre are covenanted to The Dartington Hall Trust and are used to support a wide variety of charitable activities
An open day on the 1st September will launch the celebrations, with an exhibition of work from the internationally renowned studio potter Bernard Leach and other members of the Leach pottery dynasty.
Celebrated artist, Mark Thomas, the well-known designer of extraordinary book covers, is also displaying his works throughout the month. Mark is famous for his design of the book cover of Dennis Potter’s, “The Singing Detective”, in the 1970’s, which gave rise to the subsequent ‘pulp’ style
Kate Higham, resident jeweller will be presenting new work using a fine selection of opals.
Although artists are integral to its history, the Cider Press Centre is not just about art. Its celebrations have something for everyone from free food tastings, to apple juice making and children’s activities. There will also be a display of the history of the Cider Press, using period pictures and other archive material on loan from local residents who have their own memories of the site over the years.
All the events and activities are free to the public throughout the month and the Cider Press Centre looks forward to welcoming as many local residents as possible to join in the birthday celebrations.
For more information about any of the events please contact Amy Burn on 01803 847500.
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The Cider Press Centre is operated by The Dartington Trading Company Ltd. (Reg No. 1218378) a subsidiary of the Dartington Hall Trust, a company limited by guarantee, registered in England as a charity (Charity No. 279756) Registered Office: The Elmhirst Centre, Dartington Hall, Totnes, Devon TQ9 6EL United Kingdom. Telephone 01803 847500; Fax 01803 847007;