Alford Pottery

Alford Pottery ceramics Heather and Michel Ducos have been making pots for a living since 1972. Christele Askew. Apprentice.

Heather started playing with clay as a child whilst on holidays in Devon and Cornwall. She was attracted by the clay she found on the river side and made her first “pots”. She later trained as an Occupational Therapist and learned the rudiments of pottery, later setting up ceramic workshops in hospitals where she worked to use it as part of therapy. On her days off she went to CILLADON Pottery,

in Walthamstow, to help Pris McGirr, the potter and to learn as much as possible. Michel’s earliest creative efforts were during the war in Algeria (then part of France) when he used
the lumps of plaster from the walls of bombed out houses to carve into all sorts of shapes. As part of his studies at Bordeaux University, he came to London to do his year as a French Assistant at Hackney Downs School. He met Pris and her husband Don in a pub in Walthamstow and subsequently went to the
pottery to help on Saturdays and started learning a bit about Pottery. Heather and Michel met there and later, when Heather started producing a few pots in her house, Michel would come and help as well as using the house cellars to make candles. Having decided that they needed more space to work and wanting to make pottery full time, in 1973, after a long quest, they found a house in Alford and set up their pottery while still working part time, Heather as an OT and Michel as a Thatcher’s assistant. The
pottery became busier and they were able to leave their jobs and become full time potters. The business grew and in 1978 they moved to their present premises on Commercial Road. We met Christele during our 40 years celebrations when, having graduated from Bradford University, she was invited to create a plate for our "Potter's Feast". Christele had been learning pottery for a number of years with a tutor, prior to University, and specialises in RAKU. When she heard that we were looking for an apprentice she applied and joined us at the end of June 2012 and remained with us for a year and a half. She spent 2 days a week with us, learning production pottery with the aim of establishing her own business.

Stitched and Stapled series. Rough textured bowl with shinny steel stitches.
08/05/2026

Stitched and Stapled series. Rough textured bowl with shinny steel stitches.

Stitched and Stapled series. My favourite! Small shallow bowl black with golden stitched addition.
08/05/2026

Stitched and Stapled series. My favourite! Small shallow bowl black with golden stitched addition.

Stitched and Stapled series: #4. String stitched polychrome bowl form
06/05/2026

Stitched and Stapled series: #4. String stitched polychrome bowl form

Stitched and Stapled series. #3: Copper stapled vase form.
06/05/2026

Stitched and Stapled series. #3: Copper stapled vase form.

Stitched and stapled series. Number two. Copper laced.
04/05/2026

Stitched and stapled series. Number two. Copper laced.

Stitched and stapled series. Number one. Strung up.
04/05/2026

Stitched and stapled series. Number one. Strung up.

Last of the Kurinuki series. This one is Kurinuki Hachi. Carved stoneware in traditional Japanese style. Stick vase.Next...
01/05/2026

Last of the Kurinuki series. This one is Kurinuki Hachi. Carved stoneware in traditional Japanese style. Stick vase.
Next series will be "Stitched and stapled"

last 2 of the series. Kurinuki Nana. Carved terracotta stick vase in the Japanese tradition.
01/05/2026

last 2 of the series. Kurinuki Nana. Carved terracotta stick vase in the Japanese tradition.

Series of japanese style stick vases in carved stoneware with white glaze shadow. Decorative and exotic. Kurinuki Roku.
30/04/2026

Series of japanese style stick vases in carved stoneware with white glaze shadow. Decorative and exotic. Kurinuki Roku.

Kurinuki Go. Japanese style. carved vases. series of 8 . Carved stoneware with white glaze shadow and molten glass. Deco...
30/04/2026

Kurinuki Go. Japanese style. carved vases. series of 8 . Carved stoneware with white glaze shadow and molten glass. Decorative stick vases.

Address

Commercial Road
Alford
LN139EY

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm

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