6 ■ Clitheroe Advertiser and Times, November10th, 1977


QUALITY IS THE KEYNOTE AT PENTHOUSE POTTERY


CLITHEROE’S newest business venture — “Penthouse Pottery” — aims to b ring new beauty to the Ribble Valley. But although there are some ‘lovely la d ie s ” among the Capo di monte figurines on show, they are in porcelain. The “ penthouse” , touch


familiar greengrocery busi­ ness run By Mr Geoff Cross, at Castle Street, arid the new gallery will provide a n o th e r , feature to the attractive new shopping courtyard behind the Swan and Royal Hotel. It is also the third local


'PENTHOUSE Pottery is the inspiration of Mr Geoff Cross, pictured with his wife, Pat, who are,introduc­


ing such artistic products as Capo di monte porcelain


from Italy to the Ribble Valley. That’s a new dimension for Mr Cross, who saw the


challenge offered by Mr Cross, who saw the chal­


quite different from his


lenge offered by space in the Stvan Courtyard —


and


previous experience. He started in textiles, then worked in the bakery and greengrocery trades, and launched into the bed andi breakfast sphere at “Rossen- ■ dale.”


The new gallery will


certainly be an attraction both for Ribble Valley resi­ dents and the thousands of


tourists who arc finding the area an enjoyable holiday venue.


business enterprise run by Mr Cross and his wife, Pat, who are fast bringing an international element to their activities — they also act as hosts to many visitors from the USA, Canada and Holland, who find their bed and breakfast accommo­ dation at “Rossendale” (near C l i t h e r o e ’ s Grammar


. School) a convenient holiday resting place. All this was never antici­


pated by Mr Cross when, some years ago, the family bobbin works at Hurst


merely indicates that the new gallery for ■ high-class pottery, glass, furniture and paintings is “on top of the building.” ' It is, in fact, above the


G re en , started gragrandfather


cotton textile trade. Seeking


b his (Mr R. A.


Cross), be;gan to suffer from the generc


neral run-down of the new ways


of


making their livings, Geoff went into the confectionery business, in Whalley Road, and his brother (Mr Clifford Cross) took over Dawson’s greengrocers shop in Castle Street.


Geoff switched to green­


grocery when he moved into a b u s in e s s in G r e a t Harwood, then, seven years a g o , he r e tu r n e d to Clitheroe, taking over the greengrocery business from his brother when he decided to emigrate to Perth, West­ ern Australia. After trading successfully


in Castle Street, where Mr and Mrs Cross now employ 10 staff (including part- timers who have contributed tremendously tothe success o f the business during the alterations) the next move was dictated when the need fo r family accommodation outstripped the space avail­ able in the flat above the shop. This took them to “Rossendale” — with 25 rooms! Originally a doctor’s house


and surgery, built about 1872, it had been converted


fo r the manufacture of Hardacre’s Clitheroe toffee, which continued there until two years ago. “ Rossendale” provided


adequate space for the Cross family ahd left room to spare. So Mr and Mrs Cross saw the possibilities of


developing a pleasant bed and breakfast unit with three bedrooms for letting and a dining room and TV lounge.


“We hope to offer the best, so it will be expen­


sive,” says Mr Cross, “This will be at the top end of the scale to appeal to a relatively limited market. “The Sonia production, for


This has proved attractive


to local business visitors needing overnight accommo-: dation, and to tourists. Clitheroe, it seems, is a


A BLEND of fitted, purpose built, display units in the style of Spanish arches form one side of the new Penthouse gallery.


convenient stopping point, not only for holiday makers from across the Atlantic, but particularly for the Dutch u s in g th e Z e e b ru g g e - Harwich ferries and heading for the Lake District or Scotland. Many of the latter have been pleasantly surprised by


instance, results from the knowledge and experience o f the sculptor, maestro Cortese. Each figurine leav­ ing the factory has ■ been per sonally created and in sp e c te d by Germano Cortese, and sculpture and hand-painting has been blended in perfect harmony in order that each item becomes a unique, artistic work of art.” But there will be a lot


more, with wider appeal, in the Penthouse Pottery, which has been fashioned


WALL-TO-WALL carpeting, well-illuminated glass and pottery display units, gnd - .\


lovely Italian inlaid wood furniture, are features of the new gallery.


the - bonus of the “unex­ pected beauty” of the Ribble Valley.'


; ~Some have actually been


advised by at least one tour- is t - b r o ch u r e to avoid “ industrial Lancashire.” When one woman tourist discovered how wrong that


, advice was, so far as the Ribble Valley is concerned, she was so annoyed that she


.complained to the publishers of'the. brochure, and asked them to mention the attrac­ tions of this area.


Advertising feature


from the Cross’s former flat. That now provides a large display gallery, with wall-to- wall carpeting and a blend of fitted purpose-designed and built display units in the . style of Spanish arches along one wall. There are also v a r iou s fr e e -s ta n d in g d isp la y units in: other sections. - Mr Cross has handed over


the day-to-day management of the grocery business to Mr David Brass, and will himself concentrate on the new ga l le ry , which he described as “an exciting new challenge.” . ’


He is aiming to provide, in Now — with their latest


venture in the Penthouse Pottery — Mr and Mrs Cross are extending their European links. One o f the features of the


new gallery will be an exten- sive display of Capo di monte-porcelain, one of the


-most notable art products from the' Sorrento region of Italy. The art of modelling in por celain, in exquisite


detail, has existed in Italy since the earliest part of the 18th century, and the tradi­


tion is being continued by the present masters' of the


art, with a wide range of 20th century Capo di monte exclusive-signed pieces.


Clitheroe, the best available in pottery and glassware. T h i s w i l l in c lu d e a comprehensive range of tableware from Denby of Derby, including the Aurora range o f crystal hand­ crafted items made for Denby in Poland, and avail­ able in various colours. There will also be Potters


Wheel and Gypsy ranges of oven-to-table ware, and s ton ehan dled stainless


a range of hand-blown crys­ tal ware; and the range of “Old Country-Rose,” both by Royal Doultom


There will also be a selec­


tion • of high-quality table linen, and a choice of lovely Italian inlaid wood furniture such as cocktail trolleys and chessboards. As an introductory offer,


Mr Cross has arranged for the first-month to offer customers a 10 per cent- discount on sales of Penth­ ouse Pottery. “We feel we are filling a


gap in this section of trade in Chtheroe,” says Mr Cross, “We are aiming to bring new lines to the district, not merely to avoid competing with established traders, but because we will have a better chance if we offer something that the others haven’t got.”


r f f*


cutlery under, the: titles. “ Dream- W eaver s” and “Regency,” which' combine the romance of traditional design- with everyday dura­ bility. ■ ; In addition they will offer


IN charge of day-to-day management of the old-established grocery business is Mr David Brass, seen here chatting with a customer.


factory, "Rossendale’’ is now an attractive home for the Cross family —


numerous overnight visitors.


ORIGINALLY a doctor’s house and surgery, then a toffee and a bed and breakfast residence for


DISCOVER A WORLD OF BEAUTIFUL CHINA ■


— HIGH GLASS POTTERY.


GLASSWARE— PAINTINGS FURNITURE in OUR NEW GALLERY


DOULTON CHINA Crystal Glass — Chess Sets in Alabaster and Brass


DENBYWARE


Irish Linen — Cutlery — Royal Albert Glassware


CAPO DI MONTE Musical Boxes-— Royal Dux Figurines


TO ALL OUR NEW CUSTOMERS WE ARE OFFERING FORA LIMITED PERIOD 10% OFF ALL GOODS PURCHASED


- v-


SWAN COURTYARD A y - .


—


New Shopping Area (above Dawson’s Greengrocers) SWAN and ROYAL COURTYARD CLITHEROE. Tel. 22994. i f . 1 i . i, V-, f ‘ h iC i t ’.'-4 ."-e t c - '. ’ - > a ; 3


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