Durham's Hidden Gems
From artists to photographers; jewellery makers to amateur dramatic societies, take a short stroll from Durham’s city centre and discover a range of hidden gems. From the artisans at Fowlers Yard to more restaurants, bars and takeaways on Claypath, venture further down Durham’s cobbled streets and you’ll find even more fantastic businesses.
Fowlers Yard
It’s well know as Durham’s artistic quarter and if you visit Fowlers Yard, you’ll see why. Tucked away down on the banks of the River Wear – down the ancient steps from Silver Street or through the back doors of the Indoor Market – Fowlers Yard features an array of artisan workspaces.
The small, creative businesses range from professional artists, craftspeople to a coffee house. The Croft Workshops specialise in unique and innovative jewellery. While the business can design one-off pieces, it also has a wide choice of contemporary jewellery designs available. Tracy A Franklin trained and worked at the Royal School of Needlework before starting her freelance career as a specialist embroiderer. She uses hand stitch techniques traditionally and with contemporary style. These include gold work, silk shading, and white work. She designs and works to commission, and has been head embroiderer for Durham Cathedral for many years.
Anja Percival’s is a printmaking studio. She specialises in hand-drawn etching on copper and her full range of work is available to buy in the gallery area of her studio. Steven Landles is a professional photographer whose work ranges from advertising and commercial work to weddings, family portraits and creative studio product photography. Juliet Percival is an award-winning freelance medical illustrator with 13 years practice. She works with a range of publishing clients from her studio, and also produces local sketches and imagery for bespoke gifts and stationary.
Also based at Fowlers Year is The City Theatre – home of Durham Dramatic Society, an amateur drama group with over 100 active members. The members perform a number of plays each year for the general public and the theatre itself is small, with only 72 seats in the auditorium. Leonards Coffee House is a cosy and friendly stop-off, whilst taking in everything else the Yard has to offer. On the menu is a range of sandwiches, ciabattas, breakfasts and a large selection of cakes, biscuits and muffins all baked freshly each day.
