Elm Hill Craft Shop 20/21 The Goat Shed Farm Shop

Elm Hill Craft Shop

Elm Hill Craft Shop is a Norwich treasure. Christina Morris ran the shop for 45 years, during which time the corner shop on Elm Hill became the place to buy cards, wrapping paper, candles, stocking fillers, calendars, doll’s house furniture, and much more. Christina’s unfailing eye for originality meant the shop was somewhere to rely on for a gift that was a little bit different. This summer, Christina passed the baton to her daughter, Lucy. Luckily for us, Lucy’s taste is an updated version of her Mum’s – eclectic, and, well, rather lovely. Many of the products remain from Christina’s time at the helm (the doll’s house furniture; the stocking filler/ party bag section; the Bavarian glass Christmas baubles etc), though there is a little more stationery, with some fabulous papers, pens and notebooks that can’t be found anywhere else in Norwich, and which reflect Lucy’s other job as a children’s book illustrator and writer. There remains a wide choice of greetings’ cards, ribbons and wrapping papers, and half of the shop is still devoted to children, with a beautiful collection of Moulin Roty dolls, dolly’s tea sets, books, games, craft kits etc. Call in and you might well bump into Christina who is still very much a presence. Lucy is there most days, with a third generation of the Morrises represented by Lucy’s daughter who works on Saturdays. Elm Hill Craft Shop remains very much its own self –a shop full of tasteful idiosyncrasies. It’s fabulously atmospheric at Christmas, when the shop twinkles with glass baubles and decorations, but it’s also fabulous for gifts and cards at any time of the year!

Little known facts about the shop

• Elm Hill Crafts Shop was opened in 1936 by two friends and was one of the first Arts and Crafts gift shops. At the beginning, spinning, dying and weaving took place on the premises, with products for sale in the shop. • The shop also stocked ceramics by upcoming names such as Bernard Leach and John

Chipperfield. • Elisabeth the Queen Mother was an early customer, purchasing a hand-woven blanket and rugs (no cash exchanged, of course!). • In 1971 Christina Morris started work in the shop, and she bought it in 1981. The shop gradually evolved into a gift shop, with a craft/ handmade base.

Elm Hill Craft Shop, 12, Elm Hill, NR3 1HN Tel 01603 621076 Website under construction – www.elmhillcraftshop.co.uk.

What is it about goats? They’re like marmiteMarmite: you either love them or hate them. I personally love them: they always make me laugh. Which was why I was so happy to visit somewhere that’s been on my radar for a long time: Fielding Cottage’s The Goat Shed.

Fielding Cottage have been producing excellent goats’ cheese from their farm just outside Norwich since 2009. The cheese comes in three forms: a hard white cheese called Wensum White; a soft cheese named Mardler; and a creamy curd. The story goes back to 2009, when local farmer Sam Steggles bought 10 goats whilst on holiday (yes, holiday). Returning home, he began making cheese in his kitchen sink. Within a few years, what had begun as a hobby had expanded to become a vibrant business. From an on-site, purpose-made factory, Fielding Cottage today makes cheese that is sold nationally to supermarkets, airlines, and restaurants. Most recently, the business has started producing a popular range of beauty products, none of which smell of goats, and all of which offer health benefits for those with eczema or psoriasis! Their Geranium & Rose body lotion regularly sells out. During lockdown, Sam used a pre -existing shed on the farm to provide essentials for the community – and gave locals an outdoors space to meet, or at least to see other faces. ‘The Goat Shed’, as it became known, took off. It was so popular that eighteen months ago, Sam opened a farm shop and a restaurant. This year the Goat Shed Farm shop won the Muddy Stilettos’ Best Farm Shop and Deli Award, and it is

drawing customers from across the county. The best of Norfolk produce can be found on its shelves. All the big local foodie names are here – to name a few: Swannington meats, Marsh Pig Charcuterie, Candi’s chutneys, Winbirri Vineyard wines, eggs from Hingham, Crush rapeseed oils, Bon Bakery Biscotti, Cheeky Nibbles Granola, Norfolk Gin, etc. And, of course, the cheese section sells the full range of Fielding Cottage’s goats’ cheeses. In all, it’s a great place to wander, buy and enjoy. 20 To advertise, call The Golden Guide on 074119 43649

The restaurant is also well worth a visit. Like the shop, it’s huge – with a covered outdoor area as well as an indoors section. The menu contains many ingredients which are sold in the farm shop, and it’s not standard café fare. There are open sandwiches (avocado, smoked salmon & mixed leaf salad; beetroot, parsley & walnut pesto; Wensum White Goat’s cheese), cod goujons, and an all-day breakfast, plus a range of salads –beetroot, goat curd, parsley & hazelnut, for example. All allergies are catered for. In the run-up to Christmas, the Farm Shop will expand into a Christmas shed with a cabin feel where local producers will have stalls. With easy parking outside, and a journey that averages 18 minutes from the Unthank Road, this is an easy place to stock up on Christmas consumables. Plan to go for a morning, have lunch after your shop, and enjoy seeing the goats as they career around the field outside.

The Goat Shed Farm Shop and Kitchen, Colton Road, Honingham Norwich NR9 5DJ