Great Yarmouth Potteries

Ernie and Karen chat with Anna Giles

of YouTube's 'Yesterday's Town' Channel.

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Under Ernie's guidance,

two young visitors take

their first, tentative steps in

throwing their own pot

on the Potter's Wheel

Ernie constantly designed and made from ideas in his own head; most often inspired by his surroundings or a particular event.

Here, photographed by Roy, we have a one-off jug whose bowl measures around 14" (35cm) in diameter.

One face depicts a hand painted busy quayside scene on Historic South Quay beside the Town Hall in Great Yarmouth; whilst on the opposite face a verse, brush-written in Ernie's own cursive hand, which speaks of dark winter nights and foul weather.

To take a closer look, click or tap an image.

The diversity with which Ernie applied his skills is never better encapsulated than it is in the following pictures.

The Victorian inspirational poem - Rudyard Kipling's ' If ' has always formed a cornerstone in his family's lives. So much so, that on two special occasions he purchased a unique shell and engraved each of them with Kipling's complete poem on the shell's interior and exterior surfaces.

He did this for the wedding of each of their two sons in turn - Marc and then Lee - as a wedding gift.

He spoke to Karen of his fear of each shell breaking into a million pieces under the stress of the engraving tool. He had experienced several catastrophes like that, where a unique piece became a total write-off in the Potteries kiln. But, in testament to his great skill and sensitivity, thankfully that didn't happen with the shells.

Here is Marc's shell: and, just like one of Ernie's massive paintings; detailed unique sculptures; limited edition tankards or even the renovations of the Great Yarmouth Potteries Buildings, he exhibits great love, skill and dedication.

Photographed for posterity by Roy.

To take a closer look, click or tap an image.

Presenter Mike Hicks of the YouTube Channel 'Norfolk Now'

chats with Ernie to discover what goes into the design and manufacture of

Great Yarmouth Potteries' Limited Edition Tankards.

The following pictures, by Roy, are taken in the Wellington Esplanade Gardens, (on B1532) just to the north of The Claremont Pier in Lowestoft.

In 1999 Ernie carved original masters from which were cast these beautiful and highly detailed bronze plaques. The plaques were installed in the Gardens in Millennium Year, 2000.

They depict various scenes from Lowestoft life in the time of Sir Samuel Morton Peto, 1st Baronet (b.1809, d.1889).

In his time, Morton Peto was a civil engineer; entrepreneur; railway developer, and for more than 20 years a Member of Parliament.

He managed construction companies which built many iconic buildings and monuments in London including the modern Houses of Parliament and Nelson's Column.

In 1844 he bought Somerleyton Hall and rebuilt it with modern amenities. He also built a school and added more houses to the village of Somerleyton.

Morton Peto also built further projects in Lowestoft and, for many years, was the largest employer of labour in the world.