Elm Hill Craft Shop was first opened in 1936 by two friends, Joyce Wilkinson & Doris Jewson, as one of the first craft shops to open in England born out of the Arts & Crafts Movement.

In the early years the spinning, dying and weaving of wool took place on the premises for sale in the shop and it also stocked ceramics by both local and nationally respected potters like John Chipperfield and Bernard Leach. Elizabeth the Queen Mother was an early customer purchasing a hand woven blanket and rugs – although of course no money changed hands.

The shop closed briefly during the Second World War, reopening post war until 1971 when it was passed on to Joyce’s cousin, Elizabeth Watson. During her time the shop slowly evolved into a more general gift shop, but still with a craft and hand made base. In 1979 a fervent lover of the shop, Christina Morris started to work there as a part time member of staff and in 1981 she purchased the shop from Mrs Watson. Christina’s sympathetic relationship with both the owner and the specialist stock led her to develop it into the shop that it is today.

Elm Hill Craft Shop exists now as an exclusive gift and toy shop which stocks a wide variety of presents of all kinds. These include both stylish and unusual items for adults: jewellery and toiletries, pretty ceramics, gorgous candles by St Eval, glorious nightdresses, and a tempting and inspiring collection of stationery, greetings cards, postcards and wrapping papers.

Half of the shop is devoted to children with an unrivalled selection of dolls house furniture and fittings, beautiful dolls by Moulin Roty, dolly’s teasets, children’s books, soft toys and Beatrix Potter characters, exciting games and kits, beguiling jewellery and the best stocking fillers in town.