were sold worldwide for over 20 years and all tableware ranges were accepted for inclusion on the Design Centre Index before entering production. At one stage production of the Heirloom tableware soon could not keep up with the demand and department stores had to be limited on a quota basis. Decline In 1979 the number of employees rose to 460, and by 1981 it peaked at 700. However, this state of affairs did not last and after 1978 profits plummeted owing to development costs associated with its new factory in Lancaster, and production losses at its new plant. In 1980 a team from the National Westminster Bank was sent to review the company's management and appoint a new managing director, Mr Anthony Kusmirek who joined the company in 1975 as project director. Noel Rawson the sales director and Anthony Kusmirek the new managing director were both dismissed after attempting to redress the company's sales performance and improve the product range. In 1981 the National Westminster Bank then appointed Gordon Barker as managing director and nominated a new management team. It was during this time that John Clappison’s unique Strata trinket boxes and his People series were produced. Clappison was made redundant on 31 December 1984, subsequently gaining employment with Royal Doulton. The ceramic tableware market was witnessing a great change with Japanese imports flooding the American market and cheaper tableware coming into Europe. The problems continued, and in April 2000 the National Westminster Bank sent in the receivers. The pottery factory no longer exists. The retail outlet shopping village known as Hornsea Freeport has traded on the main retail and touristic site ever since, whilst the old factory buildings have been demolished and the area re-developed for housing. Following its dissolution, several of the redundant managers and staff were able to relocate to the newly constructed Park Rose Pottery, on a green field site situated on the main road entering the seaside town of Bridlington. Park Rose Pottery was founded by Anthony Kusmirek and Noel Rawson in 1982. The founder's original giftware range consisted of vases, plant pot holders and ceramic lamp bases. One of their first customers was IKEA. They went on to produce and sell a successful range of designer ware in their own right. Park Rose Pottery itself ceased to trade in June 2012. Hornsea Pottery designs are now available across a wide range of homewares, clothing