Staffordshire Pottery
The Staffordshire Potteries is a generic term for the industrial area encompassing the six towns of Tunstall, Burslem, Hanley, Stoke, Fenton and Longton that now make up Stoke on Trent in Staffordshire. Staffordshire Pottery became famous in the 17th century due to the local clay, salt, lead and coal although because of the ready availability of clay in the ground there is evidence of pottery making in Staffordshire going back to Roman times. In its heyday there were hundreds of manufacturers producing all kinds of pottery in Staffordshire - some of whom became famous names and some of whom are still producing pottery to this day. Well-known Staffordshire pottery makers include: Wedgwood, Spode, Minton, Aynsley, Doulton and Twyford. Pottery factories in Staffordshire grew in size from an average of between 12 and 20 workers in the 1740s to, in some cases, over one thousand workers by the 1840s. Unlike many industries the pottery factories were not highly mechanised and driven by water or steam power. Instead, most of the factories relied on human labour to provide the motive power - and the cheapest labour was that of children who often worked for 12 hours a day for pennies. In the 1700s Staffordshire Pottery saw the innovation of grinding flint in water and one of the most famous figures in Staffordshire Pottery - Josiah Wedgwood - was born and started work in the family pottery where he created his famous Queensware line. Spode also came into prominence when he brought bone china to the market. It was at this time that local potters began to use transfers to decorate their pottery and the opening of better roads and canals in the region allowed potters to transport raw materials into Staffordshire from around the country and to ship out goods more easily. Local potters began to favour using clays from farther afield than Staffordshire (the local clay was red and potters wanted white china clay) and started to bring it in from Dorset, Devon and Cornwall. The bottle-shaped brick kiln ovens sprang up all over the region, and many still survive, giving the Potteries their distinctive character. Staffordshire’s Pottery still boosts the economy of the county via the tourist trade with thousands of people visiting Pottery museums every year. Here are some of the Staffordshire Potteries attractions and museums: Royal Doulton Email: visitor@royal-doulton.com. Website: www.royal-doulton.com Visitor Centre open Mon-Sat from 9.30am-5.00pm, and Sundays from 10.30am-4.30pm. Factory Shop and Factory Tours available - prior booking essential. Set in the original Victorian building, world's largest collection of pottery figures. Also theatre, museum, restaurant. The World of Spode Email: visitorcentre@spode.co.uk. Website: www.spode.co.uk Visitor Centre & Shops open Mon-Sat from 9.00am-5.00pm, Sundays from 10.00am-4.00pm. Please ring for Bank Holiday opening times. Audio-visual presentations, museum, conference facilities, guided tours, hands-on workshops, gift shop and licenced restaurant onsite. The Wedgwood Story Website: www.wedgwood.com Large Factory/Museum/Tours about 4 miles south of Stoke centre at Barlaston. Open Mon-Fri from 9.00am-5.00pm, Saturday and Sunday from 10.00am-5.00pm. Visitor Centre includes factory tour, exhibitions, shop, licenced 200 seater restaurant and smaller bistro. The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery Email: museums@stoke.gov.uk. Website: www.stoke.gov.uk/museums Open from around 10.00am-4.00pm in winter and until 5.00pm in summertime, afternoons on Sundays. Please phone for precise opening details. Gladstone Pottery Museum Tel: 01782-319232. Fax: 01782-598640. Email: gladstone@stoke.gov.uk.Website: www.stoke.gov.uk/gladstone Open Wed-Sun from 10.00am-4.00pm, except Christmas and New Year. Etruria Industrial Museum Tel: 01782-233144. Fax: 01782-233145. Email: museums@stoke0001.stoke-ccgov.uk. Website: www.stoke.gov.uk/museums. Open Wed-Sun from 10.00am-4.00pm. Recently closed for extensive refurbishment, due to reopen late autumn 2001. Britain's only surviving steam powered potter's mill with 1820s beam engine, located in the old Bone and Flint Mill below Stoke Lock No.2. Visitor Centre with changing exhibitions. Blacksmith's forge and canal-side setting. Mill in steam from April to December. Designated an outstanding Museum. The Dudson Museum The Dudson Centre, Hope Street, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 5DD. Tel: 01782-821075. Open Mon-Fri from 10.00am-3.00pm. Exhibition of 200 year old family tableware pottery. Visit the bottle kiln, and see exhibits of Dudson pottery including figurines, jasperware, stoneware and hotelware. Café and shop on site.
|