Longton : Long or tall enclosure, village or estate.
The southernmost town of the city of Stoke-on-Trent.
Before the mid-1800s, Longton was two settlements—Longton to the west and Lane End to the east (the end of the lane leading to Meir)—which were not formally united until 1848. In 1865, Longton became a municipal borough, later expanding to include East Vale, Normacot and Florence.
Although the area was rich in high-quality coal and clay, development was limited by the Levenson family, who owned the Trentham Priory lands. However, Sir John Edensor, who bought Longton Manor in 1773, allowed development to proceed. The town then grew rapidly in the early 19th century, driven by the expansion of the pottery, coal and iron industries.
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| Longton Wharf Street, now Bridgwood Street. Photo by William Blake Date: 1905 Photo courtesy Staffordshire Past Track here > |
The impetus for Longton's development also came from its location on the former Roman road at the junction with the road to Stone, which were turnpiked in 1759 and 1771 respectively. These improvements helped to overcome the town's isolation from the canal network. Potbanks developed along Sutherland Road and the parallel Uttoxeter Road. Notable were the Gladstone Works (now a multi- award winning museum of the pottery industry), Aynsley and Sydney works. Flint-grinding mills were also significant, while the collieries, iron works and tileries were outside the town to the west and north east.
Bottle ovens and kilns still standing in Longton? Page down or click here>
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| Longton Skyline Image from a postcard, postmarked 1908 Looking towards St James Church, Uttoxeter Road (middle left) Image: Courtesy: Elizabeth Carver from a family album |
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| Longton Skyline Reverse of the above postcard Image: Courtesy: Elizabeth Carver from a family album |
BOTTLE OVENS LONG SINCE GONE
Caroline China, Caroline Street, Longton - the three photographs below were shot during the Bottle Oven Survey of 1975/76. The original rough working notes, details and images from the survey are available to view as a PDF file here> on a secure site. Note that, based on current knowledge, some of the details may be inaccurate.
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| Caroline China demolished 1983 Photo: Courtesy Gladstone Pottery Museum Date: 1975 |
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| Caroline China, Caroline Street Updraught stack type bottle oven The crown damper on the left; A quarter damper on the right Photo: Terry Woolliscroft Collection Date: 1975/6 Taken during the Bottle Oven Survey 1976 |
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| Caroline China, Caroline Street. 'Oss and bag with special trials saggar on the left. Looking up the stack on the right Photo: Terry Woolliscroft Collection Date: 1975/6 - taken during the Bottle Oven Survey 1976 |
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Cooperative Wholesale Society, Crown Clarence Works, King Street, Longton - this potbank focused on earthenware tableware, sold mainly through the Co-op network under brands such as Crown Clarence and Balmoral. Production under CWS began after World War II. The potbank was demolished shortly after the Bottle Oven Survey of 1975/6.
The original very rough working notes, details and drawings from the survey are available to view as a PDF file here> on a secure site. Note that some of the details may be inaccurate and cannot be verified.
This photo clearly shows the tall chimney of the muffle kiln. The chimney had been shortened at some time before the bottle oven survey. The firemouth of the kin can be seen behind the figure. The entrance to the kiln would have been at the other side of the kiln, out of view.
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| Muffle kiln at Crown Clarence Works Co-op Wholesale Society, King Street, Longton Photo: source unknown Date: unknown |
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| CWS Crown Clarence Pottery Photo: courtesy Staffordshire Past Track - Bert Bentley photo Date: 1962 |
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| Photo: William Blake Date: early 1900s |
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| Bottle oven in Locketts Lane Photo: Unknown source and date. Painting: Reginald Haggar 1970 |
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| Photo: unknown source Date: unknown |
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| Bottle oven, Goddard Street Photo: source unknown Date: about 1960 |
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| Blue Bell Works and Garfield Works Looking up Barlow Street Scan: Print sold by Friends of City Museum and Art Gallery, Hanley. Date: Early 1970s |
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| In Sutherland Road, looking up to Garfield Works and Bluebell Pottery, Barlow Street Photo: Terry Woolliscroft Collection Date: 25th May 1975 |
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| Bluebell Works, Sampson Smith Pottery, Barker Street. Photo: Terry Woolliscroft Collection Date July 1970 |
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| Bluebell Works, Sampson Smith Pottery, Barker Street Photo by Sid Meir, courtesy Ian Mood Date: c1972 |
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| Barker Bros. Ltd., Barker Street Photo: unknown source Date: unknown |
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| Barker Bros. Ltd. Photo: unknown source Date: unknown |
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| Ridgeway Potteries, Adderley Floral, Sutherland Rd Photo: unknown source Date: 1960s |
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| Elektra Porcelain, Edensor Road Photos: Terry Woolliscroft Collection Date: Aug 1970, demolished 1975 |
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| John Street Photo: Source unknown Date: Unknown |
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| John Street Photo: source unknown Date: unknown |
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| Kingcross Street and Chancery Lane Photo: Source unknown Date: unknown |
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| Location unknown Photo: Source unknown Date: unknown |
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| Sampson Bridgewood, Anchor Works Photo: source unknown Date: unknown |
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| Anchor Works Bottle oven demolition Photo: source unknown Date: 1960s |
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| Unknown location Photo: source unknown Date: unknown |
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| Locketts Lane Photo: Source unknown Date: approx 1970 |
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| John Lockett potbank yard and ovens Photo: source unknown Date: unknown |
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| E. Brain and Co.Ltd. - Foley China Works King Street Photo: source unknown Date: unknown |
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| Photo: source unknown Date: unknown |
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| Kendrick Street Photo: source unknown Date: unknown |
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| Radfords, New Market Works Photo: source unknown Date: unknown |
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| Rear of Wildblood Pot Bank, John Street, Normacot Photo: Gladstone Pottery Museum collection Date: 1945 |
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| Smithy Lane leading to Cyples Pottery Photo: source unknown Date: unknown |
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| China and Earthenware Millers, King Street Calcining kilns Photo source: Taken during 'Operation Bottle' bottle oven survey Date: Jan 1976 |
Longton and Colclough China, 1938
Courtesy: Alan Hayes, nephew of the cameraman
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BOTTLE OVENS at GARFIELD WORKS
Garfield Works, Barlow Street, off Uttoxeter Road, Longton. Note that there was a major street re-naming project in the 1950s. High Street was renamed to Uttoxeter Road and Upper Hill Street to Barlow Street.
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| Towards Garfield Works from St James Churchyard, Uttoxeter Road Photo: Source unknown Date: unknown |
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| Bottle ovens at Garfield Works from St James Church Photo: Terry Woolliscroft Collection Date: Sept 1972 |
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| Garfield Works - the 1927 oven. Just off Uttoxeter Road, opposite St. James Church Photo: Terry Woolliscroft Collection Date: early 1970s |
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| Bottle ovens at Garfield Works, Uttoxeter Road, Longton, 1927 and 1939 ovens Photos: Terry Woolliscroft Collection Date: early 1970s |
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| Bottle ovens at Garfield Works, Uttoxeter Road, 1927 and 1939 bottle ovens Photos: Terry Woolliscroft Collection Date: early 1970s |
Rescuing saggars from Garfield's 1939 oven for display at Gladstone Pottery Museum, 1974
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| Rescuing saggars from the 1939 oven at Garfield Works, prior to demolition. Images of the oven full of empty saggars with Rodney Hampson (Gladstone volunteer) starting to empty the oven. Photos: Terry Woolliscroft Collection Date: Nov 1974 |
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| Rescuing about 1500 saggars from the 1939 bottle oven at Garfield Works, prior to demolition. Volunteers empty the oven and take van-loads back to Gladstone Pottery Museum for display Paul Niblett (long serving volunteer) organised the work with the late Jim Kelly Photos: Terry Woolliscroft Collection Date: Nov 1974 |
Demolition of the Garfield Works, Longton. May and June 1975
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| Demolition of the Garfield Works Photos: Terry Woolliscroft Collection Date: May 1975 |
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| Demolition of the Garfield Works Kids using the site as a playground and posing for the camera Photos: Terry Woolliscroft Collection Date: May 1975 |
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| Demolition of the Garfield Works Photos: Terry Woolliscroft Collection Date: June 1975 |
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| Demolition of the Garfield Works Photos: Terry Woolliscroft Collection Date: June 1975 |
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| Garfield Works. End of an era Photo: Terry Woolliscroft Collection Date: June 1975 |
More information about The Garfield Works can be found here> thepotteries.org
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Longton bottle ovens - before and after
The rush to demolish
In the 1970s there was a rush to demolish bottle ovens - a race began between the 'big boys' in the industry to see who could modernise the fastest. In all the haste, lots of historical material was lost. Industry leaders were fixated on showing how good they were at transforming the area. Many small independent potbanks were swallowed up by the likes of Wedgwood and Royal Doulton who wanted to prove they were biggest and best.
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Gladstone Pottery Museum, Uttoxeter Road, ST3 1PQ
[23a,b,c,d,e] Location: what3words.com/leaps.remit.study
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Longton bottle ovens - before and after
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| Along Sutherland Road, looking towards Park Hall pit heap. Ridgway Potteries and Rosina China factory in the middle distance. Two updraught stack ovens Left pic taken June 1970. Right pic taken August 1970 Photos: Terry Woolliscroft Collection. Taken with a Kodak Instamatic 233 |
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| Kendrick Steet Left pic taken June 1970. Right pic taken December 1970 Photos: Terry Woolliscroft Collection. Taken with a Kodak Instamatic 233 |
The rush to demolish
In the 1970s there was a rush to demolish bottle ovens - a race began between the 'big boys' in the industry to see who could modernise the fastest. In all the haste, lots of historical material was lost. Industry leaders were fixated on showing how good they were at transforming the area. Many small independent potbanks were swallowed up by the likes of Wedgwood and Royal Doulton who wanted to prove they were biggest and best.
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| Bottle ovens by St James Church, Uttoxeter Road, Photo: source unknown Date: c1950s |
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| St. James Church, Uttoxeter Road, taken from Normacot Road Bottle oven in background was on the Garfield Works, latterly owned by Alfred Clough. Left pic taken August 1970 and right pic taken 20 May 1975 after cleaning Photos: Terry Woolliscroft Collection |
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| Taken from Normacot Road, towards Chelson Street with St. James Church to the left, out of view New Chelsea Porcelain Co. Stanley Works. Chelson Street was formerly Bagnall Street Note the one with the cross in glazed bricks on the stack in deference to the church. Both pics taken in 1970 with just a few months between them (exact dates not recorded) Photos: Terry Woolliscroft Collection |
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| St. James church and bottle ovens Photo: unknown source Date: unknown |
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| St. James church and bottle ovens Photo:unknown source Date: unknown |
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| Same factory as above, photo taken from St. James Church yard towards Chelson Street Photo: source unknown Date: unknown |
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| St. James church, potbanks and bottle ovens Photo:unknown source Date: c1950 |
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BOTTLE OVENS and KILNS STILL STANDING, WITH THEIR CHIMNEYS
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| Normacot, Longton - The Last Bottle Oven in the Potteries to be fired. Organised by Gladstone Pottery Museum and fired at the Hudson and Middleton factory, Normacot Photo: Brian Colclough Date: 1978 |
Gladstone Pottery Museum, Uttoxeter Road, ST3 1PQ
[23a,b,c,d,e] Location: what3words.com/leaps.remit.study
National Heritage List for England as Grade II*, first listed 19 April 1972
Gladstone Works is now home to the most important group of bottle ovens remaining in the UK. Gladstone Pottery Museum was developed from the redundant Gladstone Works in 1971. This was a typical medium-sized, bone china potbank. The museum enjoyed its Royal opening on 24 April 1975. Over the years it has won dozens of tourism awards. Now owned and managed by Stoke-on-Trent city council suffering huge cutbacks in 2022 resulting in closure for five months of each year (except the City Centenary year, 2025)
4 bottle ovens
All updraught, hovel ovens. Average sized. Three with 8 firemouths, one with 9 firemouths.
1 decorating enamel muffle kiln. Unique. 2 external firemouths.
More details here at the dedicated website> https://gladstonepotterymuseumstory.blogspot.com/
Roslyn Works, Uttoxter Road, ST3 1PQ
[23f,g] Location: what3words.com/judge.shops.dimes
Gladstone Works is now home to the most important group of bottle ovens remaining in the UK. Gladstone Pottery Museum was developed from the redundant Gladstone Works in 1971. This was a typical medium-sized, bone china potbank. The museum enjoyed its Royal opening on 24 April 1975. Over the years it has won dozens of tourism awards. Now owned and managed by Stoke-on-Trent city council suffering huge cutbacks in 2022 resulting in closure for five months of each year (except the City Centenary year, 2025)
4 bottle ovens
All updraught, hovel ovens. Average sized. Three with 8 firemouths, one with 9 firemouths.
1 decorating enamel muffle kiln. Unique. 2 external firemouths.
More details here at the dedicated website> https://gladstonepotterymuseumstory.blogspot.com/
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| Gladstone No.1 Oven Photo: Glenn Airey Date: May 2020 |
Gladstone muffle kiln
used for 'hardening on' and decorating fire.
Two external firemouths
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| Gladstone cobbled yard Photo: Terry Woolliscroft Collection Date: 2008 |
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| Gladstone Works Photo: Source britainfromabove.org Date: 1937 |
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| Gladstone Works and Roslyn works, Uttoxeter Road Photo: Philip Shallcross Collection Date: April 2019 |
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| Gladstone Pottery and Roslyn Works in the snow January 2023 Photo: By courtesy of Phil Crow ABIPP ARPS |
Roslyn Works, Uttoxter Road, ST3 1PQ
[23f,g] Location: what3words.com/judge.shops.dimes
National Heritage List for England as Grade II*, first listed 19 April 1972
Two updraught stack-type bottle ovens
Two updraught stack-type bottle ovens
Roslyn Works is a classic Victorian pottery factory, dating from 1841, complete with bottle ovens in the yard. Now owned by the Stoke-on-Trent city council and rented out work as workshops and offices. Not open to the public.
Following the designation of Roslyn as a Grade II* listed building, conservation work began in 2008. This included repairs to the two updraught stack bottle ovens, masonry walls, and roof. It has been converted into a 16-workshop space and re-fitted as business accommodation. Contemporary building work forms the glass roof to the courtyard, along with glazed entrance screens and access improvements, including re-decoration and signage.
Enson Works, Chelson Street/Normacot Road, ST3 1PT
[25a,b,c,d] Location: what3words.com/silk.flank.comb
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| Roslyn Works, Uttoxeter Road, next door to Gladstone Photo: Courtesy of 'Potteries Bottle Kilns' page on Facebook Date: 2015 |
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| Gladstone Pottery and the Roslyn Works Photo by Philip Shallcross Date: April 2020 |
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| Roslyn Works Photo: Courtesy Phil Crow ABIPP ARPS Date: May 2023 |
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| An unusual view of Commerce Works foreground, Gladstone Pottery Museum and Roslyn Works Photo: Courtesy Phil Crow ABIPP ARPS Date: May 2025 |
Enson Works, Chelson Street/Normacot Road, ST3 1PT
[25a,b,c,d] Location: what3words.com/silk.flank.comb
National Heritage List for England as Grade II, first listed 20 August 1979
This potbank was established in 1843 and
expanded through the later 19th century under Mason Holt & Co. It is a
classic two-storey potbank with four updraught bottle ovens, surrounded by
workshops.
By the 1920s it traded as Delphine Pottery, then served as a
military store during World War II. Production resumed in 1948 under Spencer
Stevenson & Co., who made "useful bone china ware" and renamed
the site the Enson Works, continuing until around 1963.
The works stood abandoned from the 1970s and faced
demolition in 1989, before Stoke-on-Trent City Council recognised its value and
bought the site in 1998. A £12m restoration followed, and it reopened in 2013
as CoRE (the Centre of Refurbishment Excellence), combining 130 years of
Potteries heritage with modern design and technology. The project won several
architectural awards, including RIBA's Best Sustainable Project and the LABC
Award for Best Change of Use.
As of 2023, the buildings are occupied by CoRE Educational Ltd, an established IT support and services provider.
Zoe Sutherland, at the time in 2021the Ceramic
Heritage Action Zone Project Officer for Stoke-on-Trent City Council, noted that one of the site's surviving bottle ovens — the easternmost at Enson
Works, was likely built between 1950 and 1967 and may be among the youngest bottle
ovens in the Potteries.
The buildings are occupied today (2023) by CoRE Educational Ltd, a long established IT Support & Services provider.
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| Enson Works - refurbished in 2012/13 Photos: Courtesy Core |
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| Enson Works and small calcining oven on left of pic Photo: Philip Shallcross Collection Date: Aug 2019 |
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| Enson Works, Normacot Road Photo: Philip Shallcross Collection Date: Aug 2019 |
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| Enson Works Photo: By courtesy Phil Crow ABIPP ARPS Date: May 2023 |
Phoenix Works, (aka Albion Works) King Street, ST3 1EZ
[21a,b] Location: what3words.com/desk.pushy.photos
National Heritage List for England as Grade II, first listed 20 August 1979
Two, Clement Robey Patent, downdraught skeleton-type bottle ovens with the tall exhaust chimney.
Two, Clement Robey Patent, downdraught skeleton-type bottle ovens with the tall exhaust chimney.
Built in 1881 by Thomas Forester to satisfy the demand for Majolica Pottery Ware both at home and abroad. The Foresters ceased production in 1959 and the site was purchased by the Milner family in 1961 for their pottery wholesale business. Now run by Mark Milner who is renovating the site.
Originally 6 bottle ovens and 2 tall chimneys occupied the site but only 2 large skeleton, Clement Robey Patent, downdraught ovens, with their accompanying tall chimney, remain. One bottle oven has 9 firemouths, the other has 10. The ovens were recently cleaned and researched during lengthy renovations from 2018 onwards.
The tall chimney was renovated in 2021. The oven is Grade 2 Listed and planning permission was required before repair work took place. Details here>
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| Phoenix Works, 500 King Street 2 Robey Patent downdraught ovens with associated chimney Photo: unknown source Date: early 1980s |
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| Phoenix Works plan of ovens Shows arrangement of the underground flues Drawing Courtesy: Jon Goodwin Date:April 2021 |
The Phoenix Works downdraught ovens and tall chimney
"Investigative works [November 2020 and March 2021] in and around the two ovens at Phoenix Works, Longton, has indicated that both structures are down-draught rather than up-draught, skeleton, types. They are connected via underground flues to an adjacent 90 feet tall chimney. These are the only surviving examples of such ovens in Stoke-on-Trent and are of considerable significance.
The floor of each firing chamber was cleaned during the works, revealing a concentric arrangement of ten small rectangular vents, connected in each instance via a narrow channel to a sub-floor circular flue. Heat, smoke and gasses present within each chamber during firing would have been drawn down through these vents and into the circular flue, which was in turn connected to an exit flue. The recent investigations confirmed that the exit flue from each oven terminated in a rectangular brick-lined pit, positioned at the base of the adjacent chimney on its eastern and western sides respectively. In each example, a rectangular slot in the chimney base enabled heat, smoke etc. to pass into the stack. The remains of iron dampers and pulley mechanisms were also found in association with each pit, providing evidence of how the draw from the ovens was regulated. A steel plate was recorded in situ over the western pit and was probably an original feature; the eastern pit had been backfilled with an ashy loam."
Description courtesy of Jonathan Goodwin | Senior Planning Officer (Archaeology/HER) Heritage & Design | Housing, Development & Growth, City of Stoke-on-Trent
March 2021 News here>
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| Bottle oven - downdraught with separate chimney Clement Robey type Path of hot gasses shown in yellow Drawing: Terry Woolliscroft Collection |
Clement Robey's Patent Downdraught Oven
"Patented by Clement Robey, of Sunnybank, in the Parish of Wolstanton, in the County of Stafford, General Agent, Edward Banks and Thomas Forester, both of Hanley," British Patent No.970
Sealed the 26th August 1873, and dated the 15th March 1873.
Signed by Thomas Forester
Link to Robey's Patent: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=o-VOAQAAMAAJ&vq=970&pg=RA18-PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false
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| Robey's Patent Downdraught bottle oven The type at Phoenix Works, Longton |
It was claimed that this new design for the downdraught bottle oven would save 35 to 50% in fuel, would produce a more uniform finished product, and would reduce saggar losses. The flat floor to the oven helped during placing. Sampson Bridgwood Ltd. of Longton invested in Robey ovens in 1880 but by 1890 they described the alterations as a 'failure'. It was difficult to use.
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| Bottle oven - downdraught with separate chimney Clement Robey type as found at Phoenix Works, Longton Path of hot gasses shown in yellow Drawing: by Andy Perkin of Potteries Heritage Society in the style of Terry Woolliscroft Date: Aug 2021 |
Here is a recollection by Brian Milner about the tall chimneys at Phoenix Works
"We did have another smaller chimney [in addition to the tall chimney which still exists in 2020] which was in the three storey section which runs down the side of Baths Passage but that 'went for a burton' one night in the hurricane of October 1987 when it went through the roof and two floors plus nearly killing two guys who made kitchens and were renting a unit off me on the top floor. They were up there reinstating a window which had blown out, frame and all. "Lights went out and tons of black dust" is the report I received.
I had to get the tallest crane in the area to lift the middle section up through the holes. It weighed in at about 20 tons. The top section fell into the yard so that could be cleared more easily. I had the remaining part which stuck out above the roof demolished and tiled over.
I went to Phoenix Works at the height of the storm and was horrified to see the movement of the big one. At the base it was moving about 1 to 2 inches side to side. Fortunately it stayed up. I was afraid it may come down the next time and employed Rafferty's to chop 10 foot off the top and drop the bricks down inside the chimney." Brian Milner November 2020
Go to www.thomasforester.com Also try www.theglosthouse.co.uk
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| Phoenix Works, 500 King Street. Two surviving downdraught bottle ovens and the tall chimney Photos: Courtesy www.phoenix-works.co.uk/ Date: 2018 |
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| Phoenix Works, 500 King Street. The 'wicket' and showing how this 'skeleton oven' was constructed what3words.com/send.picked.shirt Photo: Terry Woolliscroft Collection Date: 2018 |
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| Phoenix Works, 500 King Street Wicket far left, and two firemouths what3words.com/send.picked.shirt Photo: Terry Woolliscroft Collection Date: 2018 |
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| Phoenix Works, 500 King Street Wicket what3words.com/send.picked.shirt Photo: Terry Woolliscroft Collection Date: 2018 |
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| Phoenix Works, 500 King Street Trial hole and bonts Photo: Terry Woolliscroft Collection Date: 2018 |
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| Phoenix Works, 500 King Street The blacksmith who made the bonts and other ironwork Photo: Terry Woolliscroft Collection Date: 2018 |
Phoenix Works 1961 - film by Brian Milner
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| Phoenix Works and rail tracks Photo: unknown source Date: 1960s |
Commerce Works, Commerce Street, ST3 1NW
[22a,b] Location: what3words.com/fumes.void.pines
National Heritage List for England as Grade II, first listed 07 March 1989
H. Aynsley & Co Ltd., Commerce Works. Formerly Chetham Pottery. Herbert James Aynsley: the eldest son of John Aynsley, went into business on his own account at the age of 22 in 1873 as a manufacturer of earthenware. The factory (previously belonging to the Chetham family) is located in Commerce Street, Longton.
H. Aynsley & Co Ltd., Commerce Works. Formerly Chetham Pottery. Herbert James Aynsley: the eldest son of John Aynsley, went into business on his own account at the age of 22 in 1873 as a manufacturer of earthenware. The factory (previously belonging to the Chetham family) is located in Commerce Street, Longton.
Two average sized updraught skeleton bottle ovens remain of the six originally on site. Average size. These two ovens date to the late 1800s. Some restoration in 2008 but one of the firing chambers has partly collapsed probably through vandalism and metalwork (bonts) being stolen. The crown damper from one of the ovens was rescued from a skip in the early 2010s by Paul Niblett, a volunteer at Gladstone Pottery Museum. It is now saved at Gladstone. In 2019 the works was subject of an arson attack.
The 1976 Bottle Oven Survey - the original rough working notes, details and images from the survey are available to view as a PDF file here> on a secure site. Note, based on current knowledge some of the details may be inaccurate.
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| H. Aynsley & Co Ltd., Commerce Works, Commerce Street Photo: Courtesy Phil Rowley Date: 2008 |
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| Bottle Ovens on fire in Commerce Street Probable arson attack Photo: Courtesy David Williams Date: 04 Dec 2019 |
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| Commerce Works, formerly Chetham Pottery, Commerce Street Photo: Andy Perkin, Potteries Heritage Society Date: Dec 2019 |
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| Commerce Works, Commerce Street. Inside the ovens Photos: Andy Perkin, Potteries Heritage Society Date: Dec 2019 |
Update 23 March 2023
An agreement has been reached with a developer to transform a derelict pottery factory site. OVI Homes has applied to turn the Crown Pottery Works, [and adjacent Commerce Works] Stoke-on-Trent, into 58 apartments designed for the over 55s.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-65050894120 Uttoxeter Road, ST3 1PS
[26a] Location: what3words.com/almost.wider.maple
National Heritage List for England as Grade II, first listed 20 August 1979
A very small calcining kiln. Thought to have been used for calcining both animal bone (for use in the pottery recipe for bone china) and flint (for use in the earthenware recipe). Built between 1937 and 1950.
A very small calcining kiln. Thought to have been used for calcining both animal bone (for use in the pottery recipe for bone china) and flint (for use in the earthenware recipe). Built between 1937 and 1950.
Surveyed in November 1975 as part of 'Operation Bottle' - the survey of the remaining bottle ovens and kilns in the Potteries. At the time of the survey the property was owned by W.J.Shenton and Son., manufacturers of 'Rustic Garden Furniture' and the kiln was used to burn off-cuts of timber.
The kiln was originally owned by Shaws and was part of the 'Willow Pottery' which manufactured earthenware. Shaws went out of business in the mid 1960s.
The kiln stands at about 34 ft high (about 10 m) with a maximum diameter at its base of about 9 ft (about 2.75 m).
The 1976 Bottle Oven Survey - the original rough working notes, details and images from the survey are available to view as a PDF file here> on a secure site. Note that, based on current knowledge, some of the details may be inaccurate.
Minkstone Works, Warren Street/Normacot Road, ST3 1QD
[27a] Location: what3words.com/dance.middle.votes
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| 120 Uttoxeter Road Calcining Kiln Photo: from 'Operation Bottle' survey Date: Nov 1975 |
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| 120 Uttoxeter Road Calcining Kiln Photo: from 'Operation Bottle' survey Date: May 1976 |
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| 120 Uttoxeter Road Calcining kiln Photo: unknown source Date: unknown |
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| 120 Uttoxeter Road Calcining Kiln Photo: Andy Perkin, Potteries Heritage Society Date: Nov 2019 |
Minkstone Works, Warren Street/Normacot Road, ST3 1QD
[27a] Location: what3words.com/dance.middle.votes
National Heritage List for England as Grade II, first listed 20 August 1979
Updraught skeleton bottle oven, used for both biscuit and glost bone china production. The firing chamber has 8 firemouths. The oven was originally surrounded in buildings (workshops) but these were demolished in the 1980s. The oven now stands alone and deteriorating fast.
Updraught skeleton bottle oven, used for both biscuit and glost bone china production. The firing chamber has 8 firemouths. The oven was originally surrounded in buildings (workshops) but these were demolished in the 1980s. The oven now stands alone and deteriorating fast.
Thought to have been built in the early 1940s but there may have been a pottery factory on the site by at least 1856. The oven was last fired in 1958.
The 1975/76 Bottle Oven Survey - the original rough working notes, details and images from the survey are available to view as a PDF file here> on a secure site. Note that, based on current knowledge, some of the details may be inaccurate.
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| Minkstone Works Corner of Warren Street and Normacot Road, Normacot Photo: Courtesy Phil Rowley Date: 2016 |
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| Minkstone Works Corner of Warren Street and Normacot Road, Normacot Photo source: 'Operation Bottle' Date: Nov 1975 |
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| Minkstone Works Photo: Andy Perkin, Potteries Heritage Society Date: Nov 2019 |
Sutherland Works, East, Normacot Road, ST3 1PS
[24b] Location: what3words.com/unit.loads.agents
National Heritage List for England as Grade II, first listed 20 August 1979
Two updraught stack, skeleton ovens. These two ovens are adjacent to the last oven ever to be fired in the Potteries (at The Hudson and Middleton factory, see below)
Two updraught stack, skeleton ovens. These two ovens are adjacent to the last oven ever to be fired in the Potteries (at The Hudson and Middleton factory, see below)
The factory was established by the firm of Skelson & Plant around 1873 and operated for much of its history by Hudson and Middleton.
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| Rear of Sutherland Works (East) Photo: courtesy Linden Cooke Date: January 2003 |
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| Sutherland Works Photo: Andy Perkin, Potteries Heritage Society Date: Dec 2019 |
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| Sutherland Works Photo: Andy Perkin, Potteries Heritage Society Date: Dec 2019 |
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| Sutherland Works Photo: Andy Perkin, Potteries Heritage Society Date: Dec 2019 |
Sutherland Works, West, Hudson and Middleton factory, Normacot Road, ST3 1PS
[24a] Location: what3words.com/issues.clear.myself
National Heritage List for England as Grade II, first listed 20 August 1979
Updraught skeleton type bottle oven. Sutherland Works. Bone china potbank. Site of the Last Bottle Oven Firing in 1978 (LBOF) more details about the firing here> https://lbof1978.blogspot.com/
Updraught skeleton type bottle oven. Sutherland Works. Bone china potbank. Site of the Last Bottle Oven Firing in 1978 (LBOF) more details about the firing here> https://lbof1978.blogspot.com/
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| Site of the Last Bottle Oven Firing - 1978 The last bottle oven to be fired is in the centre of the image. Hudson and Middleton (Longton) Ltd., Sutherland Works, Normacot Road, Longton Photo: Brian Colclough Collection. Taken from St. James Church tower, Uttoxeter Road, Longton |
The oven fired in the last firing stands away from 2 squatter-shaped ovens on the left of the photo. Originally 6 bottle ovens on this site.
The bottle oven used in the last firing was originally used for firing bone china biscuit pottery but for LBOF was used to fire glost earthenware so that finished pottery could be seen and sold. 8 firemouths. Number of saggars in the setting - 1174. Chosen for the LBOF for a number of reasons - It was in working order but when the 'fireman', Alfred Clough, was asked "can it be fired?" he paused. Then he declared "Yes ... Once!" It is close to the Gladstone Pottery Museum - about 250 yards away and it is relatively small and would consume no more than 12 tons of coal fuel. It is a good updraught bottle oven so was relatively easy to fire.
