Gladstone Pottery Museum

Gladstone Pottery Museum A welcoming museum which tells the story of the life and work of North Staffordshire potters. We have 4 large 'bottle ovens' and a smaller enamel kiln.
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Gladstone Pottery Museum stands on a site where pottery has been made for hundreds of years in the heart of the area known as the 'Potteries' in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. The museum is a preserved Victorian pottery, saved from demolition by volunteers over 40 years ago. Several of those volunteers are still active on site and are invaluable in helping with site maintenance and events. Later t

he ownership and running of the museum was tranferred from a trust to Stoke-on-Trent City Council. Gladstone China was never a household name but the site is important as it is seen as the only complete surviving example of a medium sized factory. As a museum it has been a popular attraction for many years and delights visitors from the local area and all over the world. It features original workshops (where pottery skills are demonstrated), a stable, steam engine (worked by electric), a cobbled courtyard, Victorian Doctor's House, Tile Gallery and Flushed with Pride - a permanent exhibition dedicated to the humble loo! These were used to coal-fire pottery and are some of the 46 which remain of the thousands which once dominated the local skyline.

One of our young visitors was inspired by their recent visit to Gladstone to build their own bottle oven from Lego, even...
11/06/2026

One of our young visitors was inspired by their recent visit to Gladstone to build their own bottle oven from Lego, even including the saggars in the kiln.

We all think this is amazing, well done Eli!

We have a few places left on our Raku workshops with Huw Phillips on Fri 19 June. In this 2-hour workshop, you can learn...
11/06/2026

We have a few places left on our Raku workshops with Huw Phillips on Fri 19 June. In this 2-hour workshop, you can learn about the traditional Japanese art of Raku and use a range of glazes to decorate 2 pots for firing.

Please call 01782 237777 to book and pay for places. Tickets are £65 each, all materials are provided and your ticket includes free admission to the rest of the museum for the day plus complimentary tea/coffee & cake. Workshops at 10am – 12pm or 1.30pm-3.30pm.

10/06/2026

Today we remember the victims of the destruction of Lidice on 10 June 1942.

Local miners helped lead the Lidice Shall Live campaign, creating a bond between North Staffordshire and the Czech village that endures to this day.

Create your own piece of Stoke-on-Trent heritage inside the historic Gladstone Pottery Museum on Satur-day 18 July. In t...
10/06/2026

Create your own piece of Stoke-on-Trent heritage inside the historic Gladstone Pottery Museum on Satur-day 18 July. In this relaxed, beginner-friendly workshop, you’ll hand-build your very own ceramic bottle kiln—perfect as a keepsake, gift, or tribute to the city’s iconic skyline.

Set within one of the UK’s last remaining Victorian pottery factories, this is a chance to get hands-on with clay in a space where ceramics history was made.

No experience needed—just come along, have a laugh, and surprise yourself with what you can make.

Your piece will be professionally fired and ready to collect from the museum once finished (please allow approx. 6–8 weeks).

Tickets £35 and includes tea/coffee/cake and free admission into the museum. Workshops at 10am – 12pm and 1 – 3pm.

08/06/2026
Our Gladstone aprons are back in stock this week. Made from unbleached cotton drill and printed with a bottle oven desi...
08/06/2026

Our Gladstone aprons are back in stock this week. Made from unbleached cotton drill and printed with a bottle oven design, they’re £15.99 each and make a great gift or souvenir.

Pop in and have a look, we’re open Wednesday-Sunday or for mail order email [email protected]

Keep an eye out for more information on our plans for culture and heritage in Stoke-on-Trent announced as part of our ...
06/06/2026

Keep an eye out for more information on our plans for culture and heritage in Stoke-on-Trent announced as part of our celebrations.

On Stoke-on-Trent Day we’re celebrating the people, places and traditions that make our city what it is.

We’re proud of our heritage and we’re continuing our work to protect it – restoring historic buildings, regenerating heritage sites and growing our world-class museum collections.

But our identity isn’t just rooted in the past – today’s culture is the heritage of tomorrow.

That’s why we want to bring culture and heritage together in a new approach for the city.

And culture isn’t just galleries and theatres. It’s Northern Soul, oatcakes, your local pub and the everyday things people here instantly recognise as part of Stoke-on-Trent life.

You may even spot a familiar face from last year helping us celebrate what makes our city unique.

We are one city. One culture. One heritage. One Stoke.

What is the dream artist residency for Stoke? Anna Francis and Rebecca Davies from The Portland Inn Project with Ben Mil...
04/06/2026

What is the dream artist residency for Stoke? Anna Francis and Rebecca Davies from The Portland Inn Project with Ben Miller from The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery will host a conversation for artists, creative practitioners and researchers to ask this question.

If you are an artist with experience of artist residencies, or a creative person who would love to do one, this event will be for you so join us at the museum on Friday 26 June, 6.30 – 8.30pm. Free. To book a place please follow this link https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-potteries-museum-art-gallery-dreaming-of-an-artists-residency-tickets-1990480840777?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Please note that access to the museum will be via the café entrance by the Spitfire Gallery.

Address

Uttoxeter Road
Longton
ST31PQ

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 11am - 4pm

Website

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