What's On At Gladstone Pottery Museum

We have some interesting talks and film showings coming up at the museum in the next few months.

Local History Films - Saturday 18 January Join us for a showing of local film clips, including pottery production and mining. Introduced by local historian and museum volunteer Phil Rowley.  All films shown are available to watch on the internet and full details and links will be provided.

Bound by Clay Film Showing - Saturday 25 January Watch Stoke and North Staffs Women's Network's 'Bound by Clay', a film about women who currently work or have worked in the pottery industry. They describe their day-to-day experiences, the camaraderie and the skilful processes they developed. It uniquely documents aspects of Stoke-on-Trent's infamous industrial and cultural heritage from a female perspective.

Seed Chocolate Talk – The History and Future of Chocolate - Saturday 8 February Discover the history of chocolate from our premium chocolate producing neighbours Seed Chocolate and find out more about their ethical business.

Bone to Bone China – The Story of a Potters’ Mill 1857 to 2020 -  Saturday 21 March Bernard Lovatt is a volunteer at Shirley’s 1857 Bone and Flint Mill in Etruria, the only remaining operational steam powered potters’ mill in the world and a scheduled monument of national importance. He will speak about the processing and milling of materials required to mix with clay to make pottery, especially bone, flint and china stone necessary to make English Bone China. Samples of materials can be handled and a video of the mill in operation will be shown.

The Duchess of Sutherland Cripples Guild Talk - Saturday 4 April Did you know that in the grounds of the Trentham Estate there was once a factory that produced the most exquisite silver and silver plated metal ware? In existence for only twenty very successful years, with a shop in Bond Street and a clientele that included Queen Victoria and most of British Aristocracy, the company known as The Duchess of Sutherland  Cripples Guild was the pioneering project of the Last Duchess who lived in Trentham Hall .Millicent Sutherland Leveson Gower was a Society beauty but also a socialist who's history is joined at the hip with our six towns. Come and find out more about this amazing woman and enjoy a unique opportunity to see a private collection of Cripples Guild ware.

Please call us on 01782 237777 to book a place on any of these talks. They are all free to attend (normal admission applies to the rest of the museum) and begin at 11.30 am in our Twyford Room.

Please note that the lift in our main building is currently out of order and access is via a flight of stairs.