Middleport Pottery

About

Middleport Pottery is an award-winning visitor destination in the heart of the Potteries. World famous Burleigh Pottery has been created here using traditional methods since 1889. Middleport Pottery is a great day out for all the family.

Heritage Tour

Includes: Heritage Offices, Steam Engine, Grade II listed Bottle Kiln, Ceramic Design Archive and Harper Street.

Step back in time to explore and learn all about Middleport Pottery. Visit the mould store which houses Europe’s largest collection of ceramic moulds. View the beautiful showroom which showcases Burleigh ware produced over the years. Walk around the original Victorian offices and learn about the people and events which have shaped Burleigh Pottery. You will also see the historic steam engine which once powered the whole factory and step inside our grade II listed bottle kiln - one of only 46 remaining in the city. Take a look at this iconic reminder of the city’s great industrial heritage. 

“How we lived at Harper Street” is part of the Heritage Tour. The end terrace house typifies pottery workers’ houses built in Stoke-on-Trent in the late 1800’s. Known as the “Lodge Keepers House”, it retains much of its original layout and depicts how it would have looked iduring the 1950s.

Factory Tour

Book on one of Middleport Pottery's unique factory tours and you will see the Burleigh Pottery being made using the same handcraft methods as in the 1880s. The tour will take you step-by-step through each stage of production in sequence, showing how a lump of clay is skilfully transformed into a finished piece of pottery using traditional methods. Middleport's team of friendly volunteers will guide you around the tour and are on hand to answer any questions, bringing the history to life. 

Middleport Pottery also offers a wide range of events and activities including lectures, creative workshops, special events, school holiday crafts and artisan markets.

 

Middleport Pottery is also home to the Burleigh Factory Shop, Re-Form Heritage Shop Clay College and Middleport Studios. The Packing House Café is also located on-site overlooking the Trent & Mersey Canal and serves good quality, wholesome food that includes local specialties such as oatcakes. They also offer specialist Afternoon Teas (booking required), which are all served on beautiful Burleigh pottery.