Last still-working Victorian pottery hits milestone

Middleport Pottery was built by Burgess & Leigh and remains home to the world-famous Burleigh Pottery

A charity that owns the UK’s only continuously-working Victorian pottery factory is celebrating a decade of being a heritage visitor attraction.

Middleport Pottery in Stoke-on-Trent was built by Burgess & Leigh in the late 19th century, and remains home to the world-famous Burleigh Pottery.

It was opened to the public for the first time in June 2014, after being acquired by the Prince’s Regeneration Trust in 2011 to save it from closure.

In 2019, current owner Re-Form Heritage was given independence from the trust after the building's substantial remodelling and renovation.

Re-Form Heritage has continued to develop the site – including restoring a series of terraced houses on Harper Street, opposite the main entrance.

In May 2022, new workshop space for creative businesses was opened, alongside a community hub, an archive store for the Burleigh archive and additional office space.

The charity said that in 2023 more than 50,000 visited the Grade II* listed pottery site.

Middleport Pottery was opened to the public for the first time in June 2014 after being saved from closure in 2011

Chief executive Alasdair Brooks said: “The tenth anniversary of the completion of the regeneration of Middleport Pottery, and its opening to the public as a heritage attraction and creative hub, marks a significant moment for the site, for heritage regeneration efforts in Stoke-on-Trent, and for Re-Form Heritage.

“We welcome the opportunity to invite the public to help us celebrate this important anniversary while we reflect on how this can inform the expansion of heritage regeneration efforts in this amazing city.”