Middleport Pottery site recruits staff for Jubilee orders

Denby Pottery firm has taken on 10 extra staff to help it produce commemorative plates for the Jubilee

The UK's last working Victorian pottery factory, which was saved by the Prince's Regeneration Trust, has taken on 10 recruits for the Queen's Jubilee.

Middleport Pottery in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, has recruited more staff to cope with commemorative china orders.

It has a long history of marking royal events and created chinaware for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897.

The charity pledged to invest £7.5m to regenerate the factory and safeguard the jobs of 45 workers.

Jubilee plates

Middleport Pottery has been producing hand-made Burleigh blue and white floral china since 1888 and also produced commemorative china for the coronations of King Edward VI and Queen Alexandra.

The factory was taken over by Derbyshire's Denby Pottery firm and the Grade II listed building itself was secured by the Prince's Regeneration Trust fund to help create a visitor and education centre, shop and cafe.

Middleport Pottery is producing a new Burleigh line to commemorate Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee, which is being celebrated nationwide in June.

The commemorative plates come in blue and white or plum and white and are currently being fired in kilns.

Denby managing director Garry Biggs said Burleigh sales had risen by 16% in the past 12 months, in particular due to increased demand in its overseas markets.