Gladstone

Wednesday we visited Gladstone Pottery, Stoke on Trent, it's where they film The Pottery Throwdown, we delayed the visit from early June because of heavy rain.

 It's iconic chimneys and this well known view of courtyard from the programme. 

There are a total of 4 chimneys here, in an area of historic potteries, this is the only intact site left.

Inside the huge chimneys.

Huge metal bands on the outside of the kiln, still inside the chimney.

Hubby demonstrating the size inside, he is 6'2".

The site gives the history of Pottery making through the years, here the mould making and storage area.

So many slip moulds, all made on site.

Here a colour plate, to show the different shades.

The whole cabinate.

A mixture of tiles making a huge round.

We were given a site map and wondered around, taking as much time as we needed, it's a site for learning and we loved seeing a group of junior school children searching for information.

It was a dull dry day and a perfect couple of hours, we later went to the cultural area and visited The Potteries Centre and museum,  which was not so enjoyable.

YP, we did not visit anywhere else in Stoke, there are other potteries, Emma Bridgewater, Wedgwood and Moorcroft  which was sadly closed, we would have loved to take the tour. Its very interesting to learn the history of an area, as for shopping, forget it. We are driving home today, should be home mid afternoon.