The Last Bottle Ovens and Kilns of The Potteries
An exhibition by photographer Phil Crow with Keele University and incorporating images from The Warrillow Collection held in Keele University Library’s special collections
exhibition dates
21 April – 21 May 2023
Keele University Chancellors Gallery, Chancellors Building
Free Entry. Monday to Saturday 9am-7pm, Sunday 10am-4pm
Free parking after 5pm on weekdays, Free parking at the weekend
27 May – 30 July 2023
Gladstone Pottery
in the “Great Pottery Throw Down” Room
(museum admission charges apply)
18 August – 17 September 2023
Middleport Pottery
in the hovel of the Bottle Oven
(free entry to the bottle oven)
At the height of the pottery industry, the skyline of Stoke-on-Trent was dominated by thousands of bottle ovens.
Before the outbreak of war in 1939, more than 2000 had been documented.
The Clean Air Act of 1956 was the beginning of the end for these iconic buildings and by 1964 only 20 were still operable.
Currently, 47 bottle shaped structures remain in 27 locations.
“The difference in condition is astounding. Some are loved, most are not, but they are all beautiful in their own way.”
A photographic exhibition that celebrates the heritage of The Potteries.
This exhibition shows the dark beauty of a bygone industry in a modern world and,
thanks to the Warrillow Collection, also depicts a thriving industry back in its heyday.
NOW AVAILABLE
FORTYSEVEN: The Last Bottle Ovens and Kilns of The Potteries
A new photographic book to accompany the exhibition with additional images showing more details documenting the remaining ovens and kilns.
This first edition is on a limited run of 100 copies
what people are saying about FORTYSEVEN...
28/05/2023
May I say how much I enjoyed your show at the Gladstone. Great photos, great juxta-positioning with the Warrillow prints, and – actually – very evocative. It saddens me to reflect on how our industrial heritage has been neglected and recording what is left is clearly important – and you have done this here with the eye of an artist, a different take of the usual architectural / historical record.
18/05/2023
Visited twice. Being of a certain age found the exhibition brought back memories of how Stoke was in the 50’s
This exhibition is sponsored by
Commercial & editorial photographer and drone pilot for creative images. Located in Lincoln and working throughout the UK, my images are used for company reports, brochures, advertising & exhibitions
