Description
FORTYSEVEN: The Last Bottle Ovens and Bottle Kilns of The Potteries
Celebrating the heritage of The Potteries, this beautiful 68 page softback book accompanies the photographic exhibition, Fortyseven, that displayed last summer.
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.”
Foreword by Stoke pottery historian Terry Woolliscroft.
The definitive publication of the remaining kilns and ovens.
Soft back. 68pp incl. cover. 280x215mm. 83 unique images.
ISBN 9781399948029
Paul Bolam (verified owner) –
Wonderful book for two reasons. Firstly the photos are excellent, ranging from showing these marvellous buildings as impressively imposing, cheerfully knockabout or wistful and melancholically beautiful. Even if you are familiar with some of these scenes drone photography and excellent compositions will give you a different perspective.
Secondly, it is an important record of a part of our industrial heritage that is decaying. Some of this neglect makes for a beautiful photograph, but it’s important to record it, while we still have it.
Graham Gemmell (verified owner) –
Bittersweet!! Some stunning images and much pertinent information. All credit to Phil Crow for having found such beauty in the sadness that is the remnants of a once mighty, global industry brought down.
I am old enough to (just) remember the skyline of Stoke dotted with literally hundreds of bottle kilns and ovens. The smears of smoke and steam that spread across the horizon! The flare of flames as the potbanks and steelworks let out some huge belch of energy! And the creeping sadness as I watched the industry that supported many thousands of families gradually diminish and teeter on the edge of destruction.
The grandeur of the architecture of industry is captured perfectly here, not least because that architecture has made the transition from practical to beautiful whilst at the same time decaying! Mr Crow’s photography shows us how vital it is to capture such images before they are taken away for ever. By gravity, by the encroachment of vegetation, by corporate and municipal neglect…..but mostly, by the inability of many to see the importance and beauty of what is there before us. With any luck this exhibition and book will enable many who do not have my own immediate, emotional link to the pottery industry’s infrastructure to see and appreciate the importance of the bricks and mortar landscape of The Potteries.
Phil Crow needs to be congratulated….and thanked for this splendid book.
Chris Anderson –
Fabulous book with beautiful photographs of our pottery heritage. As a Stokie who has lived abroad for many years now this is a wonderful reminder of all that Stoke-on-Trent once was famous for. I have always been proud of The Potteries, my dad worked in the industry for most of his life after the war, I visited many when working as a careers officer, and this is a very beautiful reminder of all of our history. Lots of information and extremely interesting, a book to treasure!