The last bottle-ovens and ceramic kilns of Longton

About

To celebrate Heritage Open Days there will be an illustrated talk covering the bottle-ovens and kilns which survive in Longton.

At the peak of the ceramic industry in the late 19th and early 20th century around 2000 bottle-ovens were located in the city, together with a large number of calcining kilns used to prepare raw materials such as flint and bone-ash and decorating ovens. We also had many beehive ovens used for firing bricks and tiles: sadly, not one of these survives.
Most of the surviving bottle-ovens from the traditional ceramic industry in Stoke-on-Trent are located in Longton, the southern-most of the SIX towns which make up the city. We also have one calcining kiln formerly used for flint and the only traditional type of decorating ('muffle') kiln remaining in the city.

As part of a survey of all the ovens and kilns in the city, it was discovered only a few years ago that a pair of ovens - formerly thought to be of the usual 'updraught' type - were discovered to be of a unique 'downdraught' type with complicated underfloor flue systems.
11am – 12.30pm. Free, Limited spaces, please call 01782 232323 or emailmuseumevents@stoke.gov.uk to book.