Hidden factory

I can't help admiring the way that the JCB Earthmovers factory at Uttoxeter is so beautifully concealed. It is deliberate of course: a great desire to disturb the visual environmental as little as possible is the motivation.

Factory makes Biennial

The British Ceramic Biennial comes to an end on Sunday - the exhibition, which highlights contemporary work in the ceramics world, has been taking place over the last few weeks.

Frankly, I wasn't that impressed this year; everything seemed a bit flat, and the exhibits and ideas were a little underwhelming.   But, once again, it was the venue that saved the day - the now empty and decayed Spode factory in Stoke, which housed the show, is fascinating in itself.

Camouflagued factory

The factories owned by JCB always fill me with admiration.  In Staffordshire we have three – at Rocester, Cheadle and Uttoxeter (all close to each other) but each is beautifully designed to ‘damp’ down their effect on the skyline.

The places in which they are sited (except for the Uttoxeter one perhaps) are deep in countryside, and I think it’s great how the company has been sensitive to the way that buildings can spoil the view – so they have done their best to keep them camouflaged.  Even the garish gold-yellow sign is almost sun-like.

This one is the Cheadle factory.