Great preserver

... jar upon jar of 'colours' used in the pottery industry from a hundred years ago.

Lots of people will descend upon Gladstone Pottery Museum this Easter weekend - because it's a fun place (believe it or not) with its maze of courtyards & outbuildings and quirky displays.

However, it does have a serious purpose too, as preserver of the history of this once-pervasive industry.  As this display shows.

Doulton deserted

The industrial area of north Staffordshire was - and sometimes still is - known as the 'Potteries', because of the importance  pottery manufacture used to play in employment. Not so any more. This photo of the once-famous, now derelict Royal Doulton works in Burslem is a good illustration of that.

There is still a lot of ceramics expertise in the area, and more small businesses in pottery manufacture than you might think - but the heyday is gone.