Middleport Pottery

Middleport Pottery

Explore a Victorian pottery, see traditional Burleigh production, and support heritage conservation, learning, and creative community life today.

OUR EXPERIENCES

Middleport Pottery is a charity-owned Grade II*-listed, award-winning heritage attraction in the heart of Stoke-on-Trent. Visitors can take Factory Tours of the world-famous Burleigh Pottery and witness the traditional tissue-transfer process used in continuous production. The Heritage Trail explores factory life in the Victorian era and life in the Potteries during the 1950s on Harper Street. Middleport Pottery also offers an award-winning formal learning programme for schools and volunteering opportunities ranging from tour guiding to collections management.

ABOUT US

Middleport Pottery is a charity-owned, award-winning heritage visitor attraction. It is the UK’s last working Victorian potbank and offers visitors Factory Tours, a Virtual Factory Tour, a Heritage Trail, an onsite café, and local independent traders.

IMPACT

Middleport Pottery was saved from closure and underwent substantial renovation before opening as a heritage visitor attraction in 2014. It offers a formal learning programme, is home to several educational institutions, and serves as a centre for creative businesses.

The site expanded in 2022 to include Harper Street, a row of restored terraced houses opposite the pottery. These now accommodate an exhibition space depicting life in the 1950s, offices, the museum collection area, workshops, retail units, and a community hub.

Middleport Pottery and Harper Street sit within the Trent & Mersey Canal conservation area, recognized for its outstanding national and local industrial archaeological importance. Sustainability improvements include upgraded heating sources, energy-efficient lighting, solar panels, and new doors in heritage areas to improve climate control.

DETAILS

To learn more, contact: Info@re-form.org

What are your minimum and maximum group sizes?

Minimum 2; maximum 10.

Do you require visitors to pre-book?

Yes, pre-booking is required.

Do you have group rates?

Yes.

Do you pay commissions to travel advisors?

No.

What languages do you offer your services in?

English.

When are you open?

Monday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm. Christmas closures apply; see the website for details.

What accommodations do you make for people living with disabilities?

The Virtual Factory Tour, Heritage Trail, and café are accessible, and a Changing Places facility is available onsite. The learning programme accommodates SEND groups through onsite experiences or visits from a member of the learning team to their local school. For full accessibility information, visit: https://re-form.org/heritage-buildings/middleport-pottery/accessibility/