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[February 2010]
English Heritage and Prince's Regeneration Trust Offer to Save Middleport Pottery
The Prince’s Regeneration Trust (London, England), with the help of a substantial grant from English Heritage, has made an offer to acquire Middleport Pottery in Stoke-on-Trent (Staffs, England). It is the country’s last working Victorian pottery and home to around 40 jobs. Middleport has been producing high quality pottery and ceramics for over 100 years, including the world famous English traditional earthenware ‘Burleighware’ and has a unique collection of moulds and archives which date back at least 150 years.
In an area famous for its proud ceramic manufacturing industry, Middleport is one of few surviving potteries using traditional hand-applied designs, which are much prized by visitors and foreign buyers. The Trust said that it was making this announcement to reassure employees, suppliers and the local community that if the offer is accepted the Trust will bring in new investors to operate the pottery manufacturing business and the world renowned Burleigh brand will continue to be produced at the site.
With a new, sound financial foundation the plan is to grow the business over time. This will include the training and employment of additional skilled workers in a historically important industry that has lost thousands of regional jobs over the last half century. The imposing Grade II listed building, one of England’s earliest purpose-built industrial potteries, will also be restored to its former glory as a visitor attraction and space will be created on-site for small businesses.
Burgess Dorling and Leigh Ltd, which owns the pottery, entered into a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) in 2008. The Trust's offer to acquire the pottery is being put to the company’s creditors by the directors of Burgess Dorling and Leigh Ltd and KPMG, supervisors of its CVA.
Over the past 14 months English Heritage and the Trust have worked closely with local MP Joan Walley and the North Staffordshire Regeneration Agency to find a solution to secure the future of the pottery, assessing how the building, the craft skills and local jobs could all be saved.
Commenting on the project, Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive of The Prince’s Regeneration Trust, said: “We very much hope that Middleport Pottery will be saved. We have worked, with enormous support from English Heritage, for many months to secure the future of this site, which is of national heritage importance and provides highly-skilled jobs for local people. We are absolutely delighted to have been able to put forward an offer which not only preserves this hugely significant building, but also the time-honoured techniques and crafts that have been used by generations of potters and might have been lost forever.”
Dr Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage, said: “Middleport Pottery has a hugely important place in our national heritage. It is not only a building of unique importance that is currently at risk of being lost, it is home to a traditional British craft, the products of which are treasured and enjoyed around the world. English Heritage and The Prince’s Regeneration Trust are hopeful that our offer will be accepted, to safeguard the future of this important part of our heritage and the jobs it supports.”
Joan Walley MP, Stoke-on-Trent North, said: “Burgess Dorling and Leigh Ltd is one of the few remaining jewels in the crown of the Potteries' ceramics' heritage. I have worked hard to press for solutions to help retain a vital part of our heritage together with the jobs that go with it and that can only be in the best interests of our local economy. No one wanted to see the Company in a Company Voluntary Arrangement, but I appreciate help from English Heritage and The Prince's Regeneration Trust to find a way forward.”
Councillor Hazel Lyth, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, cabinet member for economic development and culture, said: “The Middleport Pottery is an important part of Stoke-on-Trent’s heritage. We welcome The Prince’s Regeneration Trust’s work to save the Company, keep the jobs and maintain the traditional skills and techniques they use. We look forward to working with English Heritage and the Trust so the business can successfully operate in the future.”
www.princes-regeneration.org
ENDS