Gladstone Pottery Museum History: 40th Anniversary

Gladstone at 40 in 2015 - 'Forty-fied'

Not many can boast of TWO 40th Anniversaries - but Gladstone Pottery Museum certainly can!

The museum first opened to the public in August 1974 for a 'trial period'. Over the winter of 1974/5 the museum was closed for more restoration work and for the development of all new galleries. Then on 24th April 1975 the museum was opened again, but this time by Royalty - The Duke of Gloucester.

On Saturday 25 April 2015, the first Forty Years of Gladstone Working Pottery Museum was celebrated with forty pottery skills on display. The event was organised by Paul Niblett and Fred Greasley - volunteers who have worked at the museum since the potbank was rescued in 1971!

2 hours 20 minutes of archive films and interviews bringing Gladstone's past to life
DVD includes film of the 40th Anniversary £17.99 from Gladsone's shop here>

The 40th Anniversary Celebrations of the Official Opening and the VIP Celebration

Bottom Left : Paul Niblett and Fred Greasley
Top Right : Davis Sekers, the museum's first director

Some of the skills on show

photos: Terry Woolliscroft Collection

Gladstone Pottery Museum 40th Anniversary 25 April 2015
Kevin Millward using Valentine Clays in the Saggar Making demonstration

Movies by Valentine Clays, of Stoke-on-Trent

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siRsEeknUEg

This movie by Valentine Clays shows

potters who were amongst the first to demonstrate their skills when the museum opened in April 1975

Kevin Millward - Saggar making
Angela Verdon - Bone china bowls
David Rooke - Throwing 'old style'
Catherine Rooke - Sgraffito

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WATapP571U

Gladstone Pottery Museum Anniversary 25 April 2015
Kevin Millward saggar making and his result!

Many many thanks go to Valentine Clays of Hanley for their support of the celebrations

More skills on show

photos: Terry Woolliscroft Collection

Gladstone Pottery Museum 40th Anniversary 25 April 2015
Angela Verdon using Valentine Clays Ltd, Bone China to create her pots
photo: Valentine Clays

Around the museum photos from Pam Woolliscroft

Photos from Gary Cooper

Around the museum photos from Marie Graves

Around the museum photos from Phil Rowley

Not many can boast of TWO 40th Anniversaries - but Gladstone Pottery Museum can!

The museum first opened to the public in August 1974 for a 'trial period'. Over the winter of 1974/5 the museum was closed for more restoration work and for the development of galleries.

Then on 24th April 1975 the museum was opened again, but this time by Royalty - The Duke of Gloucester.

So we have enjoyed not one but two celebrations for Gladstone's 40th Birthday.

The first Forty Years of Gladstone Working Pottery Museum

Celebrating 40 Years with 40 Skills
Saturday 25 April 2015