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!
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!
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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
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| Gladstone Pottery Museum Anniversary 25 April 2015 Kevin Millward saggar making and his result! |
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| Many many thanks go to Valentine Clays of Hanley for their support of the celebrations |
More skills on show
photos: Terry Woolliscroft Collection
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| 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
Saturday 25 April 2015
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| The Gladstone Pottery Museum Story - Forty-Fied |
Forty Pottery Skills - on show 25 April 2015
A unique occasion - 40 skills to celebrate 40 years!
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The big tidy-up 27 April 2015
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| DVD includes film of the 40th Anniversary £17.99 from Gladstone's shop here> |