Suspended animation...?
Part of the mould store at the defunct Spode pottery. Josiah Spode invented the bone china process and went on to produce the very finest pieces of this type of pottery.
Back in 2008 the Spode factory shut without notice, just before Christmas, when the parent company went into administration.
When I mad e a "behind the scenes" visit in 2014 things were exactly as the day the workers were shut out, personal items still on the work benches, etc. It really was not looking good, however, small group of volunteers had a dream to create and expand the tiny museum and, from reports, it looks like they succeeded. The site was purchased by the City Council to stop speculative destruction and development, which unfortunately, has not happened in other places.
The room in this shot was absolutely crammed with moulds for the fine ceramics produced here; it was destined for demolition and I've no idea what happened- I must make a return visit.
I understand that this now Conservative (formerly part of the Red Wall) area has been granted £10 Million "Levelling Up" money to smarten up three buildings, one of which is the Spode site. I'm not sure, when you balance that up against all the shit we've been dealt since 2017, that it's much of a bargain.
Benefits of Brexit, eh?
Suspended animation...?
Part of the mould store at the defunct Spode pottery. Josiah Spode invented the bone china process and went on to produce the very finest pieces of this type of pottery.
Back in 2008 the Spode factory shut without notice, just before Christmas, when the parent company went into administration.
When I mad e a "behind the scenes" visit in 2014 things were exactly as the day the workers were shut out, personal items still on the work benches, etc. It really was not looking good, however, small group of volunteers had a dream to create and expand the tiny museum and, from reports, it looks like they succeeded. The site was purchased by the City Council to stop speculative destruction and development, which unfortunately, has not happened in other places.
The room in this shot was absolutely crammed with moulds for the fine ceramics produced here; it was destined for demolition and I've no idea what happened- I must make a return visit.
I understand that this now Conservative (formerly part of the Red Wall) area has been granted £10 Million "Levelling Up" money to smarten up three buildings, one of which is the Spode site. I'm not sure, when you balance that up against all the shit we've been dealt since 2017, that it's much of a bargain.
Benefits of Brexit, eh?