Smithfield Pottery Works, Mollart St, Hanley

The Smithfield Works was built in 1880 as a pottery decorating factory operated by Chas. Barlow & Co. The name of the works came about because it was built on the site of the old Hanley livestock market: in England meat and animal markets have been commonly referred to as 'the Smithfield' since medieval times. The site was acquired by H&W Billington in 1907 for the production of china and earthenware. In 1929 it was purchased by Robert Sherwin, brush manufacturer who operated at the Smithfield Works until the business closed down in 1984. The pottery works was included in a slum clearance program by the City Council in 1977 and by 1982 all the surrounding Victorian terraced cottages had been demolished. However, following representations from the public the Smithfield Works was saved; the only plain-topped 'short-neck' bottle oven in the range in the Potteries to have survived, it was a fine example of a small self-contained late C19th potbank complete with hovel and muffle kiln. After conversion it became Donovan's Wine Bar for a short time, then Chimneys restaurant and jazz club in 1993. When that closed in 1999 the Grade II listed building lay empty for a decade but was purchased and restored by Messrs. Keys Estate Agents who are proud to maintain the buidlings for future generations. 'RoidWeek Spring 2023 Day 3. Taken with a 1976 Polaroid SX-70 Land Camera Alpha 1 on Polaroid (TIP) film

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