The last Bottle Oven firing in 1978

For education purposes only. Detailing the last ever firing of a Bottle Oven in Stoke on Trent.

[@tallslimguy]

I found this so sad - All the expertise and craftsmanship never to be passed on - 6 towns with such an amazing history and heritage more or less lost forever 😢

[@Judith46795]

😢Dirty places. My father was a kiln manager. Up to his knees in white dust. Died of lung disease as also did his sister who worked on the pots

[@steamgent4592]

Awesome film. What a shame it's gone and not done anymore. The proper way with coal!

[@alisonshale5599]

Brilliant

[@mickricereto8012]

Big Alf's Last. Wow. A quick search reveals Big Alf Clough to be the fire man on the day. Please tell me this particular kiln is still standing. When the pestilence finally clears I hope to make it up to these towns and take in whatever is left to see.

[@swordfishradio]

Mick, the factory closed suddenly a few years ago now but I believe the ovens are still standing. No bottle ovens are allowed to be destroyed now as they all have preservation orders on them. Sadly some in the city are in really poor condition and may well collapse anyway. The best preserved are at Gladstone and are truly amazing! As there were so many years ago (over 2000), occasionally old footings still get discovered when digging car parks and the like. Stoke is a city saturated in pottery quite literally.

[@alisonfayers-kerr9089]

I went to Gladstone Pottery Museum yesterday. Can’t wait to go back with more leisure to look at the abandoned Victorian buildings and remnants of the pottery industry. Incredible!

[@swordfishradio]

@@alisonfayers-kerr9089 Thanks for you comments. Stoke used to be full of old Victorian Potteries but sadly not many survive today. I used to work in one of the largest in Tunstall (WH Grindley / Woodland Pottery). It was huge, multiple floors and underground as well. Its now sadly completely gone and replace by Tunstall Asda!

[@mallikabuckle8373]

Does anyone know the name of the song at the start?

[@swordfishradio]

The song is called "The Final Firing" and was played by "His Worship and the Pig". The full album is on the following link daveboulton.bandcamp.com/album/china-town