Gladstone Pottery Museum, Industrial heritage museum in Longton, United Kingdom.
Gladstone Pottery Museum is a preserved Victorian pottery factory with multiple coal-fired kilns and original industrial-era manufacturing equipment still on site. The grounds display the complete layout of how ceramic production operated at scale, with kilns, workshops, and storage areas arranged together.
The factory began in 1787 under the Shelley family as a pottery works and was later named after politician William Ewart Gladstone. In 1974, the site became a museum and now documents how industrial production operated in this region.
${The museum reflects how pottery was central to family life and community identity in this area for centuries, with work and living spaces closely connected. These workshops show how deeply ceramic craft was woven into the daily routines and pride of local people.
Visitors can explore the factory on foot, with most spaces accessible and the layout straightforward to navigate. Workshops and guided tours are available where you can work hands-on or hear expert explanations of the production process.
The museum features a gallery called 'Flushed with Pride' that shows how bathroom fixtures were developed and made from ceramic materials. This collection is surprisingly varied and reveals how everyday items emerged from industrial manufacturing.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
