Tag Archives: Gladstone Pottery Museum

Wednesday 9 April – Staffordshire Pottery and Oatcakes

Easter 2025, , , ,

Distance travelled: 15 miles (by boat from Westport Lake Visitor Moorings to Upper Burston Bridge No 86)

Map showing a selected route with labeled roads, towns, and landmarks in a rural area. A highlighted path in blue indicates the direction of travel. Key locations are marked with icons, including points of interest and navigation directions.
All our canal route planning came from CanalPlan

Locks: 15. Total so far: 46

Today we learnt that Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire are called ‘The Potteries’, because loads of the pottery people used to use came from here. We even went past one of most famous potteries of all – Wedgwood.

We didn’t stop there to learn about all things ceramic but instead we went to the Gladstone Pottery Museum, which is where they film the Great Pottery Throwdown, my sister’s favourite show ever. She didn’t know we were going so it was a surprise. She screamed a bit when she realised where we were.

Inside the museum there were huge old bottle kilns and loads of clay things. We couldn’t actually make anything, but that didn’t stop us pretending.

Four children participate in a pottery class, each working at a pottery wheel. They are concentrated and engaged, wearing colorful clothing in a bright, spacious studio. A sign reading "No Entry" is visible nearby, indicating the area might be restricted. Shelves filled with pottery supplies and finished pieces are in the background.
Four children are engaged in a hands-on activity at a worktable in a bright, spacious room. They are interacting with materials, with equipment and tools visible around them. A "No Entry" sign is prominently displayed in the foreground, indicating restricted access. The setting resembles a workshop or educational space designed for creative projects.
Four children are engaged in a hands-on activity inside a workshop. They are standing at a long workbench, each focused on a task, while one child raises their hand enthusiastically. The room is bright and filled with various tools and materials, with a "No Entry" sign visible in the foreground.

Afterwards we got something called Staffordshire oatcakes for lunch. I had mine with peanut butter and jam. It looked like a pancake but was way better than a pancake. Very yum.

A riverbank scene featuring a calm, muddy waterway lined with lush greenery and trees. A large bird, possibly a heron, stands on a branch extending over the water. The sky is clear with bright sunlight illuminating the landscape.

Later on, we had to stop to fill up the water tank, and while the grown-ups were sorting that we found a playground nearby. There was also a funfair but the adults said no and we were all like “awwwwww come on” but it didn’t work. Still, we had a good runabout.

We finished the day moored near a place called Burston. There were some super posh houses around. It was really quiet though, and peaceful.

A tranquil scene featuring a winding path alongside a calm canal, bordered by lush greenery. In the background, a quaint white house and a stone bridge can be seen, with a church spire visible above the trees. The sky is clear and blue, suggesting a sunny day.