Burslem Pottery

Burslem Pottery works from a small unit on Port Street in Burslem, producing hand-thrown stoneware in a style descended from the Martin Brothers' grotesque birds and animals popular in late Victorian ceramics. The pottery traces back to 1894 under founder C.F. Bailey, and potter Tracy Bentley revived the name and techniques in 2009 after buying the business and its original moulds, some shared with the old Cobridge Stoneware and Moorcroft ranges. Bentley throws, decorates and fires each piece herself, cutting sgraffito line work into the clay before glazing. Vases, lamp bases and decorative tiles make up most of the output, alongside the animal and bird forms the pottery is known for. The workshop opens Tuesday to Saturday until mid-afternoon, with other visits by appointment, and Bentley works largely alone, so stock levels in the small shop area stay limited.