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Report - - Acme Marls, Stoke-on-Trent - June 2019 | Industrial Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - Acme Marls, Stoke-on-Trent - June 2019

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MotionlessMike

28DL Regular User
Regular User
The former Acme Marls site in Burslem, which opened in 1932, produced kiln furniture for the industry such as shelves and saggars. Marls was bought out in 2000 by J&J Dyson and production was moved away from the Bourne Bank site. The factory was largely demolished years ago but there are a few bits left to see and is well worth a visit if you're interested in the pottery industry.

The site around the time of closure in 2000;

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The main attraction here are the 3 last surviving 'down-draught' bottle kilns which are Grade II listed - interesting to see a planning application for residential use taped to a nearby lamp post. Unsure how the kilns would fit in to such an area?

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There was evidence of squatting inside the kilns, but he looks to have been recently ousted after a tidy up by the council.

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A smaller kiln inside

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Over the road from the kilns sit a few remaining buildings used by Acme Marls, although the date stone on the outside read 1880 so I imagine it's part of an even older works

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There wasn't much to see inside, but it was quite photogenic in a crumbling Victorian pottery kind of way

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One thing of interest was spotted after taking a quick look into the very flooded basement - huge piles of unglazed spoils poking out of the water, since Acme Marls didn't produce this I can only assume another company used some of the buildings for a time after..?

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dweeb

28DL Regular User
Regular User
Fair do's mate I've had a right poke round there years ago and never seen that unglazed ware before.

I believe that building was indeed another potter, not part of Acme.

Been derelict for 20 odd years now.
 

Yorrick

A fellow of infinite jest
28DL Full Member
Well captured. They're in remarkable nick considering their history.

interesting to see a planning application for residential use taped to a nearby lamp post. Unsure how the kilns would fit in to such an area?

When consulted the council said “that it would be a positive to see the site developed for residential re-development subject to the retention and sympathetic treatment of the Grade II listed kilns.”

However the proposal suggests – “Overall the scheme ….. will improve the access and views if the kilns…”

Nothing about sympathetic treatment.

It seems the application has stalled at the moment as their are no plans for conservation, as required by the National Planning Policy Framework.
 

MotionlessMike

28DL Regular User
Regular User
Fair do's mate I've had a right poke round there years ago and never seen that unglazed ware before.

I believe that building was indeed another potter, not part of Acme.

Been derelict for 20 odd years now.

I'm sure I've seen a photo somewhere of an Acme 'investor in people' plaque in one of the buildings across the road?

Makes sense it was part of someone else's works though with it being from 50 years prior!
 

raisinwing

28DL Regular User
Regular User
The bottle kilns are listed buildings, along with the other 44 around the city. However, this doesn't seem to afford them much protection with several in terrible condition nowadays.

If there was some sort of residential development here, I would anticipate them incorporating the bottle kilns in the same way as they have at the former Johnson Bros. Trent Works. At the top end of Kiln View near the canal.
 

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