Despite living in the dream that is Stoke-On-Trent it had been a while since I had visited any of the local landmarks. So, after a trip to another pottery factory, a sewer and a well known fried chicken outlet I found myself inside this local beauty. I was overcome with a bout of paranoia about being stabbed by a drug fuelled nutter whilst here.
J H Weatherby initially set up a factory in Tunstall but shortly after in 1892 he moved to the Falcon Works in Hanley. The company initially made wash basins and large earthernware pieces but as time went on it went more into the tableware and giftware market and finally into the hospitality sector. The company was faily owned until the bitter end in 2000 when the company was wound up. The great great grandson of the founder of the company continued at the Falcon works with a very small staff team for a brief period post the 2000 closure. This factory was in the news recently after one of the 1906 kilns collapsed, the council tried to blame metal theives, I doubt that would be the cause....
Anyway it's a pretty trashed place now but with a few gems to see, on with the photos.
you don't see that very often sadly
the markings on the base of an un-fired bowl
I do like a good bit of random machinary
Not sure what this is, was in a large mechanical mixer
trolly and kiln.
Driers, small and large
the collapsed kiln to the left. Metal theft would not cause this as the bracing is lower down and intact. Lack of maintenance is the likely cause
freaky face!
lonely chair shot.....only it's not a chair it's a thing
Mount Vernon, defo not in Stoke
Some of the burned bit
Hanley skyline from the top floor (now roofless)
Looking up to a very sodden floor
Looking out to the main courtyard
hmmmm maybe not
Thanks for looking.
J H Weatherby initially set up a factory in Tunstall but shortly after in 1892 he moved to the Falcon Works in Hanley. The company initially made wash basins and large earthernware pieces but as time went on it went more into the tableware and giftware market and finally into the hospitality sector. The company was faily owned until the bitter end in 2000 when the company was wound up. The great great grandson of the founder of the company continued at the Falcon works with a very small staff team for a brief period post the 2000 closure. This factory was in the news recently after one of the 1906 kilns collapsed, the council tried to blame metal theives, I doubt that would be the cause....
Anyway it's a pretty trashed place now but with a few gems to see, on with the photos.
you don't see that very often sadly
the markings on the base of an un-fired bowl
I do like a good bit of random machinary
Not sure what this is, was in a large mechanical mixer
trolly and kiln.
Driers, small and large
the collapsed kiln to the left. Metal theft would not cause this as the bracing is lower down and intact. Lack of maintenance is the likely cause
freaky face!
lonely chair shot.....only it's not a chair it's a thing
Mount Vernon, defo not in Stoke
Some of the burned bit
Hanley skyline from the top floor (now roofless)
Looking up to a very sodden floor
Looking out to the main courtyard
hmmmm maybe not
Thanks for looking.
