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Report - - Holdings Pottery February 2014 | Industrial Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - Holdings Pottery February 2014

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LuigiDawn500

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
I had serious misgivings about exploring this place, mainly due to various tales of photographers being asked to leave by the owner who appears to be concerned that some hapless explorer will come a cropper under the rather unsafe roofing in the buildings. However, I felt a strong urge to go and view it for myself, having seen some cracking shots of the interior.
This family business was started in 1842 by James Holding at a small hamlet called Gaulkthorn, moving to Broadfield Pottery in 1860 where it continued under James Holding’s sons and grandsons, moving to the present site sometime during the 20th century. It is unclear exactly when the business ceased making pottery. It appears to have been abandoned for some time, from the general state of the place.

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The place has high metal fencing and large signage, warning of the dangers, (and for good reason - the place is about to collapse any time soon I reckon) but I found an easy way in and started to explore the myriad junk abandoned here.

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There was everything in here . . . including the kitchen sink!

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The first outbuilding that I entered was quite dark and the floor was quite uneven so I didn't bother with the tripod (and regretted it a little afterwards)

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I was spoiled for choice for the obligatory "wrecked chair" shot . . .

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But my favourite was the old armchair with moss growing out of it . . .

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There was evidence of pottery, in various states, all over the place. Some broken, some intact. Some covered in algae and sludge from the lack of roof, open to the elements.

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It was sad to see so many pots, which would have been carefully created, just strewn all over the place.

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The machine above was apparently used to squeeze all the water out of the clay. I believe that the potters dug their own clay from the surrounding land.

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Headless garden statue found in one of the outbuildings.

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There were several small buildings to wander around.

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Unfortunately, time was not on my side. I had left a friend outside "on guard" as the owner's house is very close to the site and I thought that I was on borrowed time.

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Everything looked like it had been there for decades . .

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And so, having had an undisturbed visit and feeling that I had pushed my luck, I followed the sign back down the muddy path to the car . There is plenty more to see. Maybe I will return . . .

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