Victorian pottery gets £5million funding boost
A project to save the last working Victorian pottery in the UK and create more than 100 new jobs in Stoke-on-Trent is to receive £5 million of government and private funding.
Middleport Pottery (pictured), in Burslem, was acquired by the Prince's Regeneration Trust in June when it was at serious risk of closure.
The project will now benefit from new funding, including £1.7 million from the Regional Growth Fund.
The money will help refurbish the site into a centre maintaining traditional manufacturing skills, a space for artists and a visitor centre as well as helping to drive wider regeneration of the Burslem area.
The funding was announced on a visit to the pottery by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales.
The Pince's Trust said its help had already saved 50 jobs, maintained the traditional manufacturing skills unique to Middleport, and preserved the historic buildings, collection of moulds and machinery.
