What are the opening hours?

Wednesday 10:30am - 4pm Thursday 10:30am - 4pm Friday 10:30am - 4pm Saturday 10:30am - 4pm Sunday 10:30am - 4pm

Spode Museum

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The Spode Museum Trust is a registered charity established in 1987. Spode has been fortunate that so much remains intact.

The Spode Archive includes some 20,000 ceramic items spanning over 200 years from the late 18th Century to 2008. It also includes some 25,000 engraved copper plates from which transfer prints were made for printed ceramic wares. There are also collections of antique factory tools, furniture and moulds and ¼ million Spode and Copeland documents including watercolour paintings of some 70,000 ceramic patterns. Because of time span and its near-completeness, the Archive enables unique insight into the history of a world famous factory from the Industrial Revolution to the present, its owners and employees during three centuries and its relevance to the local economy. The ceramics collection is of international standing, and ranges from spectacular items made for the very wealthy and the great 19th Century exhibitions to a definitive collection of Spode blue and white printed earthenwares and a wide variety of more ordinary wares made for domestic and export markets. Archives and valuable collections from factories of world prestige with over 200 years of history, are very rare. However, following the closure of Spode’s historic factory at Church Street, Stoke, where the collection had been located, much of the collection is presently in store and unavailable to public view. The Trustees are working with a number of parties to establish a new permanent home, hopefully in conserved historic buildings on the Spode Church Street site.

14/10/2026

ALWAYS HERE is a socially engaged photography and heritage project that through workshops, meetings, interviews, photoshoots, research and oral histories, has seen participants sharing their experiences and defining life moments. The project celebrates people who have made remarkable contributions to life in North Staffordshire across culture, industry, education, healthcare, social care, housing, retail, engineering, politics and community activism.

The exhibitions include new portraits by Ming De Nasty and Daniel Lyttleton, and archive photographs, documents, texts and objects belonging to the individuals that illustrate their stories. Following the exhibitions the content will become a new digital LGBT+ Public Archive at the Stoke-on-Trent City Archives based at the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery.

At the Spode Museum from 19th September till 30th November.

The project was produced by GRAIN Projects in partnership with The North Midlands LGBT+ Older Peoples Group, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England. We would also like to thank our exhibition partners Spode Museum, New Vic Theatre and Stoke-on-Trent Libraries, and our legacy partner the Stoke-on-Trent City Archives.

13/10/2026

ALWAYS HERE
Untold Stories from the LGBT+ Community in North Staffordshire

The exhibition brings together new photography, archive images and personal stories to celebrate LGBT+ lives shaped by identity, activism, place and social change.

Come and learn more from 19 September – 30 November during open hours and look out for news of associated workshops.

09/10/2026

Last week I had the absolute privilege of attending the launch of ALWAYS HERE: Untold Stories from the LGBT+ Community in North Staffordshire, at Spode Museum.

I’m incredibly proud to have been a small part of this project by GRAIN Projects. My portrait, taken by the brilliant Daniel Lyttleton at Duchess China 1888, features in the exhibition and the book, alongside my own story.

ALWAYS HERE brings together new photography, archive images and personal stories to celebrate LGBT+ people who have shaped life in North Staffordshire, across culture, industry, education, healthcare, politics, community activism and so much more. So much of our local history has been told without us in it, and this project makes sure these stories are recorded, celebrated and seen. We have always been here, and now there’s an exhibition to prove it.

You can see it now at four venues:
📍 Spode Museum, until 30 November
📍 Hanley Library, until 30 November
📍 Stoke Library, from 10 October to 16 November
📍 The New Vic Theatre, until 12 October (so be quick!)

There’s also a series of free art and photography workshops at Spode Museum, with all materials provided:
🎨 Saturday 31 October, 2 to 4pm: portrait making with photographer Ming de Nasty
🎨 Saturday 7 November, 2 to 4pm: collage with artist Kidda Kinsey
🎨 Wednesday 11 November, 2 to 4pm: typography with Kidda Kinsey
🎨 Thursday 12 November, 2 to 4pm: portrait making with Ming de Nasty

Once the exhibitions close, everything will become a new digital LGBT+ public archive at the Stoke-on-Trent City Archives, so these stories will be part of our city’s history for good.

Thank you to Nicola Shipley and everyone at GRAIN Projects, the North Midlands LGBT+ Older People’s Group, and Spode Museum, the New Vic and Stoke-on-Trent Libraries for making it happen.

08/10/2026

Part of our workshop programme over the coming months, this watercolour and ink workshop is £35. To book your place search for Spode Museum on Eventbrite!

07/10/2026

NEW Workshop Alert! A chance to try your hand at the ancient Japanese art of repairing ceramic items with gold!
£55, book here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kintsugi-for-beginners-with-amelia-jane-gilding-tickets-2003057875025?aff=oddtdtcreator

06/10/2026

FREE FILM SCREENING
Wed 7th October 12 Noon
Free tea / coffee and cake

A special free screening of Arnold Bennett's Amazing Women.

Presented in partnership with the Arnold Bennett Society and the Staffordshire Film Archive, this event celebrates the remarkable female characters brought to life across Bennett's novels — including Hilda Lessways of Clayhanger, Anna of the Five Towns, Constance and Sofia of The Old Wives' Tale and the Countess, Ruth Earp, Nellie Cotterill and Mrs Machin from The Card. A wonderful chance to explore Bennett's literary legacy through archive film performances.

NO NEED TO BOOK - JUST COME ALONG

04/10/2026

A Free Screening with Ray Johnson

Happening on the last Sunday of the month until October.

This is screening number 5.

Join Ray Johnson from the Staffordshire Film Archive for our monthly film screening.

This Sunday, we are especially delighted to be showcasing, Spode: a history of excellence 1998 - An overview of the history of Spode narrated by sir Michael Hordern. As well as, Spode: the final days - The final filming of all pottery processes at Spode.

Why not arrive early and enjoy a look around our museum and shop before the screening?

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/staffordshire-film-archive-tickets-2002330034033?aff=oddtdtcreator

01/10/2026

Join Paula from Forsbrook Studio for a fun, friendly and accessible fused glass workshop. Choose from a range of projects or create your own freestyle art glass.

Upcoming dates:
4th October 2026
30th January 2027
26th June 2027
21st November 2027

Workshop admission is £6, with projects ranging from £10–£40. Your finished piece will be kiln-fired and ready to collect approximately 10–14 days later.

Suitable for ages 6+ (children must be accompanied by a participating adult). Parking is available on site.

4th October 2026 - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fused-glass-workshop-tickets-1994825611102?aff=oddtdtcreator
30th January 2027 - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fused-glass-workshop-tickets-1995078611834?aff=oddtdtcreator
26th June 2027 - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fused-glass-workshop-tickets-1995078675023?aff=oddtdtcreator
21st November 2027 - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fused-glass-workshop-tickets-1995077892683?aff=oddtdtcreator

26/09/2026

Morris dancing is happening RIGHT NOW in Stoke-on-Trent!

Come along today and enjoy traditional Morris dancers from across the country, showcasing different styles, music and traditions.

Spode Works is hosting performances in the Bottle Kiln Courtyard today from 10:15–12:00 and 14:00–15:45.

Entry is FREE, so if you're nearby, come and enjoy the dancing and atmosphere!

22/09/2026

This coming Saturday you can enjoy traditional Morris dancers from all over the country performing around Stoke-on-Trent. Dancers will be performing in the bottle kiln courtyard at Spode Works from 10:15 - 12:00 and fro 14:00 - 15:45. All free!

Address

Elenora Street
Stoke-on-Trent
ST41QQ

Opening Hours

Wednesday	10:30am - 4pm
Thursday	10:30am - 4pm
Friday	10:30am - 4pm
Saturday	10:30am - 4pm
Sunday	10:30am - 4pm

Telephone

+441782411421

Website

http://www.spodemuseumtrust.org/

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