The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery

About

We are pleased to announce that there will be a phased re-opening of our First Floor Galleries.

Visitors will be able to explore the story of the City’s heritage as the centre of the English ceramics industry through the world’s finest collection of Staffordshire ceramics and enjoy our Fine Art and Design Galleries.

Our fantastic new Spitfire Gallery, which opened to the public for the first time in September, is one of the region’s top free attractions – adding an incredible new dimension to the already wonderful museum and the city’s tourism offer. The iconic plane has undergone a three-year project to restore it to its former glory and it now takes pride of place in the 3,800 sq ft, glass-fronted gallery, allowing for 24/7 viewing. As well as the RW388 Spitfire, the permanent exhibition also includes displays and a celebration of iconic designer Reginald Mitchell.

The Staffordshire Hoard Gallery has re-opened and remaining Ground Floor Galleries will see a phased re-opening over the coming weeks.

If you have any questions, please call 01782 232323.

***********************************

The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery houses Designated Collections and displays fine and decorative arts, costume, local history, archaeology and natural history collections as well as the world's greatest collection of Staffordshire ceramics. It is also home to the fascinating Staffordshire Hoard. Relax at the museum cafe or browse the Foyer Shop for unique qaulity gifts. Follow children's trails and enjoy drop-in activities and special events. There are also changing exhibitions throughout the year.

Galleries and exhibitions include:

New for 2021 - The Spitfire Gallery 

The brand new state-of-the-art home of the City’s Spitfire. The RAF donated Spitfire RW388 to Stoke-on-Trent in 1972. The aeroplane is a symbol of great design and engineering. It represents the link between Stoke-on-Trent and the Spitfire’s designer, Reginald Joseph Mitchell.

The Staffordshire Hoard

The Staffordshire Hoard display features a raised wooden-floored mead hall, with columns and banners adorned with Anglo-Saxon artwork– representing ancient designs on the Hoard artefacts – along with a replica fire pit and king’s chair. This fascinating exhibition sets pieces from the world-famous Staffordshire Hoard in context among items from our collection of Anglo-Saxon finds, many never displayed before, and offers a glimpse into our ancestors’ lives.

Ceramics Gallery

The gallery includes a technical section illustrating the production techniques of pottery and also includes more unusual collections, such as the Keiller collection of 667 cow creamer jugs and the Marjorie Davies collection of nearly 300 frog mugs.

Local History Gallery

The Local History gallery transports visitors through the history of the people of Stoke-on-Trent. The gallery is arranged as a series of room settings depicting domestic and working life and includes a schoolroom, a pub and a chip shop.

Archaeology Gallery

The archaeology gallery showcases Staffordshire’s rich and diverse archaeological heritage from prehistoric technologies to daily life in a Roman household, medieval monasticism to the early potters of Burslem.

Natural Science Gallery

The Natural Science gallery depicts the geology and wildlife found in the different habitats in and around the Potteries area, including moorland, forests and wetlands. In our Discovery Zone explore the diversity of life and find out what we can do to protect it.

Fine Art Gallery

Displayed works include examples from the key artistic movements of the late 19th and early 20th centuries such as urban and industrial painting- including the Camden Town School, and French-influenced early twentieth-century artists such as the Slade School and the Scottish Colourists.

Design Gallery

The gallery showcases a diverse selection from the decorative arts collection, including textiles and costume, alongside contemporary design pieces.

Visit www.stokemuseums.org.uk for further information.