From Clay to Community: Discovering Everyday Histories
Vast, The Dudson Centre, Hope Street, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST1 5DD
Exclusively for Heritage Open Days 2026, this exhibition explores over two centuries of working life in The Potteries, placing the stories of Dudson’s workers alongside the wider world around them. While revolutions unfolded, railways spread across countries, and even humans set foot on the moon, everyday life at Dudson continued. The everyday histories shaped by clay, skill, and the potters art.
Inspired by the narrative style of Audrey Dudson’s famous book, “A Pottery Panorama,” the exhibition draws connections between global events, local developments in Stoke‑on‑Trent, and the daily realities for those on the factory floor. Join us to take a step back in time and go on a journey that moves through history, asking not just what was happening in the world, but what it was like for the people working here.
At its heart, the exhibition brings into focus the people behind the Dudson production line; the men, the women, and the children. Through their images and stories, it highlights the wide range of roles within the factory, from throwers and moulders to fettlers, decorators, kiln workers, packers, and more! It explores what their working days looked like, the tasks they carried out, and what life was like inside the workshops of Hope Street.
Timings
- Thursday 17 September:
- 12:00 - 16:00
- Friday 18 September:
- 10:00 - 15:00
- Saturday 19 September:
- 10:00 - 14:00
Location & directions
Vast, The Dudson Centre, Hope Street, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST1 5DD
- Contact on day:
- Dudson Centre
- Telephone number:
- +441782683030
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
Accessibility details
The exhibition takes place on the ground floor only and has accessible facilities. Hearing loop available.
Additional information
- Max number of people:
- 50
