Oliver’s Mill: Past Lives, Future Stories

For more than half a century, Oliver’s Mill was a working place. Established by Oliver & Sons in 1909, the site produced calcined flint – one of the less visible but essential materials that helped give Staffordshire ceramics their strength and whiteness.

The pots, plates and tiles made Stoke-on-Trent famous travelled around the world, but behind them were countless processes, places and people. Mills like this one, and the everyday working lives of the people within them, formed an essential part of the enormous industrial network that made the Potteries.

Today, Oliver’s Mill is silent.

Its surviving mill buildings, kilns, engine house and chimney still tell the story of its industrial past, while the vast interiors retain much of their extraordinary scale and character. Years of vacancy have also taken their toll: roofs have failed, water has entered the buildings and parts of the site are no longer safely accessible.

For Heritage Open Days 2026, Teapot Factory CIC is offering a rare opportunity to see Oliver’s Mill in its current state and hear about an ambitious new chapter in its story.

Over the last year, Teapot Factory has led a major feasibility project exploring whether this important Grade II listed industrial site can be conserved and brought back into sustainable use. The work has looked not only at the buildings themselves, but at what Oliver’s Mill might become: a place for heritage, creativity, learning, enterprise, events and community activity – rooted i

Timings

Tuesday 15 September:

16:00 - 18:00

Location & directions

Olivers Mill, Newport Lane, Middleport, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, ST6 3NJ

Directions:

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Contact on day:

Catherine Ralph

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

As this is currently an undeveloped historic industrial site, access is restricted and will take place as part of a guided tour. Visitors should expect uneven surfaces, steps and areas of restricted access. Please wear sturdy, flat footwear and suitable clothing. Safety equipment will be provided where required. Unfortunately, due to the current condition and layout of the site, some areas may not be suitable for visitors with limited mobility. Limited access to the inside of the Mill so will therefore be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis (2 tours of 10)

Additional information

Max number of people:

10

Estimated duration:

1 hour(s)

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