70. Poole Pottery

We didn't spend much time in Poole this visit; just long enough to fix up some banking business and do some shopping. But I am very fond of Poole. On our last visit, in 2003, we spent more time there.

Poole is famous for Poole Pottery which Poole Pottery, founded in 1873 on Poole quayside, where it continued to produce pottery by hand before moving its factory operations away from the quay in 1999. Production continued at the new site in Sopers Lane until its closure in 2006. The company went into administration.

Poole Pottery was originally "Carter's Industrial Tile Manufactory" and it was this company that provided the financial foundation for the later "Poole Pottery". The Carter company produced much of the ceramic tiling used on London Underground stations built in the 1930s and, of particular note, the relief tiles showing symbols of London that were designed by Stabler, some of which can still be seen on stations such as Bethnal Green.

Poole Pottery came out of administration on 10 February 2007 and is now under the control of Lifestyle Group Ltd, which also own Royal Stafford Pottery.The pottery shop remains open on Poole Quay, selling Poole pottery and the Lifestyle Range of products. There is also a studio on site, where some design work is still done by Jane Brewer and Nicky Massarella. Four artists are designing in Burslem where production is now carried out following the closure of the Poole factory.

I don't know what happened to the beautiful tile murals seen below, but they weren't there this visit. I'm glad I took these photos in 2003.



We bought some bowls, plates, tea cups and mugs in the Beach Huts II design by Karen Ford. It is a stylised view from Poole Harbour, looking back to shore.