A unique kiln has been left as ‘a pile of bricks’ following demolition work at a fire-hit former pottery factory.
The muffle kiln at Weatherby’s Falcon Pottery in Hanley, which was once used for firing decorated pottery, has been razed to the ground during emergency safety works after the site was severely damaged in two blazes earlier this year.
Demolition work has been taking place at the Grade II-listed Old Town Road site under Section 78 of the Building Act 1984, which allows local authorities to take immediate action if a building presents a danger to public safety.
Only three muffle kilns survived in the city following the Clean Air Act 1956 – in addition to the lost Falcon Pottery kiln, there is a small one at Gladstone Pottery in Longton and a larger one at Moorland Pottery in Burslem – making the Hanley structure one of the last of its kind.
The muffle kiln stood next to an updraught bottle oven, which was reported to have partially collapsed in 2012.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council has confirmed that it is investigating works being carried out on the site.
Andy Perkin, of Potteries Heritage Society, told Daily Focus that the loss of the rare kiln felt ‘like a bereavement’.
He said: “Because it was shaped more like a treasure chest with a barrel roof, rather than a traditional bottle oven, it has been largely ignored over the years – but muffle kilns are just as important, if not more so.
“It should never have been forgotten about and now it can never be recreated. There’s just a pile of bricks left. The structures should have been fenced off and not touched in any way.
“It feels like a bereavement. It’s tragic – we have lost something that can never be replaced. It has gone forever.
“If anything comes out of this, I would like the city council to take the opportunity to look forward to the next 100 years, and decide how to secure these sites. I don’t want to see this happen again.”
Councillor Chris Robinson, the city council’s cabinet member for housing, planning, improvement and governance said: “Our Building Control and Planning Enforcement teams are investigating recent works carried out by the site owner at Falcon Works, Hanley, following the fire.
“Parts of the remaining buildings were unstable and posed a risk to public safety. All site works have now stopped following instructions from our planning team, and investigations are continuing.
“We are aware of concerns regarding the muffle kiln and this forms part of our ongoing investigation. It would not be appropriate to comment further until that process is complete.”
