From Clay to Community: Discovering Everyday Histories

Step into the everyday lives of the people who made Dudson, from the opening of the factory on Hope Street in 1810 to the thriving community hub we see today.

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 really meant 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 images, stories, and hands‑on interpretation, it highlights the wide range of roles within the factory, from throwers and moulders to fettlers, decorators, kiln workers, packers, and clerks. It explores what their working days looked like, the tasks they carried out, and what life was like inside the workshops of Hope Street.
From the heat of the bottle oven to the quiet precision of the decorating bench, this is a chance to learn all about the everyday work, often repetitive, often demanding, but always skilled and precise.

Come and discover how the site itself has evolved over the years. Once a centre of industrial production, local skills that truly went global, the former factory is now the Dudson Centre: a vibrant community hub, continuing its legacy of service, but in a very different way.

In partnership with the Arnold Bennett Society, the exhibition will also feature a parallel timeline exploring the life and work of the author who was born just across the road from the Dudson Centre in 1867. Sharing the story of the famous figure; his works and his legacy, we’ll go on a journey of creativity that crossed centuries.

Join this journey through the ages and explore the fascinating history of life on the factory floor as well as the life and works of Arnold Bennett.

This exhibition and family fun event are FREE and everyone is welcome!

And why not take a walk around out lovely bottle kiln and explore the Dudson Collection, or take a break and enjoy a refreshing drink and delicious lunch or snack in the Dudson Cafe while you’re here?