Wall of Saggars in Burslem

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Date:February 1964

Description:A wall of saggars between Oxley Street (named Howard Street until the 1950s) and Haywood Street in Burslem. Saggars were fireclay containers, mostly round, oval or oblong, used to protect pottery from spoiling by smoke and flames during firing in a bottle oven. They were made from fireclay mixed with "grog" (ground up used saggars).

The bottom knocker made the saggar base, the frame filler formed the saggar side and the saggar maker was a skilled worker who produced the finished saggar. They lasted for about 40 firings before being discarded, so large pottery works usually had their own saggar-makers. Here a mixture of saggar types has been incorporated into a stone wall.

Oxley Road and Haywood Street were at the bottom of Federation Road, close to the junction with Westport Road. The streets have been demolished, the houses replaced by commercial uses.

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Creators: Mr Bert Bentley - Creator

Image courtesy of: Stoke on Trent City Archives.

Donor ref:SD1480/110-05 (204/35475)

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