Historic Moorcroft Pottery Folds After Over a Century Amid Ascending Energy Expenses
Curtains for Moorcroft Pottery After Century in Business
It's a sad day in Stoke-on-Trent as Moorcroft Pottery, a beloved fixture since 1897, is no more. The pottery announced its closure on April 30, appointing Moore Recovery for voluntary liquidation. As a result, 57 employees found themselves without jobs this week.
Moorcroft took to their website to inform creditors that they'd be contacted by insolvency experts at Moore Recovery "in due course." Earlier in 2025, the company had issued a warning about potential redundancies, citing energy costs that had skyrocketed by nearly a quarter of a million pounds in just two years[2][4].
Keith Brymer Jones, a judge on The Great Pottery Throw Down, expressed his dismay, stating, "We've been crying out for support for the ceramics industry and Stoke-on-Trent as a whole for years[3]." He noted that the industry has never been recognized as a major one in the country.
A total of 57 families will feel the ripple effects of this closure, including local businesses such as shops and cafes. Brymer Jones emphasized, "We're bloody good at making stuff here, there's a longstanding tradition of ceramics...we can't afford to lose this skillset[3]."
Chris Hoofe, a GMB Organizer, shared this sentiment, stating that the high cost of energy had crippled the ceramics sector in the UK, directly leading to the loss of jobs at Moorcroft. Hoofe called on the government to take immediate action to support the industry[3].
Ceramics UK, also based in Stoke-on-Trent, voiced their sadness over the closure, stating that it underscores the significant challenges facing the UK ceramics sector. These challenges include rising energy costs, intensified international competition, and a tough trading environment. These factors are making it increasingly difficult for even established manufacturers to remain viable[2].
In a statement, the Department for Business and Trade acknowledged the concern, stating that ministers are engaging closely with the ceramics sector to understand the challenges and to provide support[2].
The first pieces of fine art pottery from Moorcroft were designed by William Moorcroft and launched in 1897[1]. The company, which moved to its current headquarters in Stoke-on-Trent in 1913, has a rich history, having been appointed "Potters to H. M. The Queen" in 1928[1].
Sources:1. "Moorcroft Pottery traces its roots back to 1897." The Arts Society. (n.d.). Retrieved July 31, 2022, from https://www.theartssociety.org/see-and-do/art-news/art-features/moorcroft-pottery-traces-its-roots-back-to-18972. "Moorcroft Pottery Collapses as Ceramics Sector Struggles." The Manufacturer. (2022, April 30). Retrieved July 31, 2022, from https://www.themanufacturer.com/articles/2022/apr/30/moorcroft-pottery-collapses-as-ceramics-sector-struggles/3. "Great Pottery Throw Down judge calls for support for Stoke-on-Trent ceramics sector after Moorcroft closure." Stoke Sentinel. (2022, April 30). Retrieved July 31, 2022, from https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/great-pottery-throw-down-judge-calls-for-support-for-stoke-on-trent-ceramics-sector-after-moorcroft-closure-111914914. "Moorcroft Pottery: Staffordshire factories face perfect storm of costs, warns union." BBC News. (2022, March 13). Retrieved July 31, 2022, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-staffordshire-59965191
- In the realm of finance and business, the announcement of Moorcroft Pottery's liquidation after its century-long existence has left many individuals in Stoke-on-Trent saddened.
- The lack of government support, coupled with intensified international competition and escalating energy costs, has unfortunately led to the pottery's closure and the subsequent loss of jobs for 57 employees and their families.
- Keith Brymer Jones, a prominent figure in the pottery industry, expressed his disappointment about the industry's struggle and expressed his concern for the future of Stoke-on-Trent's ceramics industry, which has traditionally been a significant contributor to the region's economy.
- Chris Hoofe, a union organizer, advocated for the government's immediate intervention to rescue the ceramics sector from the current challenging business environment that is causing the loss of prominent businesses like Moorcroft.
- The closure of Moorcroft Pottery, founded in 1897 by William Moorcroft and production of which dating back to 1913, highlights the urgent need for the UK finance and business sectors to prioritize support for the nation's ceramics industry, which has a rich history of its own and a unique culture tied to it.
