Heritage emergency declared in Stoke-on-Trent

Stoke-on-Trent says it is facing a heritage emergency and needs £325m in public and private funding to safeguard its historic sites and stories.

A new report warns that the city faces the loss of nationally and internationally significant sites unless urgent action is taken.

Stoke-on-Trent is home to more than 275 listed buildings and four museums with Designated collections – the Potteries Museum, Etruria Industrial Museum, Ford Green Hall and Gladstone Pottery Museum.

“The harsh reality is that much of this built heritage is in a poor condition and urgent action is needed if it is not to be lost to the city,” the report warns.

“Moreover, the state of dilapidation acts as a barrier to the city’s current ambitions to drive economic growth, provide more homes and create beautiful public spaces.”

It continues: “There is now a very real prospect that several of the city’s most important assets will be lost entirely if they are not prioritised to receive funding and brought back into sustainable economic use.”

The report, called The Potteries: A National Heritage Emergency, sets out a 10-year plan to “turn the situation around” and safeguard the city’s historic assets and support regeneration, through about £325m private and public investment.

“Investment will not only save vulnerable historic assets for future generations but will also improve the quality of life of residents and communities, attract inward investment, and reinvigorate the visitor economy,” the report says.

Recognising that the funding required is beyond the resources of any individual organisation, the report calls for “collaboration between government agencies, statutory organisations, national funding bodies, and owners of private and public assets” to prioritise the future of the city’s heritage.

 The council recently committed £6.5m to help safeguard three heritage buildings – Burslem Indoor Market, the Wedgwood Institute and Falcon Works.

However, back in 2022 it came under fire for restructuring its museum service, leading to a dozen jobs being cut at Gladstone Pottery Museum and reduced opening hours at other sites. At the time, the council estimated that the reconfiguration would save around £560,000 a year over the next five years.

The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery was awarded £5m from Arts Council England’s Cultural Development Fund in 2023 to improve the visitor experience and provide additional collections storage facilities.

The council says the next phase will be to apply to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for investment to reinterpret the permanent galleries.