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| Moorcroft Pottery firm goes bust in Burslem after more than 100 years | Moorcroft Pottery firm goes bust in Burslem after more than 100 years |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Moorcroft Pottery became known for its colourful depictions of animals, birds and geometric patterns | Moorcroft Pottery became known for its colourful depictions of animals, birds and geometric patterns |
| The directors of Moorcroft Pottery have announced the firm has stopped trading after more than 100 years, which the GMB Union says means the loss of 57 jobs. | |
| In a post on social media on Wednesday, bosses at the Stoke-on-Trent firm, based in Burslem, said they had told insolvency business Moore Recovery to help with voluntarily liquidating the company. | |
| They said Moore would contact creditors in due course but did not give an explanation for the firm's closure. | They said Moore would contact creditors in due course but did not give an explanation for the firm's closure. |
| Moorcroft had warned in March of possible redundancies and at the time cited rising costs and falling sales. | Moorcroft had warned in March of possible redundancies and at the time cited rising costs and falling sales. |
| The news of Moorcroft's collapse is the latest blow to the pottery industry in Stoke-on-Trent, a city affectionately known as The Potteries. | |
| The city is recognised for its global influence with pottery - having been granted a World Craft City Status just last year. | |
| Its official tourist website proudly states: "We are the World Capital of Ceramics." | |
| However, 2025 has proved to be a disastrous year for the city's pottery industry. | |
| In February, Royal Stafford, also based in Burslem, called in administrators. | |
| The firm's collapse followed the closure of Dudson in 2019, Wade in Longton two years ago and Johnsons Tiles in 2024. | |
| The business is one of several in the sector to close in recent years in Staffordshire | The business is one of several in the sector to close in recent years in Staffordshire |
| Moorcroft Pottery traces its roots back to 1897 and has been based at its current site in Sandbach Road since 1913. | |
| According to its website, the firm's founder William Moorcroft was able to produce pottery from its current site thanks to the support of London department store Liberty. | According to its website, the firm's founder William Moorcroft was able to produce pottery from its current site thanks to the support of London department store Liberty. |
| After winning a number of prestigious international awards, Moorcroft was appointed as Potter to HM The Queen in 1928. | After winning a number of prestigious international awards, Moorcroft was appointed as Potter to HM The Queen in 1928. |
| The firm's royal patronage continued when the late Queen Elizabeth II added Moorcroft designs into the Royal Collection. | The firm's royal patronage continued when the late Queen Elizabeth II added Moorcroft designs into the Royal Collection. |
| The brand was also popular with US presidents and British prime ministers, according to the firm. | The brand was also popular with US presidents and British prime ministers, according to the firm. |
| Moorcroft has been producing pottery at its site in Burslem for more than 100 years | Moorcroft has been producing pottery at its site in Burslem for more than 100 years |
| Chris Hoofe, GMB organiser, said: "The closure of Moorcroft is devastating news for workers and their families, but unfortunately it's not a surprise. | |
| "The high cost of energy is crippling the ceramics sector in the UK and has directly led to the loss of 57 jobs at Moorcroft." | |
| He urged the government to act to support the ceramics sector and protect its workers. | |
| Listen on BBC Sounds: Another blow for Stoke-on-Trent | Listen on BBC Sounds: Another blow for Stoke-on-Trent |
| City council leader Jane Ashworth said Moorcroft had been a major part of Stoke-on-Trent's heritage in ceramics. | City council leader Jane Ashworth said Moorcroft had been a major part of Stoke-on-Trent's heritage in ceramics. |
| "Our teams have been working closely and intensively with Moorcroft to try to find a solution but unfortunately this has not been possible," she said. | "Our teams have been working closely and intensively with Moorcroft to try to find a solution but unfortunately this has not been possible," she said. |
| "The fact is global and national headwinds - including high energy prices and a rash of cheap, illegal forgeries from overseas - have made life very difficult for manufacturers. | "The fact is global and national headwinds - including high energy prices and a rash of cheap, illegal forgeries from overseas - have made life very difficult for manufacturers. |
| "We have lobbied - and will continue to lobby - the government to provide specific support for this vital and valuable sector." | "We have lobbied - and will continue to lobby - the government to provide specific support for this vital and valuable sector." |
| She added the authority would provide support for affected employees to help them find new jobs. | She added the authority would provide support for affected employees to help them find new jobs. |
| Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. | Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. |
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