The Building

The Kiln is one of the oldest remaining bottle kilns in the UK, and was the original kiln built by Thomas Sharpe in the 1820s. The North Kiln was formerly recorded internally as kiln number two, with the southern kiln demolished 

It was later used as storage when the industrial capacity of the factory was later increased and more bottle kilns were constructed. The Kiln now remains the focal point of the museum.

The kiln had two separate phases. In its first phase, the kiln was utilised in its usual function to fire pottery, later windows and a door was added and the kiln blocked over, as it began to be used as storeroom. 

The Centre was original part of the old factory and was constructed around the same time as the kiln, if not a little later. The buildings were designed to resemble farm structures rather than a factory, evoking the sites original purpose as a farm. The Factory originally stretched across West Street, taking up most of the former farm estate.  The heritage centre is a multi-phased structure, and was was originally a lot larger than the present structure with doors and windows built into the upper storeys. Originally constructed to service the kiln, it was utilised as part of the wider factory. 

Around the industrial park, there are many other remnants of Sharpe’s heritage such as an intact chimney and the Yellowbrick warehouse, built of Yellowbrick.