The historic Weatherby’s Falcon Pottery factory in Hanley is being demolished following a Section 78 order from Stoke-on-Trent City Council. The order mandated that the owners either demolish the unsafe building within 14 days or risk the council stepping in to do so at their expense. The factory had become structurally unsound and was occupied by squatters, posing a significant public safety hazard.
The building had been unsafe for nearly 20 years, raising questions about why it was suddenly deemed dangerous enough to require such urgent demolition. What had changed in the past few weeks or months to warrant a Section 78 order? The only significant development seems to be the knowledge that multiple people had been living inside the building, squatting in the kilns. Yet, the factory had been in a dangerous state for decades, suffering fire damage over time and even seeing a 13-year-old boy fall through a roof in 2017, requiring urgent medical attention.
Watch my full video here on YouTube
The Demolition Order: A Legal Necessity or a Bureaucratic Failure?
Section 78 of the Building Act allows local authorities to take immediate action if a building presents an urgent danger to public safety. Given the deteriorating condition of the Falcon Pottery site and its occupation by squatters, the council acted swiftly to prevent further risk. However, this action raises a much larger question: Could steps have been taken over the past 25 years to prevent such drastic action?
Over the years, the building has had different owners, none of whom have taken care of the site or invested in its maintenance. The issuing of a Section 78 order seems to be a last resort, one that could have been avoided with earlier intervention. The slow-moving nature of bureaucracy, funding cuts, and red tape have led to the demise of yet another historic site. It is important to understand that such decisions are not made by elected officials but rather by council officers and administrators who remain in place regardless of changes in political leadership. It is the system itself, one that does not prioritise heritage preservation, that is to blame, not any particular political party.
A Legacy Lost
J.H. Weatherby & Sons, established in Tunstall in 1891, moved to the Falcon Pottery site in Hanley in 1892. Over the years, the company produced high-quality earthenware, hotelware, and tableware, employing up to 200 people at its peak. However, intense competition, shifting markets, and unresolved planning issues led to its closure in 2000. Since then, the site has remained derelict, with a partial roof collapse and, in 2012, the loss of its iconic bottle kiln due to lack of maintenance.
The Falcon Pottery works had historical significance, featuring a squat bottle kiln and one of the city’s few surviving muffle kilns, both of which will be saved and left untouched by the demolition work. These elements represent Stoke-on-Trent’s rich ceramic heritage. The factory was granted Grade II listed status in 1989, recognising its architectural and industrial value, but this status ultimately did not protect it from decline and demolition.
J.K. Weatherby & Sons Ltd.Pottery factory exterior with a view of a disused bottle oven.There are stacks of saggars still in the oven, which has an almost conical shape.Taken from the Gladstone Pottery Museum Photographic ...View Full Resource on Staffordshire Past Track
J H Weatherby's Falcon Pottery, HanleyA view north along Old Town Road with the Falcon Pottery building on the right and the winding gear of Hanley Deep Pit in the distance. Safin House, in the centre, was occupied by S Finney & Sons , a ...View Full Resource on Staffordshire Past Track
Falcon Pottery was family-run until its closure. The company first specialised in domestic wares such as basins before moving into tableware and giftware. Later, it shifted its focus to hotelware, a move that ultimately contributed to its downfall due to fierce competition and the rise of mass production in the industry. The factory was a significant employer in the region, with generations of workers dedicating their lives to the business.
The company's decline was hastened by external factors beyond just market competition. Mr Weatherby also partly blamed a planning issue dating back to the early 1970s, which "blighted" the family firm and restricted investment in it. By the time the factory closed, it had gone from a bustling production site to a neglected relic of Stoke-on-Trent’s industrial past.
Failed Redevelopment Efforts
Following the factory’s closure, various redevelopment plans were proposed but never realised. A 2001 application to convert the site into 48 residential units was abandoned in 2006. Another proposal for a mixed-use development of flats and offices was withdrawn in 2001. The lack of successful investment or adaptive reuse options contributed to the site’s eventual state of disrepair and destruction.
The difficulty in finding developers willing to take on the site highlights a broader issue with heritage buildings in the region. Many historic factories, mills, and industrial sites face similar struggles, with their preservation often seen as an economic burden rather than a cultural opportunity. This situation is exacerbated by bureaucratic inefficiencies, excessive red tape, and a failure to prioritise heritage preservation within council planning departments. Investors and developers are often deterred by the extensive hoops they must jump through to secure approvals for restoration projects, leading to further decay and eventual demolition. This is what stifles investment in the city, when maintaining heritage structures is made so difficult that demolition becomes the only viable option.
Had earlier efforts been made to maintain the Falcon Pottery buildings, parts of its legacy could have been preserved as part of a modern development, similar to how other historic kilns and buildings have been integrated into contemporary projects in Stoke-on-Trent.
Deep Pit Colliery from Town Road, HanleyLooking northwards along the old route of Town road towards the winding gear of Hanley Deep Pit Colliery. The building on the right edge is part of J H Weatherby's Falcon Works. Farther down on the right ...View Full Resource on Staffordshire Past Track
Lessons for the Future
The loss of the Falcon Pottery factory should serve as a cautionary tale. Heritage buildings must not be allowed to deteriorate to the point of no return. Restoration, repurposing, or even partial demolition with preservation of key architectural elements, such as kilns or original façades, should be prioritised. Other developments in the city have successfully integrated historic structures into modern projects, and this approach should be encouraged to maintain Stoke-on-Trent’s cultural identity.
Weatherby & Sons, Town Road, HanleyThe photograph shows two bottle kilns belonging to J H Weatherby's Falcon Pottery. In the foreground is the entrance to James Topham's Cooperage, manufacturing wooden barrels mainly for the pottery trade. ...View Full Resource on Staffordshire Past Track
There are valuable lessons to be learned from the failures in Falcon Pottery’s preservation. Moving forward, authorities and developers should work together to identify at-risk historic sites and implement proactive measures to prevent decay. A balance must be struck between economic viability and heritage conservation, ensuring that sites like Falcon Pottery are not simply left to rot until demolition becomes the only viable option.
While the future of the Falcon Pottery site remains uncertain, its demolition underscores the importance of proactive heritage conservation. If similar buildings are to be saved from the same fate, authorities, developers, and communities must work together to find sustainable solutions before irreversible decay sets in. Whether through direct restoration funding, incentives for private developers, or new policies to enforce the maintenance of historic sites, action is needed to ensure Stoke-on-Trent’s industrial history is not lost to neglect.
📍 Follow more of my adventures and discoveries here: https://linktr.ee/theredhairedstokie