Burleigh Pottery saved by ex-Burberry CEO Christopher Bailey
Plus The Knot's Person of the Week, more on Made in Staffordshire and remembering staff at The Royal Doulton
Today, The Knot is brought to you by Hanley Economic Building Society, which offers mortgages, savings accounts including ISAs, insurance, and more
Good News 🎉
🏺Burleigh Breathes Again. After its parent company Denby went into administration in March, Burleigh needed a new owner. It has been rescued by the former CEO of Burberry, Christopher Bailey, who acquired the company with a small group of private investors last week. The move will save 62 skilled jobs, with staff still using the tissue transfer printing technique, making it the only heritage pottery globally to still employ this method by hand. Bailey said he’s always loved Burleigh pottery. “This company has an extraordinary history, and what makes it so special today is the skill, care, and creative spirit that continue to define the business.” He added, “I am deeply committed to protecting and showcasing the craftsmanship and character that make Burleigh unique, while helping to shape its future as a distinctive and meaningful British design and ceramics house.” Big news indeed – look out for a feature on this on Wednesday.
🚗 THE KNOT’S PERSON OF THE WEEK – Tom Sharples 🚗
This master technician and EV specialist from Ken Jervis Kia dealership in Stoke-on-Trent is responsible for diagnosing and repairing some of the most complex technical issues encountered within Kia’s ever-evolving vehicle range. He was named winner of the Gold Award at the Skill World Cup in Korea, winning a cup and US$5,000 for his efforts. Competing against 41 highly skilled Kia technicians from 40 countries, Tom claimed the Gold Award after being put to the test through a series of demanding written and practical assessments, covering advanced diagnostic techniques, vehicle repair procedures, component analysis and electric vehicle technology. Tom said, “The support, encouragement and opportunities I've received from everyone at Ken Jervis Kia have played a huge part in my development, and I am grateful to work alongside such a talented team.”
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🥨 Proud to be Made in Staffordshire. After its preview at the House of Commons, the Made in Staffordshire accreditation mark is gaining traction across the local business community. Created by We Are Staffordshire, the scheme aims to raise the profile of the region as a hub for manufacturing, creativity and innovation. Businesses that join will benefit from marketing support, promotional opportunities and being featured in a planned online directory. The scheme is open to a wide range of businesses, including makers, creators, manufacturers, food and drink producers and growers. Want to join? It’s free; register here.
🏗️ Barracks Back on Track. The Barracks Trust, a charity that manages the Grade-II listed former military building dating back to 1855 in Newcastle, has received support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for a new heritage project, Back to the Barracks: A New Chapter. This initiative will combine essential conservation work with creative heritage activities, workshops, and events that will celebrate the stories, people and businesses that have shaped The Barracks over the last 170 years. Check the Barracks Trust’s Facebook page for updates on upcoming happenings.
✞ Remembering Royal Doulton Staff. Work is underway to restore a memorial to the 59 Royal Doulton workers who died in the First and Second World Wars, with an unveiling slated for November 2026. The memorial once stood at the Royal Doulton factory but was lost when the site closed and was redeveloped. Now, thanks to a community-led project sponsored by Miller Homes and led by the Kilngate team, it’s being brought back to the heart of Burslem to create a lasting place of remembrance for those who left their jobs to serve their country.
🥨 A word from Helen, editor/writer at The Knot
After parent company Denby Pottery entered administration in March, we feared for Burleigh’s future. That is why we were delighted to hear that the Middleport-based manufacturer, renowned for its distinctive patterns created using hand-engraved copper rollers and tissue-transfer printing, has been acquired by one of the biggest names in British fashion, Christopher Bailey.
Appointed CEO of Burberry in 2014, Bailey helped turned the luxury fashion house’s fortunes around, reimagining its classic trench coat for contemporary audiences by streamlining the silhouette and introducing different lengths, hardware, and colours, and expanding its ready-to-wear collections.
Local MP for Stoke-on-Trent North and Kidsgrove David Williams told The Knot he was both relieved and delighted by the news. “Burleigh has been made down at Middleport since the 1880s - losing it would have been a quiet tragedy for this city. I’m just glad the people who actually make the pots get to keep making them.” He added, “When someone of Christopher Bailey’s standing chooses to put his money behind it, the message to the rest of the sector is that there’s real value in what we make here – not nostalgia, value.”
Hannah Ault, CEO of Fenton-based Valentine Clays, which supplies more than 100 clay formulations to potters and ceramic manufacturers around the world, and President of Ceramics UK, the trade body representing and championing the sector, told The Knot that Burleigh's rescue was hugely important for the wider ceramics ecosystem in Stoke-on-Trent. “Businesses such as Burleigh are not only part of our heritage, they also support a much wider network of suppliers, manufacturers and skilled jobs across the city and wider UK supply chain.”
With a design visionary like Bailey now at the helm of Burleigh, we can’t wait to see how the next chapter unfolds at Middleport. You can read more about what David and Hannah had to say about the Burleigh acquisition – and what it could mean for our pottery industry – in our feature this Wednesday.
In other Knot news, as we continue to introduce more local reportage and feature content, tomorrow’s edition will be our final standalone What’s On newsletter.
From next week, you’ll find our pick of the best events, activities and things to do as part of Monday’s newsletter, while Wednesdays will be dedicated to a longer-form local news feature.
🥨 Most popular stories from the last week on The Knot
🌿 Newcastle scraps Net Zero Policy: The emergency climate declaration is next…
🛋️ The Knot’s Person of the Week, Sophie Newlands, the owner of local business Shag Interior, was runner-up in the BBC Design show Interior Design Masters.
💃: Get Your Groove On: Trentham’s over 30’s Word of Mouth festival was popular – and there’s still a few tickets left here; it’s this Saturday (20/06) from 6pm-10.30pm
Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):
Mon ☁️ 20° (13°) Tue 🌧️ 21° (13°) Wed 🌧️ 21° (13°) Thu 🌧️ 23° (15°) Fri 🌥️23° (13°)
Sat ⛅️ 21° (11°) Sun ⛅️ 21° (11°).
Sunrise 15/06: 04.42 ☀️ Sunset 15/06: 21.36 🌅