Milton Pottery
Perhaps the biggest collection of items housed at Milton Museum is Milton Pottery. Dozens of items of varying designs created at the old pottery works between 1873 and 1917.
The potters who made these interesting and unique items came from Staffordshire from 1850 onwards, they were skilled potters and designers with a keen desire to create new and wonderful things in this faraway land, and a booming pottery industry was born. The potters in the Clutha District area used the same methods and recipes as they did in England – the clay came from Moneymore and Stoney Creek. The china-ware industry was to be the “Staffordshire of New Zealand”.
Early in the pottery works’ history they made drainage pipes and bricks, before turning their attention to pottery after finding much finer clay. From then on, the manufacturer Mr White began making all types of crockery – including plates and vases with interesting and intricate patterns on them.
At its height, the pottery works employed 100 workers, both men and women. However, it was destroyed by fire in 1882, but did manage to rebuild and continue production until its closure in 1917 during World War I.
VIDEO
Royal Milton Potteries – New Zealand 1873-1917
A Detailed History of Milton’s Colonial Pottery Works
presented by Paul J Griffin (a local pottery historian).
Courtesy of the Bruce Museum Trust at Milton Museum & Information Centre.
Run time: 43 minutes.
Available to BUY at Milton Museum & Information Centre
Royal Milton Potteries New Zealand 1873-1917 (DVD) – $20
A Chronicle Look at Primarily Milton’s Pottery History (Book) – $40
MILTON MUSEUM 