Today is National Potteries bottle oven day

Most of you will not know this, but I went to University in Stoke-on-Trent, it was a satellite campus for Staffordshire University. I also lived there for a number of years, before moving with the family to New Zealand.

One of the features common in the area were Bottle ovens, which could be seen in various locations, because Stoke on Trent is also known as the ‘Potteries.’

Both Royal Doulton and Wedgwood originated there, as well as a number of other pottery brands.

There is a lot of history, and a number of museums. On one tour we learnt about Sagger makers bottom knockers.

A Sagger is a ceramic boxlike container used in the firing of pottery, to enclose or protect ware inside the kiln from direct contact with the flame.

These obviously needed bottoms, and hence the role of sagger makers bottom knocker, quite a descriptive job title!

Next time you are eating off a plate, check the brand, you may be eating of a little piece of pottery, made from a little place in the UK, called Stoke-on-Trent.

Of course finish your food first.

Have you ever lived somewhere famous?