Bottle Kiln Middleport Pottery

After having moored for the night at Westport Lake (OK pond or tarn by Lake District standards) we used the winding hole just before the Harecastle tunnel.  You can't turn a long narrowboat in the width of the canal so there are "winding holes", wider points where it is possible (just) to turn.

Heading back down the canal we decided to visit Middleport pottery.  The pottery is the only one in the world still decorating their product by "underglaze tissue printing".  The pottery was started by Burgess & Leigh hence the name Burleigh which I am sure you will have heard of.  They were formed in 1851 and still produce all their pottery by the same methods.  Obviously tweaked to fit modern times e.g. electric motors, electric and gas kilns, etc.

The blip is the one remaining bottle kiln from the 7 which were originally on the site.  Obviously, it can't be used today as the pollution would be horrific.  Having arrived by canal it was interesting to be reminded that the site was chosen because of the canal.  It brought the clay from Cornwall and carried the pottery away, much less chance of damage than a horse and cart.