Our Museum

Collections

The varied collections include an intriguing array of Sharpe’s world famous toilets, rare examples from the Bretby Art Pottery and the popular and well known T.G. Green’s blue and cream striped Cornishware.

Did you know that the Cornishware pots were first made in Church Gresley and not Cornwall as the name suggests? Sharpe’s Pottery has one of the most diverse range of toilets in the country.

Find out more

Story of Sharpe’s

Did you know that the Grade II listed and original bottle kiln, together with substantial attached workshop buildings are believed to be the oldest surviving sanitary pottery works in the country and maybe the world?

Starting with the manufacture of functional wares such as tea pots and pie dishes the family business quickly responded to a growing demand for making ceramic sanitary wares including toilets, urinals, wash basins and clay pipes.

Find out more

STORY OF SOUTH DERBYSHIRE

South Derbyshire is a local government district and was formed on 1 April 1974 from the merger of Swadlincote Urban District with Repton and part of South East Derbyshire Rural Districts.

It contains a third of the National Forest and the council’s main offices are here in Swadlincote.

Find out more

What’s on?

Sharpe’s Pottery Heritage and Arts Trust is returning to its roots, or under the earth to be precise!

We will be offering a regular programme of clay activities, to include Raku events, slip casting sessions and pottery classes.

There will be something for everyone to try, to make and to keep as a permanent reminder of our local Heritage origins.

Other exciting and varied craft and expressive arts activities are also in the pipeline. Keeping checking our website and social media sites for updates.

Find out more