Touring the Emma Bridgewater Factory is both a glimpse into a lost art from the past, and a hope for the future as Matthew and Emma have found ways to mix their vision and massive production with creativity and care, reverence for their workers and respect for earth, in a tradition that has been developed and honed for over 150 years. I enjoy seeing and appreciating the many lovely hands, hearts, and minds that touch, create, form, shape, cut, polish, dip, stamp, paint, and double check each piece. I was surprised to learn about the many ways Emma and Matthew have carefully procured ways to reuse, repurpose, and recycle all the waste that once would have been generated as loss. Their mindfulness is one to be modeled and respected.

One of the reasons I buy Emma Bridgewater pottery, and indeed all my dishes, dinnerware, serveware, and pottery come from England, is because I like to see, feel, and connect with the people who handle and fashion the pottery; for before it touches my lips it touches their hands. I feel connected to and united as a people. I can also see first-hand the ethics of a company. As an artisan and entrepreneur, I painstakingly go to great lengths to secure the best and most pure teas, fruits, and botanicals, touring and sourcing from ethical tea and botanical gardens, estates and purveyors. I hope to encourage my clients to respect the earth, giving the spent leaves back as compost and I do not use teabags, made from plastics, chlorines or non-biodegradables. Thus, I seek out other like-minded artists and companies to purchase from and feel it is a privilege to procure from artisans with a conscience and I feel good knowing I help support jobs and livelihoods for the many beautiful people who labor over each piece of pottery, clothing or food. But the thing that I was struck by is how mindful and how much regard for the planet that has been adopted at Emma Bridgewater Factory, Stoke-on-Trent.

The beautiful and bubbly Lorraine was our guide and she explained to us, as upon entering the factory, we were greeted by a huge wooden box filled with broken bits of misshapen, mangled and cut soft clay. I was delighted to learn it is happily mixed with water and put back in with the fresh clay to be re-spun into other pieces. All the clay is sourced locally. We were guided in to see how the clay is poured and fashioned into molds. Lorraine showed us that the bands that hold the molds together are fashioned from worn bicycle tire tubes.

Next we came across a happy chap who showed us how he forms flat plates and platters. He even gave the children in our group bits of clay to touch and handle. We followed Lorraine to the next room where ladies wipe, sponge and smooth away knobby ridges, rims or bumpy bits. Everything, everywhere is spotlessly clean and it is a most happy place! Music fills the air as do light voices and smiles. I delighted in seeing the mismatched jugs, mugs and bowls being used as work station corrals much as we hold our desk accessories. The jaunty polkadots and prints holding sponges, brushes and paints.

We walked past tall wheeling cases with boards of pottery standing like soldiers waiting for their orders; the vast array of pottery waiting to be dipped—they were a glorious pink. I thought she said the glaze is tinted with beetroot.

These crafters can each produce 500 pieces a day! Amazing!

When Emma and Matthew started at this factory they produced about 3000 pieces per week, now it produces something closer to 300,000 per week.

We passed through the next doors, taking us outside and up through the paint your own pottery studio, to where final checks are done. Emma Bridgewater never sells anything chipped, broken or cracked! So even the finished pieces are sent off once imperfect to a tile makers to be ground and used again! No waste!! Even the gorgeous rose gallon teapot! (Gulp)

Next, we went onto the women who stamp and sponge the beautiful designs. Some are done with lithograph applications, but now this team has have outgrown this space and have been moved up the road to another building.

We walked past beautiful women who stamp and write all our custom letters onto our beloved Emma Bridgewater mugs, cups, jugs and teapots. Lastly was saw the ladies who hand cut each sponge for stamping on the pottery. The precision is mind-boggling. One is left realizing that this really is a craft to be revered and preserved.

I was very fortunate to catch a glimpse of next seasons designs to come….there will be a new rose pattern!

I was so delighted, as if I needed any more reasons to buy EB pottery, but for a fan, fellow business owner, and avid tea drinker, I found the tour to be icing on the cake.

Onto afternoon tea, and it was scrumptious! Hearty sandwiches, colorful, delicious cakes and scones all served up on Emma ware. I happily chatted with my other tour mates…

Later, whilst I was waiting for my order, sitting in the shop with the adorable Ryan and beautiful Jo, I was resting on a bench when I looked up I caught a flash of a long slender leg wearing jeans and boots with brown hair disappeared through a doorway like the white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland! Oh—could that have been? No—not her!

Jo gave me a big smile; “Did you see Emma?”

“Oh my—was that HER!?! “

“You should have said something to her, she very happy to talk!”, beamed Jo.

“Oh no, she must be very busy, I could not disturb her”

Then next thing I knew, I was standing the counter to pay for my goods, when another woman approaches with a pillow and mugs saying she is gathering presents for friends…as I look up, there she is- Emma herself!

I burst into tears, gave her a hug and she was as warm and gentle as ever.

A clandestine meeting with the maker herself! What a wonderful woman, business owner, entrepreneur, visionary…

She was so very cordial, we chatted for at least fifteen or twenty minutes and she offered to take a photo with me!

Have I died and gone to heaven!?! … it was the most Enchanting Day ever.

Touring the Emma Bridgewater Factory in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent