The China Hall, Old Spode Works

Sara Jaspan, Exhibitions Editor Last Updated 22 September 2017

The China Hall is a vast space in the former Spode Works factory in Stoke-on-Trent. The Spode factory was founded by Josiah Spode in 1775 and continued to produce Spode wares (ceramics, pottery and homeware) until 2008. During the 19^th century, Spode became one of the two largest potteries in Staffordshire, with 22 bottle ovens and employing around a thousand people. It is one of the main venues for the British Ceramics Biennial 2017.

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What's on near The China Hall, Old Spode Works

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14 Aug – 23 Aug

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An Evening with Mother’s Ruin at Millingtonhall Farm

Allow yourself to be led by an expert Ginmaster, while you sample gins from across the UK as well as distilling your own bottle of Mother’s Ruin.

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Come and enjoy The Wild Grill Experience here at Millington Hall Farm

11 Apr – 27 Apr

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The Wild Grill Experience at Millington Hall Farm

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That Night In Manchester

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Until 18 Oct 2026

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Learn to Sew with Stitched Up at Stretford Mall

Learn to sew with the friendly experts and sustainability enthusiasts at Stitched Up with this three week introduction to sewing.

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27 Mar

DanceManchester

RNCM Chamber Choir with Clod Ensemble at Victoria Baths

With the RNCM’s Dance:Music initiative comes a concert by the RNCM Chamber Choir and Clod Ensemble in one of Manchester’s most stunning spaces.

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Sacred Harp Singing in Whitworth Gallery

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Jakkai Siributr There’s no Place at The Whitworth

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A stormy landscape scene, in watercolour, painting by JMW Turner

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JMW Turner: In Light and Shade at the Whitworth

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Where to go near The China Hall, Old Spode Works

Stoke-on-Trent

Event venue

King’s Hall

King’s Hall is an events venue in Stoke-on-Trent.

Stoke-on-Trent

Place of worship

Stoke Minster

Just a short walk from Stoke-on-Trent train station is Stoke Minster, believed to have once been an important Celtic religious site and where Christian worship has taken place since Saxon times.

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Museum

Emma Bridgwater Factory

The pottery lover’s mecca, over 1.3 million Emma Bridgwater pieces are produced at the designer’s Stoke-on-Trent based factory every year – each one touched by over 30 deftly-skilled hands. Take an award-winning tour, visit the heavily discounted shop and have a go at producing your own earthenware masterpiece.

Stoke-on-Trent

Museum

Etruria Industrial Museum

The Etruria Industrial Museum is only remaining operational example of a nineteenth century steam-powered potter’s mill.

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Library

City Central Library, Hanley

Described as “the finest and most distinctive example of Modernist architecture in Stoke-on-Trent”, City Central Library is Stoke-on-Trent’s largest library, home to the city archives.

Stoke-on-Trent

Museum

Potteries Museum & Art Gallery

Home to the most significant collection of Staffordshire ceramics in the world and the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon treasure ever found, a visit to Stoke-upon-Trent is not complete without an afternoon whiled away in The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery.

Stoke-on-Trent

Gallery

AirSpace Gallery

AirSpace Gallery is a collaborative, artist led project in Stoke-on-Trent, providing studio and exhibiting space as well as professional support and development opportunities for artists.

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Place of worship

Bethesda Chapel

Bethesda Methodist Chapel in Hanley is considered to be one of England’s grandest surviving town chapels – and it’s easy to see why.

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Central Forest Park

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Museum

Gladstone Pottery Museum

The last complete Victorian pottery factory in Britain, Gladstone Pottery Museum in Longton provides a unique insight into the history of Stoke-on-Trent; an area renowned for its world-class pottery and ceramics.

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Tourist Attraction

Trentham Gardens

Comprising of 725 acres of land set within a glorious stretch of North Staffordshire countryside on the southern fringe of Stoke-on-Trent, the award-winning visitor attraction Trentham Estate is the last remnant of one of England’s greatest garden estates.

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Museum

Middleport Pottery

Built in 1888, the beautifully-conserved grade II* listed Middleport Pottery has been producing its world-famous Burleigh pieces for over 120 years. Today it is the only working Victorian pottery left in Stoke-on-Trent and a multi award-winning visitor attraction.

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