Potteries Museum & Art Gallery
We are pleased to announce that there will be a phased re-opening of our First Floor Galleries from Monday 25 October.
Visitors will be able to explore the story of the City’s heritage as the centre of the English ceramics industry through the world’s finest collection of Staffordshire ceramics and enjoy our Fine Art and Design Galleries.
Our fantastic new Spitfire Gallery which opened to the public for the first time in September is one of the region’s top free attractions – adding an incredible new dimension to the already wonderful museum and the city’s tourism offer. The iconic plane has undergone a three-year project to restore it to its former glory and it now takes pride of place in the 3,800 sq ft, glass-fronted gallery, allowing for 24/7 viewing. As well as the RW388 Spitfire, the permanent exhibition also includes displays and a celebration of iconic designer Reginald Mitchell.
Visitors can also see our new contemporary ceramics exhibition by Neil Brownsword entitled Alchemy and Metamorphosis which closes on 30 January 2022.
The Staffordshire Hoard Gallery has reopened and remaining Ground Floor Galleries will see a phased re-opening over the coming weeks.
If you have any questions, please call 01782 232323.
Art Gallery
View a 360° Panorama Image of the Art Gallery HERE.
Displayed works include examples from the key artistic movements of the late 19th and early 20th centuries such as urban and industrial painting- including the Camden Town School, and French-influenced early twentieth-century artists such as the Slade School and the Scottish Colourists.
Spitfire Gallery
View a 360° Panorama Image of the Spitfire Gallery HERE.
Spitfire RW388
This Spitfire was built in Castle Bromwich in May 1945. It is a Spitfire Mark XVI (16) with shortened, ‘clipped’ wings and an engine tuned for lower altitudes. Fighter planes had to adapt to different roles during the war and there were many Spitfire variants.
This version could be armed with both machine guns and cannons, as well as bombs under the wings and fuselage. Our Spitfire may never have been fitted with weapons due to entering service so late in the war. It was in Germany just after the Second World War ended and later towed targets for Naval ships to aim their guns.
The aeroplane last flew in 1952 when it was damaged during take-off at RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire. It spent time as a ‘gate guardian’ outside RAF bases before being donated to Stoke-on-Trent in 1972 in honour of Reginald Mitchell.
The Foyer
View a 360° Panorama Image of the foyer HERE.
Our retail shop stocks a wide range of wonderful items exclusive to the museum including ceramics, jewellery books and stationary. Browse unique gifts inspired by our collections including the Staffordshire Hoard, Ceramics and of course our brand new Spitfire Gallery. Reflecting the city’s industrial heritage, our shop also features a wide range of studio pottery and gifts created by local artists and of course no museum shop would be complete without a wide range of children’s gifts to suit every pocket.
Unable to pop into the shop? Then choose from a wide range of merchandise featured on this page and then contact us to order, pay and we can arrange post and package at an additional cost. Please call 01782 232323 or email pmagshop@stoke.gov.uk for more information.
Our phone lines are open 10 am – 4.30pm, Monday – Saturday and Sunday 11am – 3.30pm
There are a variety of Activity Packs available to complement our galleries and exhibitions, these exciting packs contain everything you will need to enhance your visit with us.