More about Terry
After schooling at Penkhull Infants, The Close Junior School in Penkhull, and Blurton Junior High School, Terry set off to work at Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Ltd. in Barlaston. They set him on as a Production Management Trainee.
At Wedgwood, the firm sponsored him for a 'sandwich course' at the North Staffs Polytechnic studying for B.Sc. Ceramic Technology. He obtained his degree in 1974.
It was about this time that he developed a deep interest in Potteries bottle ovens - those huge, complex buildings, which were at one time, essential in pottery manufacture.
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| Longton. Blue Bell Works Photo: Terry Woolliscroft Collection Date: 1970 |
As these structures started to disappear from the skyline of Stoke he began photographing them before they were nearly all gone. He got on his bike, travelled from Tunstall to Longton and took photos with his trusty Kodak Instamatic 233. This interest stayed with him - forever!
In 1972, he joined Gladstone Pottery Museum as a volunteer. It was here that he met his future wife, Pam.
In 1978 he played a key role in organising the historic Last Bottle Oven Firing. He also documented the entire event, oh, and shovelled coal. A lot!
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| TW 'lumping' the oven firemouth with coal prior the firing Photo: Brian Colclough Collection Date: 29th August 1978 |
He has since created several websites dedicated to the history of bottle ovens, pottery and local culture. These include:
- Ford Green Hall - its last residents (us!)
- Gladstone Pottery Museum History - the story of its first 50 years
- History of the North Staffs Symphony Orchestra - since 1904
- Potbank Dictionary - words, phrases and dialect of the Potteries
- The Last Bottle Oven Firing - what happened at the final firing
- The Potteries Bottle Oven - complete guide to bottle ovens and kilns
- Twyfords Sanitaryware company - its history since 1680
- Bottle Oven Art Club
So he has a passion for history, art and music. He has played in local brass bands and orchestras, and as a youth began painting. He now paints, writes, and builds websites about Potteries culture. He knows more than a thing or two about bottle ovens and kilns.
In 2019, during the first pandemic, he established the Bottle Oven Art Club - a bottle oven themed art initiative, aimed at keeping people busy during the lockdown and to celebrate, through art, the culture & heritage of Potteries bottle ovens & kilns. Just for fun. In May 2021 he was nominated (by Nerys Williams) and shortlisted in the Museums and Heritage Award Volunteers of the Year - "Terry Woolliscroft's Bottle Oven Art Club"
In 2025 Terry was surprised and delighted to learn that he had been selected for inclusion on the huge mural '100 Years 100 Faces'. The mural features 100 portraits to honour the people who have shaped the city's cultural identity.
