ADAMS FAMILY TIES TO POTTER
Minister explores historic link to potbank founder during city visit
A GOVERNMENT minister explored his links to a famous Stoke-on-trent pottery family during a visit to North Staffordshire.
Cabinet Office minister Nigel Adams is a descendant of the family of William Adams, the 18th century master potter who founded the Greengates Pottery in Tunstall in 1779.
He was in Stoke-on-trent for the cabinet’s ‘away day’ at Middleport Pottery last week, and so he took the opportunity to learn more about his notable forebears at Gladstone Pottery Museum.
William Adams was part of the extended Adams family which had been involved in the Staffordshire pottery industry since the 1600s. Adams & Co was known for its fine jasperware and it eventually became part of the Wedgwood Group in 1966.
As well as exploring his family roots and viewing the museum’s historic artefacts, Mr Adams also used his visit to promote the government’s £63.3 million Museum Estate and Development Fund, which is aimed at supporting urgent museum maintenance and infrastructure works.
Gladstone Pottery Museum has recently been the subject of controversial council budget cuts, which resulted in around a dozen job cuts last month. The museum will also be mostly closed for five months over the winter, to allow it to be offered as an events venue and filming location.
Mr Adams said: “Stoke-ontrent
is synonymous with the pottery industry, not just in the UK but globally. It’s been fantastic to come to Gladstone and learn more about my family’s links to the pottery industry and local area.
“It was good to speak to the staff about how this government is significantly investing in the tourism and leisure industry to ensure that attractions like this remain open to the public for decades to come.”
During his visit, Mr Adams met staff and was given a tour of the musuem by curator Ben Miller, who told him more about the Adams family of potters. He was also shown the famous teapot that was used to serve tea to ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’, and had a go at throwing a pot himself.