Gladstone museum

Rather than travelling for ages, we've been checking out our local tourist attractions. Those that are on your doorstep are often dismissed or forgotten. Here in Stoke we are surrounded by old pot banks and the local history here is amazing. The part the Potteries industry play in lives gone by are really interesting and I will never tire of the information out there. Any excuse to involve my kids I will take gladly!
These museums are far from boring. They often have fascinating interactive exhibitions going on and just because they're local to us doesn't make them any less desirable as a toursit attraction. Going midweek when they're quiet is great too. We practically had the whole place to ourselves for the whole afternoon.

Our big girl got so much from this field trip. I was getting worried that she wasn't getting 'interested' in anything of late. Even whilst we were at the museum I was sure that none of it was going in. She was intent on rushing her way through all the markers on the map and not reading any of the interesting signs that were hung everywhere. I feel foolish now as I even questioned her enthusiam whilst we were slurping tea in the nice cafe (mummy fail!)
Once we got home and began talking about our day she showed me just how much had sunk in. She talked with gusto about the various jobs that were had around the factory in the early 1900's and the way that children were put to work there. She told her dad all about the sagger makers and the saggar makers bottom knockers who worked really hard at very long labourious shifts. I was pleased to see her getting excited about it all around our chalkboard table that evening whilst we ate dinner.

Note to self:
I should have more confidence in our home schooling journey. It really is working.

Inside the bottle kiln with a worker loading saggars ready for firing.

There was an unusual exhibition happening while we were there too. Like an added bonus!

The 'Flushed with pride' show was all about toilets. Yes, toilets! Nothing too strange there?!

Toilets have been manufactured locally for decades. The potteries industry makes porcelain bowls of all sorts and up until quite recently has been an export of ours.

This interactive exhibition was really exciting. We were greeted with a foul stench as we made our way through history. Talking about the uncleanliness in our streets at the beginning, how sanitation changed when sewage pipes were put into major cities and towns, right through to the most modern toilets and even how astronauts pee in space!!

Well worth a visit to hear the kids giggling as they sit on all kinds of toilets through the ages.

Penny taking a 'seat'!