Novelty Saturday – Bottle Ovens

A bottle oven is a type of kiln. The word ‘bottle’ refers to the shape of the structure and not to the kiln’s products which were pottery not glass. Bottle ovens were typical of the industrial landscape of Stoke-on-Trent, where a number of them are preserved as listed buildings. Their association with Stoke-on-Trent reflects the fact that the British ceramic industry was mainly based in that city, but bottle ovens are found in other locations, for example Coalport, with a pottery industry. Bottle ovens were constructed until the mid-twentieth century after which they were replaced in the pottery industry by other types of kiln.