The last pieces have been fired in the kilns of Denby Pottery, bringing two centuries of production to a close. The final batch was finished off on Thursday, after administrators failed to find a buyer for the Derbyshire company that had been making ceramics since 1809.
Denby appointed administrators on 31 March, squeezed by what it described as “soaring” energy costs, “escalating” employment costs and reduced demand. A #SaveDenby campaign urging people to buy more products was launched, but administrators said it did not lead to a sale, forcing production to cease.
“Denby Pottery fires its final pieces, ending production after more than 200 years due to rising costs and no buyer found.”
In a Facebook post, the company thanked customers and ex-employees for their support. “Centuries of making pottery at Denby may be coming to a close, but the love and soul poured into each piece will live on,” it said. “Denby would not have been able to continue for this long without generations of dedicated, skilled people.”
The statement added: “From the kilns to customers’ homes and all the pairs of hands in between, thank you to every member of staff, past and present, for playing your part in taking care of this piece of history. The future is always uncertain and whilst it’s hard to comprehend what things may look like in the next weeks and months, we are so hugely proud of everything this Derbyshire pottery has achieved. It’s not and has never just been about the pots.”
International subsidiaries of Denby in Korea, the US and China are not in administration and will continue to operate as normal.