Saturday, 29 March 2025
11:00am-4:00pm

The Raven Mason Collection,
Keele Hall, Keele University ST5 5BG

Dated and Documentary Pots Day

11.30-12.30 Presentation by Rob Higgins

Pot with Dates: The Peter Higgins Collection

Come and hear about remarkable pots in a collection not previously known to NCS members:
Peter Higgins started working in Stoke-on-Trent in the late 1960s. He had always been
interested in history and had a growing interest in pottery. Over the next 40 years he collected commemorative
ceramics made from the 17th to the 20th centuries and also selected pieces with local interest to North Staffordshire.
Rob Higgins will talk about the collection that he has known since childhood – time to brush up
on your history of the Napoleonic Wars and other big issues of the day!

2.00-3.30 Dated and Documentary Pots

Session led by Nick Berthoud

Nick interprets today’s subject very widely and will bring a selection of items from his extensive collection
that add to our understanding of ceramics, mainly in the early 19th century, through their documentary
features- date, inscription, mark, attribution and association- along with his own detailed knowledge
that he will share. There will be items to handle and items to look at only- please be guided by Nick.
Nick has also kindly offered to comment on members’ pots on the theme of the day
brought for sharing information.

Lunch and refreshments:

• Coffee/tea, water and biscuits on arrival will be available and at lunchtime- please pay £2 per serving.
• A sandwich lunch with drinks, pastries and fruit at £10.00 pp is available but must be pre-booked: please contact Deb Skinner by Thursday 20th March with dietary preferences, contact details below.
• A Co-op, Greggs and Chapters café serving sandwiches, etc is in Union Square a short walk away; the Courtyard Hotel near Home Farm has a bar, coffee shop and restaurant.
• If you are bringing a packed lunch, there is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating around the building.

Information for attendees

Travel to campus: Satnav postcode ST55BG. Bus route no25 from Stoke Station.

Directions: www.keele.ac.uk/connect/howtofindus/

Map: www.keele.ac.uk/about/howtofindus/maps/keele-campus-map.pdf

• Keele Hall is off the the main campus drive, clearly signed.
• Parking is off Keele Hall drive on the left as you approach the gateway, or for accessible/blue badge parking please use the Hall courtyard.
• Further parking is available nearby. All parking is free of charge at the weekend.
• Please note that there is a flight of steps up to the Raven Mason Collection rooms. Please contact Deb Skinner if you need to use the lift and this can be arranged.
• Contact information for attendees will be shared with Keele University staff for attendance purposes and will not be used for any other purpose.

Deb Skinner, NCS Programme Secretary:

By email:  northernceramicsociety@gmail.com

By post:   NCS Programme Secretary, 15 Walker Lane, Sutton, Macclesfield SK11 0DZ

By phone: mobile phone (send a text message or leave a voice message): 07711 699560; landline (leave a voice message): 01260 253409