Pilkington's Tile and Pottery Company

The Peter Scott Gallery houses one of the most significant collections of Pilkington's Tile and Pottery Company and related archive material in the UK. Pilkington's were based at Clifton Junction near Manchester and were given permission to use the Royal warrant in 1913 when the pottery was renamed Royal Lancastrian pottery. A permanent display of this material is shown in the John Chambers Ceramics Room, on the upper level of the Peter Scott Gallery.

A large number of ceramics were given to Lancaster University in 1994 by Miss Mary Chambers, on behalf of herself and her brother Arthur Chambers. In August 2002 the gallery received a substantial bequest of archive material from Miss Mary Chambers (1910-2002). Miss Chambers was the daughter of John Chambers (1869-1945), who was the Chief Designer at Pilkington's Tile and Pottery Company during what is generally considered to be its golden era. Among the thousands of items in the bequest were delicate illustrations and designs, photographs, rare books and catalogues, diaries, paperwork, stencils for tiles, artists' materials and ceramics.

John Chambers Ceramics Room

The John Chambers Ceramics Room is currently closed while we work with the Pilkington’s Pottery Society to re-display our ceramics.

Details and re-opening dates will be posted here or you can sign up to our mailing list to receive updates direct to your inbox.