Plans unveiled for new memorial honouring Royal Doulton workers who gave their lives in war

Plans have been unveiled for the Kilngate Memorial in Burslem, which will honour 59 Royal Doulton workers who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars. The memorial will be the first of two new remembrance projects recognising the town's wartime sacrifice and industrial heritage.

Plans for the first of two new war memorials dedicated to Burslem's fallen servicemen have been unveiled, marking an important step in preserving the town's rich industrial and military heritage.

The new Kilngate Memorial will honour 59 Royal Doulton workers who lost their lives during the First and Second World Wars. The memorial is intended to be installed in central Burslem, facing towards Nile Street, the route many of the workers would have taken as they left the town to serve their country.

The project will restore an important piece of local history that was lost following the closure and redevelopment of the former Royal Doulton factory site.

For generations, Royal Doulton was one of Burslem's most significant employers, with thousands of local people passing through its gates. Among them were men who left their jobs in the pottery industry to answer the call of duty during two world wars, many never returning home.

The original memorial once stood proudly within the factory complex, serving as a reminder of their sacrifice. When the site closed, the memorial disappeared, leaving a gap in the town's collective memory.

Now, thanks to a community-led initiative supported by local businesses, craftspeople and volunteers, the memorial is set to return permanently to the heart of Burslem.

The Kilngate Memorial is the first phase of a wider remembrance project. It will eventually be joined by a second memorial, known as Burslem Remembers, which will commemorate more than 1,600 men and women from the town who lost their lives in conflict.

The project has been sponsored by St. Modwen and Miller Homes.

Specialist local firms have played a key role in bringing the memorial to life. Meighs & Westleys Ltd is producing the bronze panels, while Tailored Stone is creating the Portland stone surround and memory stone.

The bronze design has been developed with the involvement of Stoke-on-Trent sculptor Andy Edwards, whose work includes the internationally recognised Lemmy statue in Burslem, a landmark that continues to attract visitors and Motörhead fans from around the world.

Behind the scenes, volunteer researchers Ruth Butler and Rob Price have spent more than a year uncovering the stories of those named on the memorial, helping ensure that the men behind the names are remembered as individuals as well as part of the town's wider history.

Community engagement work linked to the project is being delivered by New Vic Borderlines and Port Vale Foundation, with support from Hon. H.M.T. Gibson and Fiskars Ltd.

Mike Lightfoot, who leads the Kilngate Memorial Project, said:

"This is the first of two memorials that will bring together Burslem’s industrial history and its wartime story.

"Those fifty-nine on The Kilngate Memorial were local people who worked at Royal Doulton and went on to serve their country and are to be the first of more than 1,600 names who will eventually recognised and remembered.

"Thanks to the support of local businesses, skilled crafts people, and dedicated researchers we are able to return this memorial and the forthcoming Burslem Remembers a named memorial to Burslem’s 1,600 Fallen to the heart of the town, where it belongs."

Councillor Steve Watkins said:

"This memorial is an important part of Burslem’s history and Stoke-on-Trent’s wider story.

"Restoring and creating them ensures that future generations understand the contribution and sacrifice made by local people.

"It will give Burslem a lasting place of remembrance and ensure these workers who served their country and never returned home are never forgotten."

The second memorial, Burslem Remembers, is expected to be unveiled next year, creating a lasting focal point for remembrance in the town and recognising the wider contribution made by generations of local families during times of conflict.

Research into the names continues, with organisers keen to trace relatives and descendants connected to those commemorated.

As Burslem continues its wider regeneration, the memorial project serves as a reminder that the town's story is not only one of industry and craftsmanship, but also of the people whose lives shaped its history and whose sacrifices helped shape the nation.

For more information about the project visit Honouring the Royal Doulton Fallen.