Clarice Cliff Feature Articles

It's always thrilling to find something new about the history of Clarice Cliff and anything to do with her pottery!  This weekend is no exception as fellow Clarice Cliff and Art Deco collector Adam Cunningham discovered some "new" photographs on-line, aerial ones at that, which were taken in 1935, courtesy of English Heritage.

"They are the clearest pictures I have ever seen of the works.  The Bizarre Shop is the backwards L-shaped building on the right of the shot, just by the canal.  You can even see the gap where the catwalk was between the Bizarre Shop and the building where Clarice's studio was situated.  It just goes to show just how large Wilkinsons and Newport Pottery actually were." (see picture 1)

"This is even better as the Bizarre Shop is now on the left of this picture.  It shows the large shard ruck and also the shard ruck bridges for both firms running across the canal.  This picture dates from the same time of 1935." (see picture 2)

"I'm quite excited to find these as it gives a real idea at last of what the works actually looked like, and I hope that other collectors will be interested too." (see picture 3)

"There's actually seven shots from different directions so the plane's pilot must have been told to specifically target Wilkinsons, Newport and the surrounding factories that day for the run.  It's amazing how clear they all are considering that aerial phtography was still very much in its infancy." (see picture 4)

Aerial photography actually began during the first World War, but Adam is correct inasmuchas commercial aerial photography was in its infancy during the mid 1930's.

With special thanks to Adam Cunningham who trawls the web at crazy hours - just like me!

Doreen Mann