Pottery firm marks 200th birthday

The company was founded in 1809

Staff at a Derbyshire pottery firm have been celebrating its 200th anniversary.

Events to mark 200 years of Denby Pottery were held at its visitor centre on Saturday and there will be product launches throughout the year.

The firm axed 35 jobs this year and was the subject of a management buyout due to a fall in sales. There has also been talk of more production moving abroad.

But site director Richard Eaton remained positive and said it was a resilient company.

Hot water bottles

He said: "There's always a determination to make it work. Denby's had a history that's been up and down a number of times over recent years as well as throughout its history.

The company was founded by Joseph Bourne in 1809 after he secured the lease on a seam of clay discovered when the Derby to Alfreton road was being built in 1806.

Many used its hot water bottles during the Napoleonic wars.

The company did not take on the Denby name until 1976.

It currently employs 665 people worldwide, with 465 of them working at the headquarters in Denby, Derbyshire, and has 16 warehouse shops across the UK.

The UK and US businesses were bought in February by a team led by managing director Gary Biggs.

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