Etruria Industrial Museum 2025

Beam engine

Bone and Flint Mill

Canal junction

Home to Jesse Shirley’s 1857 Bone and Flint Mill, the only remaining operational steam driven potters’ mill in the world. Driven by a 1820s Boulton & Watt pattern rotative beam engine which is one of the oldest still working. Steam is raised by a 1903 Cornish boiler. Located at an attractive canal junction, there is a visitor centre, blacksmith’s forge, canal warehouse and toll office.

Contacts

Operator: Shirley's Bone & Flint Mill Volunteers

Address: Etruria Vale Road Etruria Stoke-on-Trent Staffordshire ST1 4RB

Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Website: View website

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Open Days & Times

Unfortunately the mill will is not ‘in steam’ as the problems with the 1903 boiler have not been resolved. Visit website or facebook for details for the coming season.

Travel

By Rail: Stoke on Trent / 2 miles

Facilities

Parking
Refreshments
Souvenir Shop
Part disabled access

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The mill was built in 1857 to grind flint, bone and Cornish stone which, when mixed with white clay, produces English bone china.

The 10 pan mill is driven by an 1820s Bolton & Watt pattern beam engine installed when the mill was built. Steam is raised by a hand stoked 1903 Cornish boiler built locally.

Power is transmitted to the grinding pans through transversal shafts and bevel gears. An original flint calcining kiln can be seen.

The mill has its own canal wharf with two historic working boats based at the mill.