Sharpe’s Pottery Museum in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, is starting a new year-round events programme to turn the historic site into a social hub for the community. The move aims to bring more life to the town centre by offering art workshops, markets and evening entertainment alongside its traditional history displays.
The South Derbyshire District Council backed Sharpe’s Growth and Development Plan in November 2023 and is supporting the expansion. Visitors can now take part in pottery classes, browse artisan craft stalls, or attend murder mystery evenings held in the Kiln Hovel within the museum’s Grade II‑listed bottle kiln.
The museum is well known for its industrial past — including the development of the flushing rim toilet (the “wash-down water closet”) by Edmund Sharpe — but is now placing more emphasis on hands-on activities. The programme includes wellbeing sessions and live music performances from local artists in the kiln and courtyard spaces.
General entry to the museum remains free, but tickets for workshops usually cost between £10 and £45. Live music and comedy nights are typically priced between £10 and £15. Bookings are available through the museum’s website and, for some events, via third‑party ticketing platforms such as WeGotTickets or Skiddle; many events do require advance booking.
