Royal Doulton KilnGate Update — Friday 9th October 2026
Foundations Laid for the Royal Doulton Workers Memorial!
As many of you know, planning and coordinating with the various organizations for the Kilngate project has been quite a journey—to put it mildly! We have definitely had our share of tricky, hair-raising moments along the way.
What started as a fairly straightforward plan has truly evolved into something magnificent. We are thrilled to share that the foundations are now officially laid. This project is well on its way to honoring the heritage of the Royal Doulton workers—your family, your ancestors, and your community. Thank you to everyone for your continued support as we bring this tribute to life!
Project Progress
After a turbulent week—during which we narrowly avoided a Section 58 notice that would have halted excavation for the memorial foundation for two years and effectively ended the KilnGate project—progress finally broke through. Thanks to Dave from Stoke-on-Trent Highways, permission was secured to lay the foundations below ground. Following a last‑minute phone call on Thursday, Mike rallied immediately and, as ever, organised the occasion with the reverence and dignity it deserved.
A Special Day for Three Royal Doulton KilnGate Families
The foundation‑laying became a meaningful moment for three families connected to the Royal Doulton Fallen:
Steve Plimbley, nephew of William H. Plimbley
Elaine and Alf Holdcroft, grandchildren of Alfred William Holdcroft
Terry Richardson, grandson of John Richardson and great‑nephew of Louis Richardson
Members of the Staffordshire Regiment Association also attended, adding further significance to the day.
Everyone involved in the Royal Doulton KilnGate Project extends heartfelt thanks to the Keble Heath Construction workers and the Stoke-on-Trent Highways team for their commitment and support.
The Commemorative Picket Post
A barbed‑wire picket post donated by Mick Rawson is now embedded within the foundations of the KilnGate Memorial to the Royal Doulton Fallen. The post was discovered near Croonaert Wood in Belgium—known to German forces as Bayernwald—around six kilometres south of Ypres (now Ieper) on the Messines Ridge.
It was unearthed during the reconstruction of former German trenches for a museum project in the 1970s and 1980s. These trenches remain open to visitors today. German forces held the area until the Battle of Messines on 7 June 1917, which began with the detonation of 19 British mines and preceded the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele).
Terry Richardson took a section of the picket stake and fashioned it into a striking piece of trench art in distressed oak. This artwork serves as a visual reminder of the lower portion now embedded in the memorial’s foundations. Terry’s grandfather, John Richardson, and great‑uncle, Louis Richardson, both worked at Royal Doulton and fell in the First World War.
A letter from Alfred Holdcroft to the Workers of Keble Heath Construction, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Dave at Stoke-on-Trent Highway Department.
Gentlemen, my heartfelt thanks to you all. Earlier, Mike warned that today’s work could be delayed for up to two years. David, you and the team stepped in and made it happen.
Thanks to your hard work, the memorial to those who fell in the First and Second World Wars now has its foundation. You did more than pour a concrete base: you laid the groundwork for preserving the memory of the brave men and women who served our country.
On behalf of us all, thank you sincerely for your extraordinary effort today. Fantastic work, gentlemen.
