The Museum of Royal Worcester launches ‘The Porcelain Podcasts’ made by Nunnery Wood students
Twelve students from Nunnery Wood High School have been using interviews recorded with Worcester porcelain workers just before factory closure in 2007 to create a new special series titled ‘The Porcelain Podcasts’. After being inspired by a visit to the Museum, the pupils took part in an after-school History club for ten weeks, where they worked with local Oral History producer Julia Letts and History teacher Lauren Thatcher to record podcasts using this archive of interviews.
The Year 7 and 9 students have now made eight podcasts, each about 12 minutes long, which are being released weekly via the Museum’s YouTube channel. They feature ten of the interviewees who shared their interesting and unique stories of working in the factory before its closure, including accounts of working conditions, specific techniques for making models, and factory mishaps!
Sophie and Amelia, students at Nunnery Wood, said: “Our podcast (episode 2) is about a paintress called Freda Griffiths. She started working at the Worcester Porcelain Factory in 1946 and finally finished there in 1971. We found her stories fascinating and wanted to share them with you. You will hear Freda explaining how you paint figurines, what the conditions were like in the factory, how she nearly got sacked and what happened when the Queen visited in 1951. We hope you enjoy our episode!”
Julia Letts, Oral History producer working with the students, said: “As well as increasing their confidence in public speaking, this project has allowed the students to contribute towards the preservation of Worcester’s rich porcelain heritage and make the stories of those who shaped the industry more accessible for generations to come.”
Kate Travers, Museum director, said: “This has been a brilliant opportunity for the Museum to support in providing a platform for the voices of young people to take the lead in presenting their wonder and awe at discovering Royal Worcester’s significant industrial heritage. We are very proud to have been a part of bringing together the voices of past and future generations and thank the students and all involved in this project for making it possible.”
‘The Porcelain Podcasts’ is part of wider Arts project currently being developed by internationally acclaimed artists Musson & Retallick, who have been using stories surrounding the former factory site to develop a new public artwork, due to be unveiled outside the Museum in Spring 2025. This artwork has been commissioned by Worcester City Council, The Museum of Royal Worcester and Royal Porcelain Works. We are hugely grateful to Berkeley Homes, the Bransford Trust, and S106 for funding this project.