Historic Denby Pottery Plant and Machinery Heads to Auction Following Administration

A rare opportunity to acquire plant and machinery from one of Britain’s best-known ceramics manufacturers.

The closure of Denby Pottery marks the end of one of Britain's oldest and most celebrated ceramics manufacturers, bringing to a close more than two centuries of pottery production in Derbyshire.

Following the company's entry into administration in March 2026, with FRP Advisory appointed as Administrators, Hilco Global Professional Services has been instructed to conduct the sale of the plant and machinery from the renowned manufacturing site. The business was impacted by a challenging trading environment, with rising energy costs, weakening consumer demand and increasing financial pressures, despite efforts to secure new investment.

Founded in 1809, Denby became internationally recognised for its high-quality stoneware, iconic Imperial Blue collection and ceramics crafted using locally sourced Derbyshire clay. Its products earned a reputation for exceptional craftsmanship and durability, making the brand a household name across generations and establishing Denby as one of the most recognisable names in British ceramics.

Throughout its long history, the Denby site became synonymous with traditional pottery skills combined with modern manufacturing techniques, producing millions of pieces of tableware for customers around the world. The sale of the remaining plant and machinery provides an opportunity for businesses within the ceramics sector and other related industries to acquire specialist equipment with a proven manufacturing history.

The online auction will take place on Thursday 30 July 2026 from 11:00am BST, offering buyers a rare opportunity to acquire specialist ceramics manufacturing equipment from one of Britain’s best-known pottery manufacturers. The catalogue includes machinery from leading manufacturers such as Shin-Ei-Kiko Co, Zeidler, Service Engineers Ltd, VSM Metalworking and Drayton, alongside packaging lines, glazing systems, tunnel kilns and a wide variety of production equipment suitable for ceramics and tableware production.

The range of assets available reflects the scale and complexity of Denby’s historic manufacturing operation, with equipment covering multiple stages of the production process, from forming and finishing through to glazing, firing and packaging. The auction is expected to attract interest from ceramics manufacturers, industrial buyers, resellers and investors looking to secure high-quality machinery.

The sale has already generated strong interest, with ceramics manufacturers, industrial buyers and investors from across the UK and overseas registering to participate. This interest reflects both the quality of the assets and the scale of the manufacturing operation at the Derbyshire site.