Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre

About the museum

Belleek Pottery began in the 1850s in the border village of Belleek on the River Erne. John Caldwell Bloomfield of the nearby Castle Caldwell estate had a mineral survey made of his land in 1853, which found feldspar and kaolin, and the project grew from this. A crushing mill was built on the site of an old corn mill, and with the backing of Robert Williams Armstrong and David McBirney a company was formed. The foundation stone of the main pottery building was laid in November 1858, and production of everyday and sanitary ware was under way by 1863.

The pottery has stayed on the same site ever since, through several changes of ownership, and describes itself as the oldest working pottery in Ireland. Visitors have been coming to watch the craft since its early years, and the present visitor centre is built into the working factory.

The museum tells the story of the pottery through cabinets of products from its history of more than 160 years. Many pieces were donated by collectors and other owners. Alongside the museum the centre has a 30-seat theatre with a short introductory film, a showroom in a former factory room, and a tea room. The visitor centre lies within the Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark.

Highlights

• Museum with pieces from the pottery's history of over 160 years
• Guided 30-minute factory tour showing the production steps
• Parian china flowers and basketwork made by hand
• Audio-visual film in several languages
• Bloomfield Trail for children aged 4 to 12

Permanent exhibition

• Belleek Pottery Museum – Cabinets showing the design and production history of Belleek Pottery over more than 160 years, with many pieces given by collectors.

Founded

1988

Operated by

Belleek Pottery Ltd

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to the visitor centre and museum is free. The guided factory tour is charged separately.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The main entrance is wheelchair accessible and the visitor centre is on the ground floor. The factory tour route is on level ground and wheelchairs are provided. There are six accessible parking bays close to the entrance and an accessible toilet with a baby changing table. Showroom staff can bring hard-to-reach items closer.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities

The Bloomfield Trail is a children's version of the tour for ages 4 to 12, with 16 ceramic plaques to find and a completion certificate. Visitors on the standard tour are encouraged to glaze a piece. Baby changing is available in the accessible toilet.

Getting there & parking

The pottery stands on Main Street beside the River Erne; the village centre is about a 5-minute walk.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop
• Coat check

Self-service tea room with about 90 seats, serving hot lunches on weekdays and Saturdays from April to October and sandwiches in winter. Showroom with the full product range. Coats and umbrellas can be left in the foyer during the tour.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit