Buckley Library, Museum and Gallery

Buckley Library, Museum and Gallery is a public library in Buckley, a town in Flintshire, north-east Wales, with a small museum and gallery on its first floor. It is the place to go if you want to understand how a modest Welsh town became known for clay, kilns and bricks.

What is the museum about?

The museum tells the story of Buckley's pottery and brick industries, following them from medieval times through to the twentieth century. Clay in the area supported generations of local potters and brickmakers, and the displays show how that craft shaped everyday life and the identity of the town. It is a compact, local-history museum rather than a large national institution, so a visit is easy to fit into a short stop in the area.

What is the Martin Harrison Collection?

The best-known holding is the Martin Harrison Collection of Buckley Pottery, a collection of locally made ware. Its purchase was made possible with help from the Victoria and Albert Museum Purchase Grant Fund and the Art Fund, which gives an idea of how significant it is for the study of Welsh ceramics. If you are interested in traditional domestic pottery, this is the main reason to come.

Is there art as well?

Yes. The gallery space shows paintings by the local artist James Bentley (1921-2004), which adds a more personal, artistic view of the area alongside the industrial history.

Has the museum changed recently?

The museum reopened in September 2017 after a major redevelopment. According to the council, the project was funded by the Welsh Government and the Heritage Lottery Fund. The refresh was aimed at presenting the pottery and brick story and the collections in a modern, accessible way.

What about the library?

Buckley's library tradition goes back to the Carnegie era. A record of Carnegie libraries gives a grant year of 1902 and an opening date of 7 September 1904 for the town's original library, which was built with the support of the philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Later the library moved to a newer complex, so today's combined library, museum and gallery is a modern successor to that early building. Sources disagree on what the old Carnegie building is used for now, so check locally if you want to see it.

Practical tips for visitors

• The museum is on the first floor of the public library, so you can combine it with a visit to the library itself.
• Admission is free.
• The address is The Precinct, Buckley, CH7 2EF, in the centre of the town.
• Allow roughly an hour; the displays are small and focused.
• Check the opening hours before you travel, as small local venues often have limited days.

Frequently asked questions

Is Buckley Library, Museum and Gallery free to enter? Yes, admission is free.

What can I see there? The history of Buckley's pottery and brick industries, the Martin Harrison Collection of Buckley Pottery, and paintings by James Bentley.

When did the museum reopen after redevelopment? In September 2017.

Where is it? In the centre of Buckley, Flintshire, North Wales, on the first floor of the town's public library.

Who is it good for? Anyone interested in Welsh industrial heritage, ceramics and local history, as well as families looking for a short, free cultural stop.