In recognition of 80 years since the founding of the town’s W. H. Bossons Ltd in Brook Mills, Congleton Museum is opening a new temporary exhibition that will show the history and background behind the talents of the Bossons family and how they came to open the business in 1946.

Bossons products were extremely popular and continue to be collected around the world to this day even though the factory doors closed for the last time in 1996. There is also still a thriving International Bossons Collectors Society based in the USA.

Visitors will be able to follow the progress timeline of the business and their products, including a display of original plaques and heads.

There will also be an insight into what it was like to work in the factory, especially from the point of view of the paintresses. See how they worked and the equipment they used. Listen to some of their stories and memories and watch when the factory was filmed for Pathé News.

PUBLIC PROGRAMME

As part of the Bossons exhibition, Congleton Museum will host a programme of talks and creative activities exploring the history of the factory, its workers, its products and the people behind the business.

TALKS

17th October, 11am – From Factory to Homeworker

A talk with a former Bossons paintress about the factory and the work that was done at home, following the whole process from start to finish – how designs were created, how items were made and prepared in the factory, delivered to homeworkers for painting, then returned to the factory to be checked, lacquered, packed and sent out to shops.

The talk will also share personal memories and stories of what it was like to work for Bossons and how the factory and its homeworkers worked together.

7th November, 11am – Researching the Story of Bossons

A talk by the Museum Research Group, who have been working on the exhibition and discovering more about Bossons, the family behind the company and the history of the business.

The group will also look at Bossons in a wider context, comparing it with other similar businesses in Congleton and elsewhere in the country, and exploring what made the company distinctive.

14th November, 11am – Talk and Try Painting

A talk and hands-on painting session with a former Bossons paintress. Hear more stories about Bossons, the people who worked there and how the pieces were made and painted, then have a go at painting an item yourself.

Find out about the techniques used by Bossons paintresses and try some of the skills involved in bringing the company’s character studies to life.

ART WEEK

27th-29th October – Bossons Art Week

During half term, families and children can try the different stages of Bossons production for themselves – from coming up with a design and creating a mould to painting the finished piece.

Try your hand as a designer, mould-maker or paintress and discover how many different skills were involved in producing a Bossons piece.

Booking details will be available soon.