Faïencerie S / Pottery S, France

Faïencerie S is an abandoned pottery in France. This location is also known as Pottery S, and Poterie DGM. We explored this interesting little location in the spring of 2017. The entry was somewhat memorable, as it involved quite a high and precarious climb!

A brief history of Faïencerie S

Comparatively, Faïencerie S was a small pottery factory. It appears the factory focussed on making pottery molds, rather than pots themselves. Perhaps this was done in another area of the factory, that we did not explore.

For a while the pottery was thriving, producing pottery molds in line with the increasing demand. Over the years new competitors emerged, who were more focussed on growth. While they diversified and invested in new technology, Faïencerie S stayed small and simple. Eventually they were unable to complete with the other factories, which could turn out more pots at a lower price. It is said that this factory closed suddenly. Stories suggest the owner saw the end was near for the factory, and emptied the company bank account. He fled abroad, and was never seen again. He is to said to have left the workforce with a closed factory, and no money to pay final wages.

Inside the old abandoned French pottery

Inside Faïencerie S, the upper floors are lined with seemingly endless wooden racks. Row upon row of them. They are stacked with hundreds of pottery molds.

Many of the molds are heavy, so they were transported around on carts. A long rail system runs along the building, and several wooden carts still stand on the tracks. Some of these are still loaded with pottery molds.

In another area of Faïencerie S, there is a storage area without wooden racking. These rooms have piles of pottery molds, including sets featuring Jesus Christ. In one corner we find the Jesus molds artistically placed, likely a staged shot by a previous explorer/photographer.