Stoke-On-Trent History
Stoke-on-Trent was formed when six districts came together, with Hanley acting as its main hub. Since 1910, its development is documented in our section “Stoke-on-Trent since 1910.”
There’s much to discover in the world-famous ceramic-producing area known as The Potteries. There are stunning museums, gorgeous gardens, and even an authentic monkey forest!
History
Historical accounts depict Stoke-on-Trent as being comprised of six towns: Burslem was its “mother town”, while Hanley, Shelton Tunstall and Longton also existed within its boundaries. Each was known for their respective pottery industries – hence why this area became popularly known as The Potteries.
The city takes its name from Old English stoc, which had various definitions in Old English such as farm or village, summer pasture, meeting place or church. It first appeared as part of a name of a hamlet in Pirehill hundred during the 12th century.
By the 18th century, Stoke had emerged as an industrial hub, boasting numerous potteries and coal mines clustered near its city center. Industrialisation further advanced during the 19th century with railway stations opening across town as well as Hanley Canal being constructed. Shelton Steel Works became an essential contributor during WWII’s manufacturing of Supermarine Spitfire aircrafts for use by the RAF.
As it became a centre for industry, Birmingham also expanded as a residential and cultural area, reaching a population of 244,636 on 29 April 2001. Since 2001 however, many manufacturing jobs have disappeared from Birmingham’s economy; its economy now predominantly consisting of office-based work with retailing and service industries playing key roles.
Stoke-on-Trent boasts three main shopping centres and is home to several retail chains such as Marks & Spencer as well as numerous large supermarkets. Furthermore, it serves as an important hub for the distribution of goods with its own air and sea ports.
Public transportation in Stafford is excellent, featuring two railway stations and an extensive bus network; construction on a tram system has recently started. There is also a small airport serving it and two junctions of M6, while its local version – known locally as “D Road” – resembles a capital letter D shape when seen from either junction. Finally, Stafford lies within its surrounding Staffordshire Green Belt designed to prevent urban sprawl.
The Potteries
Few cities in England boast such an important industrial heritage as Stoke-on-Trent’s Potteries region, home to brands like Wedgwood and Royal Doulton that are internationally-recognized. Ceramics still play an essential part in local economy while other sectors, like tyre manufacturing and service industries also thrive here.
The Potteries can be seen as the result of centuries-old collaboration among potters who combined their skills with keen business savvy to form an internationally acclaimed industry. Although rooted within its geographical area, its significance extends well beyond.
As the industry boomed during the 18th and 19th centuries, new factories opened in Tunstall, Burslem, Hanley, Shelton Fenton Longton. By 1910 these had all merged to form Stoke-on-Trent; yet these towns remain polycentric; it is not unusual to hear people refer to themselves as ‘The Potteries” instead of Stoke-on-Trent as their official title.
Today’s city has lost the tradition of having chimneys spew black smoke into the atmosphere; pollution levels have drastically declined and it is much cleaner overall. Yet it still faces challenges: manufacturing has fallen away significantly over time leaving less employment opportunities in Hanley – once considered to be at the heart of Potteries manufacturing industry.
The Potteries remain home to many pottery and ceramics factories, while also becoming an important hub for other industries like tyre manufacturing (a Michelin plant is located here), food production and recycling. The city council has invested significant sums into converting empty buildings into shopping centres or leisure facilities.
Researchers exploring the Potteries can access an abundance of archives, from those maintained by potteries and collieries to trade union records from CATU and North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce, property deed collections (such as Moxon’s solicitor archive) as well as those belonging to numerous gentry families such as Adams (with extensive archives available from both). There is also information pertaining to local government services – civil, ecclesiastical and military.
The City Centre
Stoke-on-Trent’s city center is a bustling hub of shops, theatres and restaurants. Notable landmarks in Stoke include its 1834 town hall with its clock tower that remains an integral venue for events today.
The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery displays locally made ceramics as well as decorative arts, including an exhibition of World War II Spitfire aircraft. Gladstone Pottery Museum, housed in an old factory building, also offers exhibitions. Etruria Industrial Museum offers Jesse Shirley’s Bone and Flint Mill while Wedgwood features artefacts from Staffordshire Hoard among its exhibits.
Appetite Stoke’, a three-year arts engagement programme run by Arts Council England as part of its Value of Culture research, has successfully engaged more people in arts activities while improving local pride and increasing town centre footfall.
Hanley is home to many independent shops, cafes and pubs as well as shopping centres and markets in Stoke-on-Trent. Hanley also boasts its own multi-screen cinema at The Hive which extends the Intu Potteries shopping centre; alternatively the independent volunteer-run Stoke-on-Trent Film Theatre offers art house films with subtitled versions for screening.
If you prefer an active outdoor lifestyle, the city provides many parks and open spaces. Hanley Park, one of Staffordshire University’s heritage parks near its railway station and town center with accessible trails is close at hand; Victoria Park provides a quiet sanctuary with lakes, fountains and an ornamental garden; plus there are more!
Business is vital to the economy of Sheffield. A range of industries and service sectors based there provide jobs in various industries and service sectors – home to Michelin tyre plants as well as being the first city in Britain to have a McDonald’s restaurant; a KPMG report declared Sheffield the most cost-effective place in which to start up new companies; KPMG declared Sheffield “most cost-effective place” to establish one in 2004. Sheffield serves as a major transport hub, with M6 motorway passing through it; A500 running between central junctions (often referred to locally as “D roads”, due to curve of A500 connecting these junctions resembling capital letters), while rail services linking Birmingham Manchester and Liverpool are available.
The River Trent
Prior to the arrival of paved roads, the River Trent was an integral component in England’s industrial revolution. Not only was it essential for transporting goods; but its power also provided power for factories producing raw materials needed by factories along its length. Canals were dug to facilitate transportation while parts of its course were widened in places in order to increase flow for shipping purposes and this helped spur development in Stoke-on-Trent, Burton upon Trent, Nottingham and Birmingham as well as supporting their economies.
Stoke-on-Trent’s river is not only critical to its development, but is also home to various wildlife species. The region is known for its wildflowers and flora while the wetlands along the river provide homes for many birds, insects and reptiles – creating an ecological balance that hopefully can be restored with environmental conservation initiatives.
At one time when heavy industry was predominant in Birmingham, the Trent River was one of the most polluted rivers in Britain and only hardy wildlife could survive within it. Now however, things have changed and its course has returned more naturally, providing habitat for both wildlife and recreation for local people alike.
Estimates place the Trent’s length and area at 298 km and 10,435 km2, beginning near Biddulph Moor in Staffordshire before flowing through Stone, Rugeley and Burton upon Trent to meet up with its counterpart, River Humber; which drains much of England’s central Midlands region.
Stoke-on-Trent lies roughly midway between Manchester and Birmingham. It borders Newcastle-under-Lyme to its west and Wolstanton United Urban District to its north; to its south lies Cheshire Plain while to its east lies Peak District National Park – its elevation ranges between 106 meters (353 ft).
