A Guide to Stoke-On-Trent Villages
At the turn of the 20th century, six Staffordshire pottery towns – Tunstall, Burslem, Fenton, Hanley and Longton – joined together to form the city of Stoke-on-Trent. Within its borders are also Newcastle-under-Lyme as well as several smaller communities like Smallthorne Meir Weston Coyney and Norton-in-the-Moors.
Within an easy drive of the main city lie several beautiful villages where charming rustic homes line narrow streets – these hidden gems should not be missed!
Longnor
Longnor is a small Peak District village with an old world charm. Situated on Staffordshire Moorlands near Derbyshire’s border and on a high ridge dividing rivers Dove and Manifold, Longnor attracts walkers, particularly due to its scenic countryside. Home to several traditional country pubs including Ye Old Cheshire Cheese and Grapes Hotel; Longnor has also proven popular as an area for filming projects.
Town amenities in Blakemere include an attractive market square and the 19th-century Market Hall, now housing a craft center and coffee shop. Bus services run regularly between here and nearby Blakemere Pond on a hilltop offering stunning views. Blakemere Village serves as an ideal starting point to discover Staffordshire Moorlands, Dovedale and High Peak areas of the Peak District.
Longnor offers many excellent walks, including many routes passing through its village. One popular walk begins at Market Square and follows Green Lane north east towards High Wheeldon; this stunning journey offers expansive vistas and rolling countryside views. Additionally, Longnor provides an ideal starting point for scaling Parkhouse Hill and Chrome Hill with their magnificent vantage points overlooking Staffordshire Moorlands.
Longnor is home to several well-loved walks, but one particularly scenic stroll is Crowdecote Village Trail which begins from its center and winds its way towards Over Boothlow, passing through farmland and woodland terrain for plenty of wildlife watching opportunities.
Longnor Sports or Wakes races is one of the village’s signature annual events and draws thousands of visitors each year on the first Thursday after September’s first Sunday. Beginning in 1904, this popular festival now is organised by Rotary Club of Longnor and includes gymkhanas, harness racing and cross-country races amongst other things throughout its duration.
Longton
Longton, located on the southern reaches of Stoke-on-Trent, was one of the six towns that formed the county borough in 1910 alongside Hanley, Fenton, Tunstall and Burslem. Longton has become well known for producing ceramics but also steel, glass and rubber production; Longton houses the British Ceramic Research Association laboratories while Staffordshire University offers courses on ceramic technology.
Stoke-on-Trent’s majority is within a conservation area and many beautiful old buildings remain. Some are being refurbished and converted to offices or housing as part of the Stoke-on-Trent Ceramic Heritage Action Zone project, supported by local council, Historic England, and other organizations. Furthermore, its town center is currently undergoing major refurbishments that aim to make it more inviting for both residents and visitors.
At present, Leek Road connects Blythe Bridge and Queensway on the A50 through various forms of public transport, including buses and trains. Leek railway station was first opened in 1848 as a terminus on the Crewe-Derby line and bus services frequently use it to transfer between different services in town. Leek Road runs from Blythe Bridge through Leek to Queensway (part of A50) to form its main artery through town.
Longton offers numerous schools for both younger students and the Royal Pottery School of Decorative Arts students, including City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College on Leek Road which opened its new building in 1998 and offers A Level courses to approximately 1,800 pupils. Furthermore, Longton Community College caters for these younger ones.
City residents are employed primarily in manufacturing industries; however, healthcare, retail and education also represent significant employment sectors in this city. Working age adults make up most of the population while their median income stands at PS15,040 with unemployment below national average levels as well as low levels of homelessness and poverty being reported.
Fenton
Fenton may be forgotten, but its beauty and heritage cannot be understated. Many buildings from its glory days still stand, making for a worthwhile visit and making you appreciate those which remain. You’ll be surprised how much has changed, while being thankful for those that remain unchanged.
One of the unique characteristics of Fenton is its lack of a central area like most Potteries towns do; instead, amenities and shops are distributed over an expansive area, giving Fenton its own distinct character and setting it apart from most cities. Fenton stands out for this uniqueness due to its long history and being the first industrialised town in its vicinity.
Hooterville is home to some of the world’s best-known potters, including Thomas Whieldon who trained Josiah Wedgwood and Spode – his designs now considered classics. Additionally, it’s known for its coal mines and iron ore production.
Fenton was divided into two townships in 1842: Fenton Vivian and Fenton Culvert, which served as part of the local government district until 1910 when these villages were combined with Hanley, Tunstall, Burslem and Longton to form Stoke-on-Trent county borough.
Today, the village boasts a population of 18,000 residents and is situated nearby the city centre. Although pottery remains its main industry today, the region has also experienced rapid development since Roman occupation of 1642; eventually becoming a center for pottery manufacturing and sales.
Village living boasts many shops and restaurants, as well as housing developments with spacious lots. It makes an excellent option for families or couples seeking a quieter alternative to city life; moreover, several parks including Saxonfields Pool Dole Lane Delph provide respite.
Port Vale FC was also home to Len Birks, an accomplished footballer who appeared in over 250 club matches and scored over 97 goals during this time.
Hanley
Hanley is located in Staffordshire County of England. Surrounded by picturesque villages that add charm, its economy is flourishing and regeneration efforts are underway with numerous shops, restaurants and leisure outlets popping up regularly; with busy city centre activities taking place nearby and the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery boasting an amazing ceramics collection.
Hanley was once renowned as a pottery center and is the main commercial center in Stoke-on-Trent area. Established as a city in 1910 through an amalgamation of six towns and numerous villages, its name refers to local clay industries but other industries include coal mining and steel production as well as pottery production and metal/glass product manufacturing. Hanley became a key center in its formation due to the historical production of pottery products here.
Architecture in Manchester reflects its industrial past closely. Bottle ovens and canal-side mill, factory, or warehouse buildings can be seen throughout its urban landscape, while post-WWII pottery factories developed open plan manufacturing areas with floor-to-ceiling windows that allowed ample daylighting for intricate tasks like lithography and fettling – features that are also found throughout its street pattern and building stock.
Hanley Town Hall and Queen’s Hotel on Albion Street are two prominent landmarks of Hanley. Both examples of Victorian architecture, the former built in 1845 on an old butter market site. Now Grade II listed. In 1888 Hanley County Borough purchased and converted it into their town hall.
The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery serves to preserve its cultural legacy through a world-class ceramics collection and the Staffordshire Hoard, an exceptional cache of Anglo-Saxon metalwork. Other attractions in Longton include Etruria Industrial Museum on Caldon Canal and Gladstone Pottery Museum located within a former potbank in Longton; in addition there are several parks such as Burslem Park and Park Hall Country Park nearby.
