Stoke-On-Trent History
Stoke-on-Trent’s history is closely connected with that of its six towns: Stoke, Hanley, Longton, Burslem, Fenton and Tunstall. To gain more information about each local history you can contact the City Archives for help.
Archivists also maintain extensive school log books and records of Primitive Methodist, Wesleyan and Methodist New Connexion churches within their collections.
History of the Potteries
Stoke-on-Trent, known worldwide for its world renowned Staffordshire pottery-producing region known as the Potteries, was formed in 1910 through a federation of six towns: Hanley, Burslem, Longton Tunstall Fenton and Stoke. Its motto translates as Vis Unita Fortior or Strength United Is Stronger; today Hanley serves as its main commercial hub while each town offers rich cultural traditions with their own architectural signatures; museums dedicated to this history include: Potteries Museum & Art Gallery Hanley Etruria Industrial Museum on Caldon Canal and Gladstone Pottery Museum Longton which are dedicated solely dedicated towards documenting this region’s rich cultural and architectural diversity – just three examples among many more!
From the 18th and 19th centuries, London was an industrial powerhouse, boasting factories producing crockery, sanitaryware, china, pottery tiles and earthenware products. Additionally, coal mining operations and cotton textile production flourished here. Many of the city’s streets retain their original layout and feature buildings from different architectural periods spanning the 18th to 20th century, reflecting its manufacturing heritage. Its architecture echoes bottle ovens used in early pottery production; canal-side or railway-related mill, factory and warehouse buildings; as well as an ad hoc layout for each of the six townships that once made up the city. Factory designs characterized by open plan manufacturing areas surrounded by floor to ceiling windows for ample lighting during intricate tasks like lithography and fettling were particularly notable features of factory design.
There was great wealth generated in the city, which is evidenced by its abundance of listed buildings. There are also several stunning churches such as St Mary and St Peter’s cathedral – built originally from wood around 670AD by missionaries from Lindisfarne before later being rebuilt using stone.
Though much of the industry that once made the Potteries great has diminished over time, pottery remains an integral component of everyday life in this city. While old giants such as Waterford Wedgwood and Royal Doulton no longer produce, smaller but highly skilled producers such as Portmeirion, Endeka and Johnson Tiles remain viable producers in today’s economy. Additionally, Stoke City FC plays its home matches at Bet365 Stadium on Stanley Matthews Way.
The Etruria Industrial Museum
Etruria Industrial Museum, commonly referred to as Etruria Mills, houses one of Britain’s last remaining steam-powered potters’ mills – designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument and Grade II* listed site – for use in manufacturing English bone china. Until 1903 when its boiler was fired and its 1820s Princess beam engine powered its historic machinery; several times each year this historic mill remains “in steam”.
The museum first opened to the public in 1991 after being restored by volunteers and becoming part of the city museum service, while being run and maintained by its own separate trust. Situated by the Trent & Mersey Canal near its junction with Caldon Canal, it remains an extremely popular visitor attraction.
Stoke-on-Trent is internationally renowned for its ceramics industry and industrial heritage, making the city home to numerous museums such as The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Gladstone Pottery Museum, Etruria Industrial Museum and Middleport Pottery that showcase this heritage.
Other attractions in the area include the Spode Museum Trust Heritage Centre, Dudson Museum, Moorcroft Heritage Visitor Centre and World of Wedgwood. In pottery city visitors can take a tour through various factories and learn all about the production process before trying their hands at producing earthenware masterpieces themselves!
Fred Hughes, local historian for Staffordshire, feels it would be tragic for such an essential piece of its history to fall victim to funding cuts, particularly at Etruria Industrial Museum which houses Britain’s only remaining working steam driven potters’ mill. According to Hughes, selling it off could raise funds for other projects while at the same time be selling off one of the world’s most significant sites; therefore he urges local councils not to sell off this industrial gem for personal gain, though. With the potential sale raising PS33m for other projects this museum should remain open – something Hughes feels strongly about as one must ensure this industrial treasure remains open – this industrial treasure should remain open. The councils may consider selling off this museum so they can raise PS33m for other projects.
The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery
The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery (PMAG), situated at Bethesda Street in Hanley and part of four local authority museums in Stoke-on-Trent, boasts collections that bring together all aspects of life in what became known as The Potteries. Home to one of the world’s finest collections of Staffordshire ceramics as well as decorative arts, costume archaeology geology natural history collections; PMAG also hosts various exhibits throughout the year.
PMAG offers visitors a journey through the evolution of pottery with displays featuring both commercial and “studio” pottery from commercial producers, studio potters, Greek, Chinese and Amerindian wares – as well as one of the world’s largest collections of Staffordshire slipware!
The Art Gallery boasts an outstanding collection of early twentieth-century artwork by F. C. B Cadell, Samuel John Peploe and Staffordshire artist John Currie; these are further supplemented by an extensive art library and recently-refurbished Forum Theatre.
Other galleries introduce visitors to the story of Stoke-on-Trent through room settings arranged to depict domestic and working life – such as a schoolroom, pub and chip shop – of its people. The archaeology section of the Museum is well known for its research efforts which have enhanced our understanding of prehistoric technologies, Roman household management systems, medieval monasticism and early potters of Burslem. Furthermore, John Ward created his collection of Carboniferous coal measure fossils from Fenton and Longton areas which he assembled over his lifetime.
Original known as the City Museum, the museum moved to its current site in 1956 and underwent major expansion during the late 70s, winning “Museum of the Year” honors in 1982. Today it stands as Grade II* listed building housing collections which represent all facets of city heritage; most famous exhibit may be World War Two Spitfire designed by Reginald Joseph Mitchell himself which stands in an adjacent gallery at the museum.
The Trentham Estate
Trentham Estate lies to the south of Stoke-on-Trent and is an award-winning visitor attraction featuring one of England’s great garden estates – its last remnant. Additionally, Trentham hosts a ceramics collection as well as parks and open spaces.
Capability Brown was drawn to the estate for its parkland and woodland at its core. He particularly favored its mile-long lake with elegant fountains and topiary. 4ha Italianate parterres stand out amongst all this lush landscaping as does a contemporary 3ha Floral Prairie designed by Dutch designer Piet Oudolf.
Attracting visitors with its Art Deco lido and dance hall as well as huge ballroom, the Sutherland estate offered to six Potteries towns for them to federate into a single county borough but this offer was rejected. Instead it remained popular venue for music and dancing performances including those by Sir Arthur Berry (sculptor, coin and stamp designer) Arnold Machin (sculptor coin designer) and Jack Simcock – performing regularly here.
Recent years have seen Stoke-on-Trent become a leading centre for digital technology, playing an essential role in UK’s creative industries sector. Hanley offers an eclectic nightlife scene of bars, pubs and clubs; plus it is an increasingly popular shopping destination thanks to city center and Eastgate retail/leisure complex.
The city boasts multiple theatres, the Regent Theatre in Hanley being the main venue. Other smaller theaters include Victorian King’s Hall in Stoke and Newcastle-under-Lyme’s New Vic Theatre as well as Victoria Hall for concerts as well as smaller venues like Queen’s Theatre Burslem. Furthermore, Stoke-on-Trent hosts various arts centres such as Potteries Museum & Art Gallery on Caldon Canal as well as Gladstone Pottery Museum located within former potbanks, Etruria Industrial Museum on Caldon Canal as well as The Hothouse Centre for Ceramic Design – these institutions all being run directly by City of Stoke-OnTrent Council elected Mayor Mike Wolfe directly elected directly as Mayor since 2002.
