A History of the Potteries - Part One

A local history enthusiast goes on the trail of North Staffordshire / Stoke on Trent's fascinating industrial heritage, featuring an interview with ex-Potteries worker Steve Bowers.

[@davidvickers3692]

A good series of films, but I must point out a couple of errors; Stoke-on-Trent is a conurbation of SIX towns.that celebrated its centenary in 2012. You seem to have omitted both Fenton and Tunstall, and mistakenly included Trentham?

[@morgylyn]

Excellent.It's about time us Potteries folk let the world know that we are proud of our heritage. I have lived in many British cities both north and south and can say that without a doubt Potteries folk are the most friendly. In recent years the area has suffered greatly from pit closures,the demise of the pottery industry and the closure of Shelton Steel works, yet the spirit of the place remains and the courage of it's inhabitants in the face of so many job losses should be an example to all.

[@pusely]

It's not Trentham it is North to South: Tunstall, Burslem, Hanley, Stoke-upon-Trent, Fenton & Longton. Even Wikipedia has got that right!

[@bjorntoulouse7523]

What about Tunstall and Fenton? And when did Trentham become one of the six (not five) towns?

[@fasthracing]

I used to work in Stoke. Great friendly people.

[@champcol]

so interesting to listen to a person who has been there done that

[@johnmaxnodiff5875]

My family had a pottery at Kiln Croft Burslem in the 16th cent. They remained with pottery and other businesses in Burslem until the 1920’s. The main house after moving from 4 houses on the Marsh at Wolstanton in the 18th. Was at number 1, Swan Square. As well as the various factories they owned 90 houses in the Chapel Lane area. These were subject to the first slum clearance in the City in the 1920’s.

[@snazzyquizzes2336]

This video is Stoke-tastic!

[@fan7a]

J&G Meakin Eagle Pottery Ivy-House Road, did 7 years.

[@tallslimguy]

Would love to find out more about The Summerbank Pottery of Tunstall and hear from former workers/Potters - I own the largest private Coopercraft collection in the U.K. but know very little about the pottery or how many different ceramics were produced

[@gillchatfield3231]

Potters Holidays - Wakes Week was historically the first 2 weeks in August, following on from August Bank Holiday, which was the first Monday in August. Earlier it would have been just one week. The Thursday of the first week was known as Trentham Thursday in the first part of the 20th century, possibly as it coincided with half-day closing, so shop workers could get out with family members who had a holiday week.

[@david-lt9wj]

All the wealth that must have been generated from those centuries of toil...they lived the good life..

[@garrypritchard422]

I think you’ll find that one of the five towns is Fenton not Trentham as a Stokey myself I find it a bit insulting that you do not know this

[@abwise1881]

What was the pub called next door to Beswicks in Longton

[@nidge2822]

The shamrock lol I worked on the kilns at Berwick so the shammy was a good pub back then lol

[@abwise1881]

@@nidge2822 nice one

[@tmphotography8443]

people think Slash is a Stokie but he was born in London before moving here as a very young child

[@milels6917]

Could you find out the history of the witch of Burslem and show the grave because it is a interesting story poor lady living on a small holding was accused of being a witch because she had to fend for herself she was a relative of the Wedgwood line my sister Pat did our family tree and found it

[@bobhemmings7034]

Even tho i am potteries born and bred, iknow that the witch of burslem was molly lee, visited her grave once which was situated in middleport between burslem and longport, it was said that you should repeate 3 times molly lee and she would apear, never happened, i believe the grave was removed to another cemetary, the site is now a police post.

[@davidrayner182]

It's not a very friendly place though. I was brought here under protest by my late parents when I was seven years old in 1954. That's 65 years ago this year (2019) and I've never made any friends here, was never accepted by the Stokies and therefore never integrated here in any way. There were never any girlfriends, no marriage or children or grandchildren. I'm in the same position now as I was in 1954. I just look a lot older. I certainly tried to befriend the Stokies in the earlier years, but in the end, I realised I was flogging a dead horse and just gave up. Understandably, I have a very low opinion of the Stokies and I absolutely detest Stoke on Trent and who can blame me?

[@horsemanhatton399]

If you weren’t accepted by none of us stokies perhaps you should look in the mirror ...as it’s probably you.

[@bigmuller1]

How at duck

[@davidberkowatz3933]

Sounds like a you problem owd.