Staffordshire Potteries

Staffordshire pottery figure of an archer, 1825

The Staffordshire Potteries is a generic term for the industrial area encompassing the six towns (Tunstall, Burslem, Hanley, Stoke, Fenton and Longton) that now make up Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire, England. The name is now synonymous with Stoke-on-Trent itself; Stoke City FC are referred to as the Potters.

The Potteries became a centre of ceramic production in the 17th century, due to the local availability of clay, salt, lead and coal. Hundreds of companies produced decorative or industrial ceramic items. With railway distribution of pottery products in the second half of the 19th century, there was a considerable increase in business. The Chartist 1842 General Strike was ignited by striking collieries in the Potteries and led to the 1842 Pottery Riots.

Potteries active in the 19th century and still active today include Aynsley, Burleigh, Doulton, Dudson, Heron Cross, Minton, Moorcroft, Twyford, and Wedgwood.

Potteries Shopping Centre is the name of the main shopping centre in Hanley.

See also

• Potteries Urban Area
• Potteries derby

External links

• The Potteries website
• Photographs — Bottle Oven — Stacking and Firing
• Collection of Staffordshire ceramics at Stoke-on-Trent Museums
• 10 reasons why we started making pots in North Staffordshire