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The city was established as late as 1910 when Fenton joined the five towns (Tunstall, Burslem, Hanley, Longton and Stoke) immortalised by the novels of Arnold Bennett. Once fiercely independent the towns became progressively involved with each other as improvements in roads, water supplies and other amenities forced them towards amalgamation.
The new city's crest of ancient Egyptian potter at his wheel in one quarter, sums up the fortune on which the wealth of the area was created. Each of the old towns is also represented on the crest and the joint motto translates to 'Strength is stronger for unity'.
It was the presence of essential raw materials for the manufacture and decoration of ceramics, in particular marl clay, coal and water, that lead to the concentration of pottery manufacture in this area. Though production started in the 17th century it was the entrepreneurial skills of Josiah Wedgwood and Thomas Minton who brought the individual potters together in factory-style workplaces that caused the massive leap forward in production that took place in the 18th century. Their factories were large but there were also hundreds of small establishments producing a whole range of more utilitarian chinaware; production in The Potteries reached its height towards the end of the 19th century
For many people however Stoke is best known for it's football club, Stoke City and for its local hero the late Sir Stanley Matthews.
Hanley, one of the five towns of The Potteries and part of the Stoke-on-Trent conurbations was the birthplace of Arnold Bennett, Sir Stanley Matthews and John Smith (the captain of the ill-fated Titanic).
The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery houses the world's finest collection of Staffordshire ceramics.
Burslem in the northern suburbs is the home of the Royal Doulton Visitor Centre which contains the world's largest display of Royal Doulton figures and many other treasures from the company's rich heritage.
Etruria to the west of the city centre was created by Josiah Wedgwood in 1769 as a village for the workers at the pottery factory he built in this once rural valley. Though the factory has gone (it moved to Rarlaston i the 1940's) Etruria Hall, Wedgwood's home, is still standing in what is now the National Garden Festival site.
The pottery industry dominated the village and the Etruria Industrial Museum displays a steam-powered potters' mill as well as other exhibits connected with the industry.
Situated on the Trent and Mersey Canal, Etruria was also the point at which the Caldon Canal branches off to Froghall and Leek. |
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