The area around Stoke-On-Trent is famous the world over for its pottery industry. Originally centred on the five towns of Stoke, Tunstall, Burslem, Hanley and Longton, The Potteries were at the heart of the Industrial Revolution. Above is an example of Minton Majolica.

Both coal and clay were found locally though imported clay from cornwall was later used which gave rise to the start of the industry but it was the foresight and ingenuity of men such as Wedgwood (example above) and Minton that really turned the cottage industry into production on a much larger scale. To support the industry in and around the centre a network of canals and later railways was begun.

The Trent and Mersey Canal built by James Brindley with the support of Wedgwood and his friend the Duke of Bridgewater was finally completed in 1777 and made possible navigation from coast to coast between the buy ports of Liverpool and Hull.

Together the Trent and Mersey Canal, the Staffordshire and Worcester Canal begun in the same year, the Shropshire Union Canal to the west and the Middlewich branch of the Llangollen Canal form a wonderful four counties ring that can be undertaken wholly or partly by boat. These canals with their accessible towpaths run though the very heart of the towns as well as through the often delightful countryside.