by Emele Maisey

Created on: November 08, 2011   Last Updated: November 09, 2011

The City of Stoke-on-Trent, fondly known as The Potteries to locals, is the world's largest and most famous pottery producing city. The world renowned names of Wedgwood, Royal Doulton, Spode, Minton and even the ceramic artist Clarice Cliff have all hailed from here.

Stoke has been known exclusively for its industrial-scale pottery manufacturing since the 17th century when it consisted of 6 distinct and separate pottery towns; Tunstall, Burslem, Hanley, Stoke, Fenton and Longton – The Potteries. These towns were united in 1910 to form the single county borough of Stoke-on-Trent which later became a City.

By the end of the 20th century (1991) Stoke had 285 pottery factories producing ceramics and porcelain, with 22,497 people employed in the industry, making it the largest clay-ware producer in the world.

Today Stoke-on-Trent is still the centre of the British ceramic industry though there have been changes to the largest companies in recent years with Wedgwood, Royal Doulton and Minton joining together to form the WWRD group. New, more modern, ceramic companies have also emerged in Stoke during recent years including Emma Bridgewater along with many smaller, independent ceramicists.

You can find out all about The Potteries ceramics heritage and history through its museums and visitors centres as well as see the industry at work today with factory tours and visits to pottery cafes and factory shops.

The Gladstone Pottery Museum is the only remaining complete Victorian pottery factory to remain in England. Here you can step back in time and find out how bone china tableware was made in the original workshops, see the factories bottle ovens, and view live pottery demonstration. You can also learn about the hazards of working in a pottery at the 1890's Doctor's House and find out the story of the toilet in the exhibition Flushed with Pride!

You can follow the long and successful history of Wedgwood, Britain's greatest ceramics company at its Visitor Centre and Museum Here you can see some of the artisans at work in the crafts demonstration area, go on a guided tour around the working factory and visit the museum which contains the world's greatest collection of Wedgwood ceramics including some of the founder, Josiah Wedgwood's, original trial pieces from 1774.

In Britain's last working steam-powered potters mill you can find out how potters put the “bone” in bone china with the Jesse Shirley Etruscan Bone and Flint Mill, now the Etruria Industrial Museum.

Of course no trip to Stoke-on-Trent would be complete without taking some pottery home with you! Stoke has many factory outlets where you can purchase pottery at discount prices.The Denby Factory Outlet offers you its quality seconds with 50% off of its regular price whilst The Wedgwood & Royal Doulton Outlet Store offers huge discounts with up to 75% off.

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