Burslem incorporated in the June of 1878. It was without doubt the largest of the Potteries Towns at this time but had lagged behind other towns in becoming incorporated. The Industrial Revolution arguably began here with the insight of a man who became internationally famous, no not Robbie Williams… Josiah Wedgwood.
Built on high ground, Burslem had long been a producer of fine pottery due to the rich clay deposits. The excellent quality and variety of Burslem ware was firmly established when Josiah Wedgwood took one radical step forward and factory was a word for the future.
Along with a friend, Wedgwood broke the mould and set a new standard in production. The friend is recorded in the annals but his name isn't often found. Because of his own actions he is the one who is forgotten and the author cannot recall his name. Wedgwood convinced his friend to invest in a grand scheme. For the first time ever, anywhere in the world, they started a factory.
Until then all industry was cottage industry. The quaint idea of husband, wife and half a dozen children battering away every day to earn a living wasn't far off the mark. Large families made use of the numbers and often workshops of a group could be found. Uncles, Aunt's and cousins would work together in a quasi-factory setting for the greater production of the family ware. No doubt specialisation found its roots in this system. Occasional specialists would carry out work for a fee, which is analogous of sub-contracting today.
Wedgwood took one step further.
His revelation was to pay people a wage to work for him in premises he supplied, with equipment he provided. This eased the worry of generating orders away from the master potters and painters (usually women paintress' carried out this decorating art form) and allowed them to create. Without a workshop to support and overheads to meet, this must have appealed greatly to many workers.
Wedgwood's friend had not been convinced of the success of such a venture and although he went along with the investment he got cold feet and pulled out in the early days. Maybe he saw his investment as a burden rather than a good prospect. No doubt the going was rough at the beginning and by offering Wedgwood his shares he took his name out of the record books and his choice must have nagged him unto the grave.
And the rest as they say is history.
As the factory system grew, it became common for pay out to be done at the local Public House. Such an occasion is shown above as everyone collects at the Waterloo Inn. Waterloo Road runs between Hanley and Burslem and the very first Potteries Motor Traction Public Transport Link ran on this road in the form of a Tram.
Burslem's major role in developing the region saw it referred to as the Mother Town of the Potteries and this title crops up on occasion today. The people of Burslem perhaps were a little too prejudiced and built a new Town Hall when the City was being formed, so sure were they that they would be made the City Centre and local government would be located in the town. They were to be snubbed.
Even Josiah Wedgwood moved on. True he left a legacy of master pottery workers emulating his path within the Burslem and Tunstall area but he himself moved on to Etruria and built a new dream, a master dream. Burslem's place in the record books is set in gold but the region had thrived long before the industrial revolution and the original major parish of the area was chosen for local government, the City's name being taken from it and the major market town lent itself as the obvious choice of City Centre.
Hence the City is Stoke-on-Trent and its City Centre is Hanley.
This caused disgruntlement in Burslem for a long time but the situation gave another twist to the City's uniqueness as it had a composition of Six Towns but had seven Town Halls. Odd, but true.
Anyhow, like it or not, up until 1807 the town was situated within the boundaries of the Parish of Stoke-upon-Trent. An Act of Parliament separated it. The separation came into effect a year later. The Act had deliberately set out to divide the old Parish into Five Distinct Rectories. Did this influence Arnold Bennett to choose Five Towns in his works?
Even during Wedgwood's glory days in Burslem, he was obviously planning his next achievement. The Trent & Mersey canal began here. But even as the first sod was cut, Wedgwood had thought ahead and knew exactly what he was doing as the path of the canal ('cut' in local slang) took it through countryside in a place called Shelton, part of the Borough of Hanley.
Perhaps it is sad to raise this last point but in looking back on the history of the Potteries and the beginning of Industrialisation it is easy to adopt a glorified view but, as the in-depth review of Longton will reveal, destruction of a natural way of life had started. The destruction of the natural environment kicked off here and the true legacy of this is still to be witnessed. Why raise this point now?
Burslem is the modern name for an area that in ancient times meant Burgweard's Elms. Kilns, mines, quarries and brick are more familiar than trees in recent history; only deliberately planted trees litter the region now (and too few of them). Time for reflection perhaps...
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