The Pottery Tour

The Potteries

Step back in time to a historic part of England which produced some of the most desirable ceramics in the world.

A canal boat holiday through Staffordshire takes you into the historic heart of English ceramics, where Wedgwood, Middleport, Gladstone and Emma Bridgewater shaped the look of British tableware, and to this day still export it to every corner of the globe.

You’ll cruise past the bottle kilns that still tower over the canals, moor up outside original 18th and 19th-century factories where clay is still poured, glazes still mixed and pottery still painted.

A Stoke-on-Trent pottery tour from the water isn’t just sightseeing — it feels like stepping directly into the era that made modern British design.

You can visit the Potteries from our Stoke on Trent narrowboat hire base, discover our cruising routes here >>.

Historic Stoke on Trent

The English city of Stoke-on-Trent has been shaped by the pottery industry for over 300 years and is affectionately known the world over as ‘The Potteries’.

The Trent and Mersey Canal and the Caldon Canal allowed the development of some of the most famous names in pottery and a cruise along both these waterways will give you an incredible insight into this fascinating history. We recommend starting or ending your holiday here with pottery tour in Stoke on Trent.

Image © Martin Brent / VisitBritain

The history of pottery production in Stoke on Trent

Staffordshire became a centre of ceramic production in the early 17th century. This was because there was an abundance of potters clay and coal substitute to fire the ovens. Plus there were plenty of other raw materials necessary for potting close by: lead in Derbyshire, salt in Cheshire, and fine sand in Mow Cop.

Hundreds of companies produced decorative or industrial items. By 1800 the pottery industry was well established and expanding, with over 300 potworks in north Staffordshire.

Perhaps the most famous name in pottery is Wedgwood. This name comes from its founder, Josiah Wedgwood, an independent potter who became Britain’s most successful ceramics pioneer, leading English pottery from a cottage craft to an art form and international industry.

The Potteries – did you know?

Wedgwood was a major backer of the Trent and Mersey Canal dug between the River Trent and River Mersey.
Wedgwood is credited as the inventor of modern marketing, specifically direct mail, money back guarantees, travelling salesmen, self-service, free delivery, buy one get one free, and illustrated catalogues.
He was the grandfather of Charles Darwin.

Canals in Staffordshire

The Caldon Canal joins the Trent and Mersey at Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent, and was built to carry minerals from the uplands of the Peak District to the Potteries. Reminders of the Industrial Revolution along its banks include the remains of lime kilns, ironstone workings and ironworks.

You can cruise past many of the fascinating bottle kilns and old brick warehouses, plus working pottery factories, on your Black Prince break at Stoke on Trent.

Fascinating fact:

Most of the roads in the Potteries were in a poor state in the 16th and 17th century, and this was not helped by the habit of some of the potters of digging their clay pits in the roads – a practice that gave rise to the term “potholes”
You can discover the somewhat gruesome history behind the origins of the term ‘bone china’ at Bone Mill at Etruria.

The industry has remained in the area thanks to the skills of the local people and Stoke-on-Trent is still famous for its quality ware which is sold all over the world. Wedgwood, Moorcroft, Aynsley, Burleigh, Dudson, Emma Bridgewater, Portmeirion, Spode, Royal Doulton, and Royal Stafford are just a few of the leading brands you will find in the city. And the pottery tours in Stoke on Trent are a great way to discover more about this thriving industry.

Pottery tours in Stoke on Trent

Throw a pot, paint a plate or mug, or have a go at turning, lithography, or ornamenting at the Wedgwood Visitor Centre. The pottery tour here is very informative.
At Emma Bridgewater, you can spend a couple of hours in the design studio, designing your own range of pottery! Choose a classic piece of Emma Bridgewater’s pottery and design and make a masterpiece of your own with the guidance of expert helpers.
Visitors to Gladstone Pottery Museum can take away a real souvenir of their visit by having a go at throwing a pot, making a bone china flower or decorating a piece of pottery.
The Ceramic Café at Royal Stafford is a place where you can create your own unique and colourful piece of tableware or giftware. There are a wide range of pieces to choose from including Plates, Cups, Mugs, Bowls, Teapots, Clowns and Teddy Bear Figurines.