Places in Hanley in 1868

HANLEY

"ETRURIA, a village in the parish of Stoke-upon-Trent, county Stafford, 2 miles N.E. of Newcastle-under-Lyne. Stoke-on-Trent is its post town. It is situated on the Grand Trunk canal, and the North Staffordshire railway passes through the place. Here are the celebrated potteries of Messrs. Wedgwood and company, where the well-known Wedgwood ware is made. There are also collieries in operation, as well as an iron foundry, steam-engine manufactory, and gas-works.

The living is a perpetual Curacy in the diocese of Lichfield, value £150, in the patronage of the crown and bishop alternately. The church is a stone structure in the Saxon style of architecture, dedicated to St. Matthew. The Wesleyans, New Connexion Methodists, and Unitarians, have each a chapel, and there are National, British, and infant schools."

"SHELTON, a township in the parliamentary borough and parish of Stoke-upon-Trent, N. division of Pirehill hundred, county Stafford, half a mile N. of Stoke-upon-Trent, and 2 miles N.E. of Newcastle-under-Lyme. This place, which includes the hamlet of Etruria and part of Cobridge, has arisen from the potteries carried on in the vicinity. Its population in 1861 amounted to 18,331. Several manufactories for porcelain and earthenware are situated on the banks of the Trent and Mersey and Caldon canals, which pass through the township, and near which are extensive gas-works. The coal and ironstone mines in this and part of the adjoining township of Hanley, belong to the crown, and are worked by Earl Granville, the lessee.

The living is a rectory in the diocese of Lichfield, value £620, in private patronage. The church, dedicated to St. Mark, is a modern structure with a square embattled tower, crowned with pinnacles. It was erected by the Parliamentary Commissioners in 1834, at a cost of £9,311, towards which George IV. gave £250. It was repaired and a chancel added by the rector in 1866, at a cost of £2,000. It is supposed to be the largest church in North Staffordshire. There are also district churches at Etruria and at Hope, the livings of which are perpetual curacies, value £200 and £150 respectively. There are places of worship for Baptists, Independents, Wesleyans, New Connexion Methodists, Unitarians, and Roman Catholics.

In this township is the North Staffordshire Infirmary, capable of accommodating above 120 in-patients, a savings-bank, market-place, public library, gas-works, also a mechanics' institute for the potteries at large, founded in 1826, under the patronage of the Marquis of Stafford. There are National, British, and Foreign, Sunday, and denominational schools. There is a racecourse. The chief seats are Stone Park, (Earl Granville), Cliff Ville, and Wedgwood's mansion, in the hamlet of Etruria, the last remarkable for its situation and for the many Etruscan vases with which it is ornamented. (See Etruria, Hanley, and Stoke-Upon-Trent.)"

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868) - Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]