The Old Swan, Stoke
to.. paint supply company

In 1851 John Kitson was the proprietor of the Old Swan Inn, High Street (now Hartshill Road). The inn occupies a position close to the Cliffe Bank Pottery works, Cliffe Bank Lodge and Cliffe Bank workers houses.

Old Swan Inn, 58 Hartshill Road, Stoke

"This large L-shaped, two storey building was constructed between 1848 and 1878. It is built from red brick with decorated stone details and has painted panels under the gables."

© The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery - Staffordshire Past Tracks

 

Cliffe Bank Lodge was originally built for Thomas Garrett (of Copeland & Garrett, 'late Spode') who died in 1865 - by the time of the 1881 census Cliffe Bank Lodge was occupied by William F. DREW and his family (Manufacturer of Pottery - Employing 493 Hands)

"Near to Cliff Ville, is Cliff Bank Lodge, a handsome villa, recently erected by Thomas Garrett, Esq., resident partner of the firm of Copeland and Garrett." 

For the year 1839 Thomas Garrett was appointed the Returning Officer for the Borough of Stoke-upon-Trent, by the High Sheriff, according to the direction of the Reform Act. 

Ward, John; The borough of Stoke-upon-Trent,1843.

The Cliff Bank Works on the opposite side of the Hartshill Road at the junction with Shelton Old Road seems to have been occupied in 1740 by Daniel Bird, who made agate knife shafts and buttons besides earthenware. He was known as 'the flint potter' as a result of his having discovered the right proportion of flint and clay needed to prevent the ware from cracking in the oven.

Hugh Booth was producing china glazed ware and earthenware at the works in the 1780's and was succeeded in 1789 by his brother Ephriam, who, with his sons Hugh and Joseph, traded as Booth and Sons between at least 1792 and 1802. Hugh and Joseph ran the works between at least 1805 and 1808, and a lease was held by Thomas Ward and Company by 1815 (Ward and Davenport in 1822) and by Thomas Mayer from at least 1826.

The firm of William Adams and Sons took over from Mayer c.1837 and held the works (described as 'small, dilapidated and old') until the 1850's. It then passed to Minton, Hollins and Company, who were still the occupants in 1889. The factory was pulled down in 1914.

Cliffe Bank Potteries
worked by William Adams 1804-1863
picture: "Ten Generations of a Potting Family"

to the left is Shelton Old Road and to the right is Honeywall - the horse & cart is on Hartshill Road which curves around the potworks down to Stoke town