Sources & Reference Material

Stoke-on-Trent and The North Staffordshire Potteries

This page brings together the principal reference works, archival sources, and supporting materials used in compiling information on the history of the North Staffordshire Potteries and the ceramics industry of Stoke-on-Trent. 

It includes published works on pottery manufacturers, factory sites, trade directories, and mark identification, along with selected online and archival resources.

The bibliography is not exhaustive but represents the core references underpinning the research presented throughout this website, and is updated as new material becomes available.

Some pottery mark illustrations appearing on this website are derived or adapted from published reference sources, particularly Geoffrey A. Godden’s Encyclopaedia of British Pottery and Porcelain Marks. These are used for historical reference and identification purposes.

 

British pottery manufacturers

 
Henrywood, R.K. Staffordshire Potters 1781–1900 (2002) Perry, M. Handbook of British Pottery Manufacturers 1900-2010 Godden, G.A. Encyclopedia Of British Pottery And Porcelain Marks
(1987) 
Godden, G.A. Guide to Ironstone, Stone and Granite Wares (1999) Jewitt, L. The Ceramic Art of Great Britain (1878) Jewitt, L. — The Ceramic Art of Great Britain 1800–1900, revised by G. A. Godden (1972)
View online: Internet Archive 

 

 

North Staffordshire pottery manufacturers

The following works are the principal sources used for establishing dates and locations of North Staffordshire potters:

 

Period

 Source manufacturers
1710-15 List drawn up by Josiah Wedgwood in 1776 and produced in: "A History of the Adams Family of North Staffordshire", 
1780's "A Topographical Survey of the County of Stafford,"  c.1786. W. Tunnicliff, Land-surveyor, Yarlett, Nr.Stone, Staffordshire.
1802 "Map of the Potteries of 1802", J. Allbut and Sons
1818 "The Commercial Directory", 1818. Pigot & Co.
1830 "Directory", 1830/1. Pigot & Co.
1850 "Royal National and Commercial Directory", 1850. Slater.
1868 The Staffordshire Potteries' Directory for 1868  See transcription
1875 "Keates's Directory", 1875/6. Keates
1900+ "The Pottery Gazette", Messrs Scott, Greenwood & Son Ltd.
1907 Staffordshire Sentinel Newspaper 'Business Reference Guide to The Potteries, Newcastle and District' See transcription
1947 The Pottery Gazette & Glass Trade Review. Reference Book, Directory.  See transcription
1954 "British Potters and Pottery Today", 1956. Cyril G. E. Bunt

 

 

Books on the History of Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire

 
Shaw S. History of the Staffordshire Potteries (1829) Ward, J. The Borough of Stoke-upon-Trent (1843). Reprinted by Webberley Ltd., Stoke-on-Trent (1984) Warrillow, E. A Sociological history of the city of Stoke-on-Trent (1960) The Victoria History of the County of Stafford, Vol. II and VIII Oxford University Press (1967 & 1963)
View transcript View online: 
Internet Archive

View online: Vol VIII


 

Handbooks and Directories for  Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire

 
1893 A descriptive account of The Potteries W. Kent & Co., London View transcription
1906 The Pottery Gazette & Glass Trade Review - years 1906 to 1913 are available online. Scott Greenwood & Son Ltd.,
London		 View online: 
Internet Archive
1947 The City of Stoke-on-Trent - Official Handbook 10th Edn J Burrow & Co. Ltd., Cheltenham & London  
1955 Prestige and Progress - A Survey of Industrial North Staffordshire North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce View transcription 
1977 The City of Stoke-on-Trent - Official Handbook J Burrow & Co. Ltd.,
Cheltenham & London		  

 

 


Page History:

  • Page created: 18 March 2018

  • Updated: June 2024-Sept 2025 - incremental additions of sources. 

  • Last Updated: 15 May 2026 - Major revision: standardised bibliography format and added attribution notes.