Machines for Living in

The most ubiquitous form of housing in the Potteries, as with many other industrial areas such as East Lancashire, is the traditional two-up, two-down terrace, a form of 19^th and 20^th century home that retains its popularity even now in the 21^st century, due to its longevity and affordability. In spite of its ever presence, the terraced house in the Potteries is a unique built form, and Stoke-on-Trent boasts some of the finest domestic working-class architecture in the country, with some exceptional streetscapes and some principled, well-detailed housing.

The development of the terraced house in Stoke-on-Trent exploded with the growth of the pottery industry and expansion of the factory system, which saw the migration of workers from rural areas to the growing towns of the Potteries. These workers were accommodated in new developments of terraced properties, quite often built by employers around their factories. Subsequently, terraced housing has become a significant element in the character of the Six Towns.

Terraced housing in the Potteries is more often than not constructed of brown-to-red brick (occasionally alternative brick is used, such as the yellow brick seen in Shelton and Stoke), with roofs of plain clay tiles, and often displays distinctive decoration such as classical elements and panels of locally produced ceramic tiles. Brickwork patterns include the Flemish bond, with eaves cornice detailing such as off-set bricks or dentil cornices, and banding with contrasting brick, such as Staffordshire Blues.

Openings are often framed with decorative features, such as semi-circular arches with moulded keystones over doorways, and moulded brackets to window cills and lintels. Earlier housing is quite often characterised by the provision of the bootscrapers which preceded late 19^th century street improvements.

Some of the finest workers terraced housing in the Potteries can be found in Middleport. The completion of the Trent and Mersey Canal around a mile to the south of Burslem saw a series of new pottery factories established in what was open countryside, including Middleport Pottery, the home of Burgess and Leigh, producers of the famous Burleigh ware. The construction of the factories was followed by the development of streets of housing.

The Grade II* Listed Middleport Pottery by A.R. Wood

Port Street, onto which Middleport Pottery fronts, was built in two phases, with the earlier phase distinguished by a chequered band of blue and yellow brick, whilst the later housing was built in stretcher-bond brickwork.

Maddock Street is home to some remarkable double-fronted terraces which are later than much of the other housing in the area. These homes are shallow in plan, hence the use of the double-front, and are built from red brick, with banding of Staffordshire Blues. The ground-floor windows are of interest in that they are divided by mullions in the form of cast-iron columns.

Maddock Street, Middleport

Further attractive terraces can be found in Middleport along Travers Street, Morton Street and Burgess Street.

Fenton is often thought of as the Potteries’ ‘forgotten town’, yet it contains some of the finest examples of 19^th century workers’ housing in the city. During the mid-1880s, the potter William Meath Baker demolished a number of cottages alongside his factory, and laid out new streets of housing around what became known as Victoria Square. In 1889, he completed Hitchman Street (Hitchman being the name of his aunt), a development of 12 houses in a similar style to earlier housing he had built, with beautifully detailed frontages, decorated with moulded brickwork and terracotta.

Hitchman Street, Fenton

details of doors and windows in Hitchman Street, Fenton

Junction of Hitchman Street and Victoria Road

Christchurch Street, Fenton

The use of the terrace was not solely applied to the development of workers’ housing, and one of the finest examples of 19^th century middle-class housing can be found in Fenton, in a small development off King Street.

Foley Place, Fenton

Foley Place dates from around the 1830s, and was built in the Georgian-style to a layout that was a rarity in the Potteries, and was clearly aimed at a higher social class. Foley Place was acquired some time ago by the Beth Johnson Housing Association, and has been well restored to provide good quality affordable housing accommodation.