English Pottery Rising
Where is the capital of English ceramics?
It is in Stoke-on-Trent, the mother place of pottery industry in UK. For over three hundred years the area has been the birth place of many pottery firms making English ceramics. Some of these manufacturers even went on and conquered the global scene and became staples in many English households. There are also those who say that pottery in Stoke-on-Trent rose as early as the 12th century.
The major reason why the ceramic capital boomed as a prominent pottery making area is the location, which is very conducive for pottery making. Coal and earthenware clay is very plentiful in Stoke-on-Trent, a factor that made making pottery an easy job, without having difficulties and additional expense of having raw materials transported to the city. Other areas in UK were not so lucky.
Location plus the rapid rise of the industry in United Kingdom made the area the “big thing” in pottery making and it became the capital for manufacturing quality ceramics. Opening transport roads even expanded their horizons, since more exotic ingredients from the far East can now enter the city. This gave birth to the existence of bone china in the United Kingdom.
The City’s vibrant past as a pottery making mogul is surely worth noting, and the organizers of the city festival want to take a big step in making Stoke-on-Trent the ceramic capital of the world. More than 80 firms and suppliers who took part in the fair and the emergence of young ceramics artists during the recently concluded Ceramics festival attest to the competency and suitability of the city to gain that title.
It is indeed more than just a past time or a hobby for the people in the city. For them, it is burning passion. Pottery is deeply rooted in their veins and community because for many generations, this industry was the reason why they were having food on their plates in the first place.
The bad news is, Stoke-on-Trent also suffered a downfall, like so many other areas in United Kingdom. With rising cost of living and expenses in manufacturing, production has declined. Although as long as the passion is still burning we can expect more quality products from Stroke-on-Trent.
Other people contend that a renaissance in the pottery industry is emerging. Maybe it is true. But the damages that were made to the industry may hold off that revolution.
The bottom line is, there is still hope for Stroke-on-Trent to conquer the whole world and be the leading ceramic maker in the future.
The author is a great appreciator of handmade mugs. English pottery to him is an important part of English heritage.