“The link between Stoke-on-Trent and the canals goes back to the two fine North Staffordshire gentlemen, Josiah Wedgwood and his friend, James Brindley, who between them established the importance of canals for at least initially the economic well-being of the city, centuries ago.
Josiah Wedgwood, entrepreneur and potter, the father of modern marketing, who introduced direct mail, the idea of a money back guarantee, and catalogues. He was a prominent abolitionist and forward thinker, and a member of the Lunar Society.
His friend, James Brindley, was one of the most notable 18th century engineers; a millwright, who through his friendship with Josiah Wedgwood, who he met in The Leopard, Burslem to discuss cutting a canal to link the River Trent to the River Mersey, creating the Trent and Mersey Canal, which of course marked its 250th anniversary in 2018.
Today, the Trent and Mersey Canal cover a 15mile network across the city, providing a sustainable, traffic and pollution free link to work and leisure for residents and visitors, whether on foot, bike or boat. They enhance the biodiversity and aesthetic appearance, help reduce traffic and pollution and bring economic benefits from a thriving tourism and business economy.
However, the familiarity of land,arts and surrounds to our everyday lives means their importance is often forgotten. In 2015, a change in the political administration of Stoke-on-Trent City Council presented the opportunity to review our priorities and investments. Our Stronger Together vision talks about working with businesses, communities, and residents to create a stronger city we can all be proud of.
Canals linked into all of our priorities, and a modest £1m investment, initially to improve the network and encourage greater use, has led to so much more.
Working with the Canal and River Trust and their enthusiastic and knowledgeable team, our £1m was matched with an additional £500k, and together we have brought forward a series of improvements to make the canals feel more friendly and attractive to users.
These include repairing canal side buildings at the Etruria Industrial Museum, the only remaining steam driven Potters mill in the world. These works are due to be completed in the spring and will make the area more attractive to visitors, and increase the potential to host more events, such as the Etruria Canal Festival.
This is the area’s largest celebration of canals and canal heritage, attracting thousands of visitors for the two day festival. The main pedestrian access is via the Bedford Street bridge, which is adjacent to the museum and Bedford Street locks, the only staircase locks in the city. Work on repairing the bridge and improving the immediate vicinity starts shortly.
Better incorporating the canals into the city’s transport infrastructure is also important to unlocking the value of the canals. We have worked with the Canal and River Trust to improve towpath access points, repairing and renewing surfaces and installing an innovative solar lighting technique at key locations such as Hanley Park and Westport Lake, which will be rolled out across the U.K.
Canals have provided a backdrop to Stoke-on-Trent in the past, and moving forward, we are ambitious to reinvigorate their role within the city again.
In August last year, we hosted the Poppies at Middleport Pottery, with thousands of ceramic flowers, many made locally, flowing from one of our iconic bottlekilns. It was a hugely challenging project, not least as due to site constraints, the factory yard was bounded by the canal. However, the canal vantage point, manned by CRT volunteers, was one of the most popular and over 120,000 visitors saw the linkage between canals and Stoke-on-Trent’s industrial heritage.
That linkage between key sites in the city along the canals is increasingly important - Poppies: Weeping Window at Middleport was the perfect opportunity to start the roll out of the Legible Stoke programme, a series of Wayfinding signs to navigate the city, adding new dimensions to the towpath.
Similarly, Poppies provided the opportunity to increase community engagement around the Burslem Port project, which will link into the city’s shortlisted Transforming Cities Fund bid, providing sustainable transport links for residents and visitors.
It seems apt that the canal resurgence in Stoke-on-Trent is reaching its peak in 2019, the 260th anniversary of the establishment of the Wedgwood brand. Ten years ago, this most familiar of all Stoke-on-Trent ceramic companies was in administration, yet 10 years later is resurgent and reinvesting locally.
At a time when the city itself is rediscovering it’s joie de vivre- or as I might say in Stoke, is ‘on the up’ - and described as one of the most exciting cities in the U.K., the experimental and enterprising spirit of one of its most famous sons continues to influence all aspects of the city and its surroundings.
Our work with Canal and River Trust personifies the city motto - Vis Unita Fortior - United Strength is Stronger - and long may it continue!”
