Tunstall

Last updated 20th, January, 2009

TUNSTALL is in the process of being regenerated from the crumbling remains of the pottery industry.

The most northern of the six towns which make up Stoke-on-Trent, Tunstall suffered badly from the collapse of the ceramics boom which once provided work to many thousands in the Potteries.

At one time, Tunstall was a stronghold for internationally-renowned companies like Alfred Meakin, Adams, Wedgwood and H & R Johnson. Factories included Brownhills, Church Bank and Woodlands potteries.

William Adams was first to build a large pottery works in Tunstall, Greengates works, in 1779. But for long before that, townsfolk had manufactured ceramics from small potbanks.

But the industry’s decline due to overseas competition, rising energy costs and falling demand, hit hard and Tunstall faced economic depression, unemployment and a declining population.

Today, the factories responsible for much of Tunstall’s economic wealth have disappeared. The Church Bank works at the top of High Street, along with Alfred Meakin’s works, have been bulldozed. The Alexandra Works in Scotia Road and the Unicorn Works have also gone.

But while the industry may have left Tunstall, memories of the potters remain and the land formerly occupied by factories has since been released to spur regeneration.

Asda occupies the site of Grindleys’ Woodland Pottery and nearby, the £30 million Jasper Square retail complex – named after the famous Jasper ware – includes high street names like Argos, Next, Pizza Hut, Shoefayre and Matalan.

And much more is planned for Jasper Square. Work has started on the construction of a JJB fitness centre, Carphone Warehouse and another large 1,000 sq ft shop at the old Alexandra site. Ultimately, the site will also house Stoke-on-Trent Primary Care Trust’s headquarters.

Tunstall also features Boots, Dorothy Perkins and Burton among its many high street names, not to mention many eating places.

Recently, the town has seen the opening of the Tunstall Northern Bypass. The road, which cost £4.4 million to build, will provide access to a 57-acre housing estate, which will include 395 homes, a village centre, a pub and shops, at Clanway Farm, Tunstall.

Indeed, an awful lot has changed in Tunstall over the years.

Hundreds of years ago, Tunstall was also noted for its market, with a windmill standing on high ground in Pierce Street near Jefferson Street. It also had a courthouse, which was built at the site now known as Tower Square. In fact the court was established long before the town of Tunstall. It sat from 1274 until Tudor times, and was finally demolished in the 18th century.

It is known that the Sneyd family were the owners of about 1,250 acres of land in the manor of Tunstall, during the 18th century, which included Holly Wall Farm and Tunstall Farm.

About seven acres of Tunstall Farm were sold to coal and ironmaster Robert Williamson, who opened Goldendale ironworks in the 1840s.

Part of Tunstall Farm, an ancient piece of land was turned into Tunstall Cemetery in about 1868.

In its early days, the population of Tunstall was small. In 1810, there were just over 1,500 inhabitants, many of whom had arrived with the canal and industry. By 1830, the population had risen to 3,673, and in 1851 it was a bustling 9,500. Today, according to the Office of National Statistics, there are 12,381 people living in the council ward of Tunstall.

Tunstall’s clock tower was built in 1893 out of yellow brick and it still overlooks the town today.

In his novels about the Potteries towns, Arnold Bennett called Tunstall “Turnhill”, but it was once known as “plucky little Tunstall” because it had to fight for everything after becoming part of the federated city of Stoke-on-Trent, in 1910.

In the 1950s, Tunstall had its own magistrates court, three cinemas, a railway station, the Scala Ballroom, Rollo dance hall and Ryan Hall.

Now, Stoke-on-Trent railway station is closest to Tunstall, criminals are sent to Fenton magistrates court, and clubbers tend to gravitate towards Hanley.

But excellent bus services provide easy access to the rest of the city. Tunstall is also close to the A500, which links to the M6, A50 and A34.

The town has its own indoor market, on Butterfield Place, which features 60 stalls and runs every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Although leisure facilities will soon improve, townsfolk can visit Tunstall Swimming Pool, a Grade I-listed building in Greengates Street, which was first opened in 1885.

Not far away is the 17th century farmhouse, Ford Green Hall, on Ford Green Road, which is a popular tourist attraction.

Westport Lake, off Davenport Road, is also nearby. It’s the largest in Stoke-on-Trent and a popular beauty spot, while Tunstall Park has benefited from refurbishment.

And Whitfield Valley Local Nature Reserve is a particular attraction with nature lovers.