Stoke on Trent – Primary Industry In the early 1200’s, Stoke on Trent was mainly farmland with lots of farms. However due to the soil being very clay like, it was hard to farm so eventually they changed industry to make pottery. By the late 1200’s, coal and iron stone was being dug in Burslem and Shelton. In Birchenwood Colliery opened in the 1800s, coal was mined here until a fire caused it to close. Chatterley Whitfield was a coal mine located on the outskirts of Chell. It was the largest mine working The North Staffordshire Coalfield and was the first colliery in the UK to produce 1,000,000 tons of saleable coal in a year.

Stoke on Trent – Secondary Industry From 1750 onwards, the United Kingdom experienced the industrial revolution. Stoke on Trent became the most famous city in the UK and further worldwide for the making of potteries, hence the name, the Potteries. By 1840, Shelton Iron and Steelworks was employing 10,000 people, had five coal mines, a complete railway system, and a by-products processing factory. Josiah Wedgwood was one of many famous potters who opened a factory in the mid 1700’s. This pottery was famous worldwide and employed a workforce of over 3000 people. Stoke on Trent was booming and by 1910, The Six Towns become the city of Stoke on Trent. Each town has it’s own services for the locals to use. From the 1950s’ onwards (Post War), Stoke on Trent experienced a decline. The coal mines gradually shut down and Shelton Iron and Steel Works closed putting thousands of people out of jobs. Many of our famous pot banks become derelict and by 1986 Stoke had more derelict land than anywhere in Europe! From the 1950s’ onwards (Post War), Stoke on Trent experienced a decline. The coal mines gradually shut down and Shelton Iron and Steel Works closed putting thousands of people out of jobs. Many of our famous pot banks become derelict and by 1986 Stoke had more derelict land than anywhere in Europe!

Stoke on Trent – Tertiary Industry After the closing down of all the mines, pits, factories and pot banks, the area of Etruria and Stoke on Trent was left derelict. A plan was made to reclaim and regenerate the Etruria site. In 1986, the National Garden Festival, re-launched the area as a landscaped park with lots of attractions for people to use and enjoy. The Festival Park site was completed in 1995 and is now a retail park with lots of services. These range from shops, restaurants and leisure activities (like bowling and cinemas) to physiotherapy businesses and banks. In 2003 the Royal Stoke University Hospital was chosen for a £350-million Private Finance Initiative development. It is one of the largest teaching and research hospitals in the country and a major local employer, with over 6,000 staff. With more disposable income available, people are being able to take part in a wider variety of hobbies and past times as well as visiting different venues such as theatres, cinemas and play centres.

Stoke on Trent – Quaternary Industry Due to the vast amount of open land and derelict buildings available, Stoke on Trent’s quaternary sector is now increasing and thus employing more people. Caudwell Group was set up in 1987 and became Phones4u. It had 600 stores in which it employed it’s workforce. In 2006, it was sold for £1.47 billion. The turn over in 2010 was over £900 million and employed over 800 people, selling 26 phones a minute. Keele University Science and Innovation Park has grown over the past 25 years, with more than 80 companies being located their now. Sectors include: medical technology, primary and secondary healthcare, information and digital technology and sustainability This is an online gambling site, set up by Peter Coates in It has over 18 million customers and it is the largest employer in Stoke on Trent employing over 3000 people. The yearly revenue is £1.5 billion.