Resources: Overview of Stoke-on-Trent in the 1850's

Discovering Local History

Overview of Stoke-on-Trent

Overview of the Area in the 1850s

Industry

In 1861 the Potteries was a major manufacturing centre, as can be seen from the graphs

Table of Male Occupations
(E & W = England and Wales)

Table of Female Occupations
(E & W = England and Wales)

One-in-every two men and one-in-five women were employed in manufacturing.

In total 30% of men and 15% of women were employed in the earthenware industry.

The area also had a large mining industry but only a small agricultural sector.

Some idea as the dominance of the area as an earthenware centre can be had from the 1861 census. At this time of 17,495 men aged 20 and over were employed in the industry in England and Wales. Of these no fewer than 11,243 were residing in Staffordshire and 9,672 (55.3% of the total) were living in the Staffordshire Potteries.

Outside of the Potteries in only seventeen (of more than 630) registration districts were more than 1% of the adult male workforce engaged in pottery production.

Culturally

Educational standards in the area were low as measured by the number of schools, the proportions of boys and girls attending school, the numbers of children per teacher and the ability to sign marriage registers.

The Potteries had a large non-conformist religious tradition.

On religion in Stoke-on-Trent

Demographics

Demographically, the area was characterised by.

A rapidly raising population from 27,671 in 1801 to 125,664 in 1861 (rate of increase was twice the national average).

A relatively large number of children and young people.

The area attracted a large number of (predominately male) migrants from the surrounding countryside and further afield.

An excess of young men. In particular men outnumbered women in the 15-29 year age group (there were 104 men to every 100 women in this age group compared with 92 men to every 100 women nationally).

A high birth rate.

A high death rate.

Average marriage rate.

on working conditions and child labour in the mid 1800's

previous: was the growth and development of the area

	One-in-every two men and one-in-five women were employed in manufacturing.
	In total 30% of men and 15% of women were employed in the earthenware industry.
	The area also had a large mining industry but only a small agricultural sector.
	Some idea as the dominance of the area as an earthenware centre can be had from the 1861 census. At this time of 17,495 men aged 20 and over were employed in the industry in England and Wales. Of these no fewer than 11,243 were residing in Staffordshire and 9,672 (55.3% of the total) were living in the Staffordshire Potteries.
	Outside of the Potteries in only seventeen (of more than 630) registration districts were more than 1% of the adult male workforce engaged in pottery production.

	Educational standards in the area were low as measured by the number of schools, the proportions of boys and girls attending school, the numbers of children per teacher and the ability to sign marriage registers.
	The Potteries had a large non-conformist religious tradition.

	A rapidly raising population from 27,671 in 1801 to 125,664 in 1861 (rate of increase was twice the national average).
	A relatively large number of children and young people.
	The area attracted a large number of (predominately male) migrants from the surrounding countryside and further afield.
	An excess of young men. In particular men outnumbered women in the 15-29 year age group (there were 104 men to every 100 women in this age group compared with 92 men to every 100 women nationally).
	A high birth rate.
	A high death rate.
	Average marriage rate.