Fenton

"The sound of the phrase 'Six Towns' is not so good as the sound of the phrase 'Five Towns'. 'I' in 'Five' is an open vowel. 'I' in 'Six' is a closed vowel, and is not nearly so striking. To my mind a broad sounding phrase for the district was very important. It is also to be remembered that Fenton had not then the same status as it has now. People ask me why, if I left out Fenton, should I put in Tunstall. The reason is that I did not like the sound of "Four" and that Tunstall, although then not a borough, had a more separate entity than Fenton. It also had a Chief Bailiff."
Arnold Bennett on why he left out Fenton

More on Fenton...

Listed buildings of Fenton

Historical Fenton

Fenton Churches

Fenton Pubs

Fenton Streets

List of potters located in Fenton

Postcards of Fenton...

Library c.1910

War memorial

Old Lloyds Bank

"LANE DELPH and FENTON are situate between Stoke and Lane End, and Cobridge between Hanley and Burslem; - they are small places, but contain some extensive pottery works, employing a considerable population, which are included in the returns for the townships to which they severally belong."
1841 journal

"Christ Church (1839), rebuilt 1890, is a brick building in Dec. style. The church of St. Michael and All Angels (1887) is in E. Eng. style. F. contains Wesleyan, Primitive Methodist, and Methodist New Connexion chapels. The townhall was erected in 1889.
Earthenware article are manufactured on a large scale, and the population is rapidly increasing. F. Manor House commands and extensive view."
1898 journal

Fenton has few notable landmarks and lacks a distinct centre, although it actually occupies the largest area of any of the Six Towns.

Pottery manufacture - Fenton's greatest manufacturer was Thomas Whieldon, the most pivotal figure of 18th C pottery.
Other distinguished Fenton potters include Miles Mason and his son Charles and the firm of Baker.

Dates in the history of Fenton

1740 - By this date Thomas Whieldon had opened a small pottery in Fenton Low. Josiah Spode I was one of his apprentices.
1795 - Thomas Whieldon dies (March).
1888 - Fenton's Town Hall built in Albert Square. Designed by Robert Scrivener & Son. Paid for by William Meath Baker.
1894 - Tunstall and Fenton became urban districts.

Great Fenton, Fenton Low & Little Fenton
from W. Yates' A Map of the County of Stafford, 1775

Other maps of Fenton

Fenton's Town Hall

on Fenton's Town Hall

Bottle Kilns:

Kiln at Heron Cross Pottery
There are 4 bottle & calcining kilns left in Fenton.

Arnold Bennett
Arnold Bennett did not use the town of Fenton in his novels.
on Bennett

Fenton Arms
on Fenton's arms

Trade gazetteer entries on Fenton

A circular walk around Fenton
Exploring the buildings, potworks, coal mines and the Baker family who built and shaped much of Fenton