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"LANE END, a populous and
thriving market-town, and with LONGTON, forms an extensive
township, situated five miles south-east of Newcastle,, at the
southern extremity of the Potteries, and has risen in a few
years by the almost magical influence of a prosperous
manufacture to a respectable degree of opulence.
By the parliamentary returns for 1821, the township of Lane End
and Longton contained 7,100 inhabitants, but a census taken by
the Rev. Mr. Temple, in 1826, the population had increased to
8,500 persons."
1828 journal
"As early as 1756, a
manufactory of English porcelain was established here, and ware
of great lightness and beauty was produced, fully equaling that
for which Chelsea was famous. It will thus be seen that Longton
deserves to rank with Burslem as one of the historic towns of
the Potteries. Longton, which is situated in the extreme south
of the district, is connected by the Stoke and Derby branch of
the North Staffordshire Railway with the great trunk lines of
England, and so enjoys excellent facilities for transport
purposes."
1893 journal
Longton
is the newest of the six towns and was originally laid out as an
agricultural village in the thirteenth century.
In 1759 the main road from
Derby to Newcastle, through Uttoxeter, was built which gave this town a
boost when the pottery industry began to appear in the town. Small
numerous pot works gave the new town a distinctive irregular appearance
with pot banks lining the main streets jumbled in and around houses of the
workers employed in the ceramic industry.
Longton
was at the end of a lane which ran from Tunstall to a village at the end
of the lane, hence Longton was known as Lane End, and colloquially as
'Neck End'.
Until the last decade of the 18thC it was known only
for its coal mines and iron works but from the 19thC it developed into a
major centre for the production of bone china.
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Of the older pottery firms like Turner or Hilditch, only one, Aynsley survives.
But many china firms still dominate the town, such as Paragon and Royal
Albert.
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Dates in the
history of Longton
1789 - Longton's
Times Square laid out.
1811 - Population - Longton: 4930
1844 - Longton's first Town Hall built, soon replaced in
1863.
1865 - Longton created a borough.
1863 - Longton Town Hall replaced, by the present
building in Times Square.
1911 - Population - Longton: 37,479
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Facts about
Longton from old journals
The canal from Manchester and
Liverpool to London passes within two miles of this town, and a
small rivulet runs through it, upon which are several flint
mills.
LANE END and LONGTON are two townships, forming a populous and
thriving market town, in the parish of Stoke; situate at the
southern extremity of the Potteries, four miles south east from
Newcastle, on the road between that town and Uttoxeter. This
place has risen to opulence and importance, within a
comparatively few years, by the prosperous manufactures which
distinguish this district. The
town is in the parish and parliamentary borough of
Stoke-upon-Trent. Including its southern suburbs in Blurton and
Normacott.
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Longton from W. Yates' A Map of
the County of Stafford, 1775
Other maps of
Longton
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Two houses in John Street (Longton) - the
grime from the smoke of
the pottery factories is evident.
Photo: taken c.1932
© Potteries Museum
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Burslem 
