St. Johns Square is a unique area of Burslem - it featured heavily in some of Arnold Bennett's novels as he used 'The Potteries', especially Burslem as a thinly disguised location. He re-named St. John's Square to St. Luke's Square. 

The layout of central Burslem today still has the street plan of a medieval market town. The area of St. John's Square can be seen on a 1720 map. An 1818 trade directory records "St. John's Square, near new Market place." 

1909 picture of St. John's Square taken from Fountain Place.

The buildings at the bottom are (left to right) Longson's, Lovatt's (Tailors & Outfitters) and The Masons Arms.

The street at bottom right with the terraced houses visible was Hanover Street - this street and the area around it has been cleared and now Woodbank Street  replaces it and forms part of the Burslem ring road.

a complete tour of St. Johns Square

St. Johns Square in the 18th C

At the top of St. Johns Square is the junction of several roads: Newcastle Street, Fountain Place, Westport Road and Market Place.

At the bottom one one corner is Queen Street at the other is the remains of Furlong Passage.