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Stoke-on Trent Facts & Worksheets

Stoke-on-Trent (abbreviated to Stoke) is a 36-square-mile city and unitary authority area in Staffordshire, England. It is also known as The Potteries, and it is the home of the ceramics sector in England.

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Stoke-on-Trent (abbreviated to Stoke) is a 36-square-mile city and unitary authority area in Staffordshire, England. It is also known as The Potteries, and it is the home of the ceramics sector in England. It is now predominantly a service industry and distribution center; before, it was primarily a heavy industry sector.

See the fact file below for more information about Stoke-on Trent, or you can download our 32-page Stoke-on Trent worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

ETYMOLOGY

  • The name Stoke derives from the original ancient parish of Stoke-upon-Trent, with other villages being chapelries. Stoke derives from the Old English ‘stoc,’ a word that initially meant place but has since received more specific but different implications. 
  • Dairy farms, secondary or dependent locations or farms, summer grazing land, crossing places, meeting places, and places of worship were among the varied definitions. It is uncertain which of these was intended here, although they are all feasible.
  • The most commonly proposed interpretations are from an intersection on the Roman road that stretched from present-day Derby to Chesterton or from the early presence of a church, which was claimed to have been founded around 670 CE.
  • Because Stoke was such a usual title for a settlement, a distinctive affix in this particular instance, the river’s name was added afterward.
  • Stoke-on-Trent’s motto is Vis Unita Fortior, which translates as “United Strength is Stronger,” “United Strength is More Powerful,” or “A United Force is Stronger.”

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

  •  Administration. An early proposal for federation was made in 1888 when a modification of the Local Government Bill proposed would have divided the six settlements into districts inside a county called “Staffordshire Potteries.” 
  • The “Six Towns” were not brought together until April 1, 1910. Along with the county borough of Hanley, the municipal boroughs of Burslem, Longton, and Stoke and the urban districts of Tunstall and Fenton were amalgamated to establish the county borough of Stoke-on-Trent.
  • In 1919, the borough proposed to combine the neighboring boroughs of Newcastle-under-Lyme and Wolstanton United Urban District, both located to the west of Stoke. 
  • Although proposals to incorporate Newcastle, Wolstanton, and Kidsgrove were unsuccessful, the borough expanded in 1922, incorporating Smallthorne Urban District as well as portions of other parishes from Stoke upon Trent Rural District.
  • Due to considerable opposition from Newcastle Corporation, this never happened. A second attempt was made in 1930 when the Stoke-on-Trent Extension Bill was introduced. Wolstanton was eventually annexed to Newcastle-under-Lyme in 1932. 
  • Moreover, Stoke remained a non-metropolitan district of Staffordshire after the county borough was abolished in 1974. Its unitary authority status was restored on April 1, 1997, but it continues as part of the larger ceremonial county of Staffordshire.
  • Industry (Pottery). The amount of coal and clay appropriate for earthenware manufacturing in the area contributed to the early (though limited) growth of the local pottery industry.
  • Coal Mining. North Staffordshire was a coal mining region. The oldest mentions of coal extraction in the area date back to the 13th century. Striking coal miners within the Hanley and Longton area sparked the 1842 General Strike and the Pottery Riots.
  • On the other hand, several national and international milestones were set by the Stoke mining sector. When Wolstanton Colliery was modernized, it possessed the deepest mining holes in Europe, measuring 3,197 feet. 
  • Chatterley Whitfield Colliery was the first in the country to dig one million tons of coal in 1933. Florence Colliery in Longton achieved regional and national production records in the 1980s, and the Trentham Super Pit (Hem Heath and Florence) was the initial mine in Europe to generate 2.5 million saleable tonnes of coal in 1992. The mines are now all closed, yet the scars of mining can still be seen on the landscape. Slag heaps still mark the skyline. However, they are now overgrown with plants and fauna.
  • Steel. The iron and steel industry played essential roles in the city’s growth before and after the federation. Mills in the valleys of Goldendale and Shelton, below the mountainous towns of Tunstall, Burslem, and Hanley, were particularly notable.

GEOGRAPHY

  • Stoke-on-Trent lies between Manchester, Wolverhampton, and Birmingham and borders Newcastle-under-Lyme to the west. It is located in the upper Trent Valley, in the foothills of the Pennines in the south-west.
  • Stoke-on-Trent is known as “the city of five towns,” a moniker coined by local novelist Arnold Bennett, and is the sole polycentric city in the United Kingdom. Bennett utilized commonly recognizable nicknames for five of the six towns mentioned in his stories.
  • Tunstall, Burslem, Hanley, Stoke, Fenton, and Longton are the six towns that run roughly north to south along the A50 route. Although named after the historic village of Stoke, and the City Council offices are situated there, Hanley had previously evolved into a commercial center and is considered the city center.
  • Stoke-on-Trent, like the rest of the United Kingdom, has a maritime climate that is temperate, with few weather extremes. The surrounding area is slightly higher in elevation than much of Staffordshire and Cheshire, leading to cooler temperatures all year compared to the nearby Cheshire Plain. 
  • As a result, the Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle areas are not particularly vulnerable to severe frosts. Keele University is approximately four kilometers west of the city center and has the nearest Met Office weather station.
  • Moreover, Stoke is located in the heart of the Stoke-on-Trent Green Belt, an environmental and planning policy that governs the rural space in Staffordshire around the city and Newcastle-under-Lyme and continuing into Cheshire. 

DEMOGRAPHICS

  • According to the 2011 census, the city’s total population was 249,008. This was a slight rise over the 240,636 recorded in the 2001 census. Females make up 50.2% of the population. 91.68% of Stoke-on-Trent’s population was born in the United Kingdom. 86.43% of the population classified as White British, whereas 4.19% identified as British Pakistani and 1.88% as Other White. 
  • 1.35% identified as Other Asian, while 1.36% identified as Black. Regarding religion, 60.89% identified as Christian, 6.02% as Muslim, and 25.19% as having no faith. 14.28% of the population was retired, while 5.61% was enrolled in school.

Stoke-on Trent Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Stoke-on Trent across 32 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Stoke-on Trent. Stoke-on-Trent (abbreviated to Stoke) is a 36-square-mile city and unitary authority area in Staffordshire, England. It is also known as The Potteries, and it is the home of the ceramics sector in England.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Stoke-on-Trent, England Facts
  2. This or That?
  3. MIX and MATCH
  4. Stoke-on-Three
  5. Near A50 Route
  6. History-on-Trent
  7. People of Stoke
  8. Trent Mining
  9. Friend-on-Trent
  10. Vibing-on-Trent
  11. Stronger as One

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Stoke-on-Trent known for?

Stoke-on-Trent is known for its historical significance as the “Potteries.” It has a rich history of pottery and ceramics production, with famous brands like Wedgwood and Royal Doulton originating from the area.

What are some popular tourist attractions in Stoke-on-Trent?

Some popular tourist attractions in Stoke-on-Trent include the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Trentham Gardens, Alton Towers Theme Park, and the Gladstone Pottery Museum. The city’s pottery heritage is a significant draw for visitors.

How did Stoke-on-Trent get its name?

Stoke-on-Trent was formed in 1910 when six towns (Stoke, Hanley, Burslem, Tunstall, Longton, and Fenton) in Staffordshire merged. The name “Stoke-on-Trent” was chosen because of its location along the Trent and Mersey Canal.

What is the Stoke-on-Trent dialect like?

Stoke-on-Trent has a distinctive dialect known as the “Potteries dialect.” It includes unique phrases and pronunciations influenced by the area’s industrial and historical heritage. For example, locals might refer to a friend as “duck” or say “ay up” for a casual greeting.

What is the economy of Stoke-on-Trent based on today?

While the pottery and ceramics industry remains a part of Stoke-on-Trent’s economy, the city has diversified in recent years. It now has a broader manufacturing base, including the automotive and aerospace sectors. Service industries, retail, and education also contribute to the local economy.

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Link will appear as Stoke-on Trent Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, November 8, 2023

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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