Tracing our heritage

John Webbe follows Burslem's new heritage trail

Have you seen the new information boards around Burslem town centre? Maybe you have seen the bright-green leaflets which proudly shout “Welcome to Burslem, Mother Town of the Potteries”? These two recent additions to the town are linked – they form Burslem’s new heritage trail.

I decided to follow this route last October with my retired parents and my nearly-two-year old daughter as we enjoyed the sun shining bright overhead. There are nine heritage trail boards in total – seven around Burslem town centre and one each at Moorcroft & Middleport Pottery. I am not going to repeat any of the information on the heritage trail boards or in the leaflet, I’ll leave that to you to find out, but believe me, it’s worth it – there’s some fascinating information for even the most hardened Boslemite to learn!

It’s important to know that this new heritage trail, funded by the North Staffs Regen Zone, has not just been imposed on the town – a lot of local businesses have contributed their own histories, others have helped with the design and layout, whilst the vast majority of the text on the leaflet and the information boards has been compiled & factually checked by local historians Fred Hughes and Mervyn Edwards. The result is a credit to all involved.

We started the day at about 10.30am, parking for free on the former Kwik Save on Nile Street, and began the trail at Swan Bank (heritage board number 4), then crossed over onto Market Place (board number 2). Even after reading the information here, I’d recommend just standing and slowly turning around to look at the architecture Burslem is blessed with – Wedgwood’s Big House, the Lloyds TSB bank, Swan Bank Church, The George Hotel, Market Place shops, Ceramica (the Old Town Hall), Overhouse Chambers, Queen’s Theatre, the Prince’s Hall and the former Post Office – what stunning buildings seen from one single spot!

From Market Place, we wandered up Hamil Road, had a look over at Port Vale’s ground & the Children’s Centre under construction, then went into Burslem Park where my daughter ran off to the brand-new play ground excitedly shouting.

The information board (number 3) is over by the Moorland Road entrance near the lake, and after learning more facts about the area, we headed down to Moorland Pottery’s factory shop, and then onto the greenway to walk up to Moorcroft.

If you’ve not been on Burslem greenway, we were impressed – it was very clean and so quiet – no noise from traffic can be heard all the way along and it’s safe enough to let the kids charge up and down.

It’s worth the walk along the greenway to Moorcroft just for the scenery as it’s elevated above local buildings and there’s a fantastic view back over to the Burslem town centre as well. On arrival at Moorcroft (board number 9), we enjoyed a much-needed hot drink from their machine and enjoyed even more the quality designs on show in the Moorcroft shop & the museum (whilst at the same time telling the child: “Please do not touch anything!”).


We headed back towards Burslem along Nile Street, popping into the Moorcroft & Dudson factory shops on the way, and then having a good look at the sad sight that is the former Royal Doulton factory.

We crossed into Queen Street, popped into the shops and admired the grandeur of the School of Art & Wedgwood Institute buildings (board number 5).

After lunch we walked over to learn more facts about the town at St John’s Square (board number 6) and across to Westport Road (board number 1), and then walked down Newcastle Street to visit Middleport Pottery (board number 8) and see the wonderful Burleigh ware in the factory shop. Then we strolled back up towards the town along Furlong Lane, down Woodbank Street, stopped off to read the final board of the tour (board number 7) at the historic St John’s Church and finally back to the car.

Admittedly, with a nearly-two-year old, it was a good walk as the pace of progress is slow, but we managed to get around the town, learnt some really fascinating information, and saw some sights which were new to all of us. I would really recommend getting out there and enjoying this new trail as well – you’ll enjoy it, learn new things about Burslem & its fantastic history, you will feel the energy of this wonderful area.

The Bizfizz effect

A WEALTH of new media brands, a recording studio, shops, a new pottery, art, flower and card shops, mechanics, gardeners and joiners, even flying machines... doesn’t exactly tally with the popular image of Burslem and Middleport, does it?

Many new local businesses, in one way or another, credit their existence to the Bizfizz project, which breaks down barriers to entrepreneurship. The project in Northern Stoke-on-Trent, started by the Civic Trust, has over 80 involved clients less than ten months into its first year. Clients include existing businesses and new enterprises. Whether it’s finding premises or providing motivational support, the Bizfizz coach Carolyn Powell and her panel of around 40 local people have made Burslem and Middleport buzz with new ideas and action.

Local Edition is just one of the projects that has been supported by Bizfizz and we bring you this special feature in preparation for a celebration event in October. If you want any more information on the event or on the project, just give Carolyn a call on 01782 525570.


How Bizfizz works:
the Local Panel

KEY to the local Bizfizz operation is a panel of 20-30 people who act as a network for the entrepreneurs, helping them unblock problems and providing key information and contacts.

It is not a management committee, but an advice and networking group. It consists of well-connected and experienced people from the community and the wider area who can make a practical contribution. Each panel member introduces the coach to ten additional contacts, thus helping the coach to widen their contact with potential entrepreneurs, and to gain an overview of local skills and resources available locally.

The panel includes local peoples with different backgrounds: community leaders and activists, head teachers, faith group leaders, councillors, local entrepreneurs and business people from the wider area, people with expertise in key areas such as IT, marketing, book-keeping, premises, bankers and other finance providers, people from regulatory authorities such as planning, environmental health and the Inland Revenue. What brings them together is a mutual passion for the area where they live and work.
The ability to unleash local expertise and resources is the main difference between Bizfizz and other business support. That’s why Panel members are asked to contribute not only in their professional role but using all their personal experience and knowledge. For example Local Panels are very helpful with finding premises, identifying waste materials that can be used by other businesses, and linking entrepreneurs with common interests.


How Bizfizz works:
the coach

HELPING people pursue their passion is the first step for Bizfizz. These are the hidden entrepreneurs who could be generating wealth for a community and removing the barriers that stand in their way is what Bizfizz is all about.

Bizfizz places a business advisor and counsellor in the heart of the community. We call them Bizfizz coaches since their role is not to do the legwork for local entrepreneurs, but to help people discover their own potential as entrepreneurs. The coach will usually be an experienced entrepreneur, with some experience of giving advice and support to businesses and a strong commitment to our approach. The coach gets to know the community thoroughly, through extensive personal introductions as well as visiting local clubs and pubs, societies, schools and faith groups to introduce them, and let everyone know that they are available to support local entrepreneurs.

We believe that every business needs an entrepreneur, someone who will drive the business forward. The coach’s job is not to sit on committees, or provide money, training or premises but simply to support entrepreneurs. The coach does this by helping people to follow their passions.

Nobody is good at everything. Some of us have no head for figures or flair for marketing. Bizfizz coaches encourage entrepreneurs to create a ‘virtual team’ of supporters to help them with those aspects of the business they feel less comfortable with. For example, if accountancy is a particular weak spot in an entrepreneur’s skill portfolio, an intensive training course may not be the best use of an entrepreneur’s time. Why not find a local professional who might be prepared to defer up front payment? Or a local mum who is taking evening classes in book-keeping whose fees might be lower? Or even agree to share financial risk by profit sharing rather than paying set fees?

Our coaches provide their services for free, but they are free in another sense. They are not constrained by having to ration the amount of time they give to the entrepreneurs or by notions of ‘professional distance’. Within reason, our coaches can do whatever it takes to help the entrepreneur succeed.
This is an edited

version of information from the national website at www.bizfizz.org.uk.
The Bizfizz programme is coordinated by the Civic Trust and the New Economics Foundation.