Hanley in 1817

Description from A Topographical History of Staffordshire by William Pitt (1817)

HANLEY.

Hanley is a large modern town,about three miles east by north of Newcastle. No part of the Potteries can boast of more respectable manufacturers than Hanley, which is next to Burslem in size and extent. However irregular the streets may appear to an observer in the town, Hanley, from its elevated situation, appears to great advantage when viewed from Cobridge, or from the turnpike-road between Newcastle and Leek, which passes near it. The Grand Trunk Canal is close to the town, and affords the utmost facility of inland navigation, for the conveyance of the earthenware to Liverpool, Hull, and London.

There are several collieries and potteries in the vicinity of this town and of Shelton.

A weekly market is held in Hanley, on Saturday, for the sale of provisions of all kinds; it is abundantly supplied,and well attended by purchasers.

In 1812, owing to the increasing population of the town, it was deemed necessary to apply to the Legislature to empower certain trustees to enlarge the market and market-place, and an Act for "establishing and regulating the market, and for enlarging and  improving the market-place" at Hanley, was obtained. The Act mentions two market-days, viz. Wednesday and Saturday; but the latter is the principal.

The population of the townships of Hanley and Shelton amounts to nearly 10,000 persons. According to the return in 1811, Hanley contained 911 houses, 930 families; 2,165 males, 2,316 females : total, 4,481 inhabitants.

Shelton at the same period contained 1,077 houses, 1,148 families; 2,612 males, 2,875 females : total, 5,487 inhabitants.

Hanley Church was rebuilt in the year 1788. It is a handsome well-built structure of brick, with a square tower 100 feet high. It cost upwards of £5000. and is surrounded by a spacious cemetery, enclosed with a wall and large iron gates. It is a Chapel of Ease to Stoke-upon-Trent. The patronage is vested in certain trustees. The Rev. R. E. Aitkens, is the present minister. He was elected in 1802.

This town also contains several meeting-houses for Dissenters of different denominations.

Shelton, though now generally included with Hanley, in being contiguous thereto, and apparently a continuation thereof, is a distinct village and township. It contains some of the oldest and most respectable manufacturers. Very excellent porcelain, little inferior to that of the East, has long been manufactured here, and it possesses the advantages of a public wharf upon the Trent and Mersey navigation, which passes this place.

ELIJAH FENTON, an ingenious poet of the last century, and whose life is given among the "Eminent Natives" of this county, was born at Shelton, on the 20th of May, 1683.