The Devil In The Potteries

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Date:1905 - 1915 (c.)

Description:Industrial landscape taken at Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. Photography and Design by William Blake.

This design, with its damning caption, is one of many that criticise the conditions created by the pottery industry.

Canon L. Tyrwhitt

A preacher named Canon L. Tyrwhitt used to give sermons in the Fenton area of Stoke-on-Trent around 1903. He was very critical of the growing number of people in the locality who drank alcohol excessively. He referred to the problem as 'The Devil in the Potteries'.

This picture is believed to to be a reply to the sermons of Tyrwhitt. Blake, instead, placed the blame for the problems faced by the local working classes on the exploititive nature of the pottery industry.

Related themes:

Prominent Individuals Pottery Factories Manufacturing Industrial Buildings Factory Exteriors Chimneys Ceramics Business, Trade & Industry Buildings, Architecture, Monuments Architectural Features Aerial Views & Townscapes

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You will find more information relating to this resource on the following web page

See more of Blake's work at Stoke-on-Trent Museums*

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Creators: Mr William Blake - Creator

Donor ref:(40/10500)

Source: The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery

Copyright information: Copyrights to all resources are retained by the individual rights holders. They have kindly made their collections available for non-commercial private study & educational use. Re-distribution of resources in any form is only permitted subject to strict adherence to the usage guidelines.