Description:A view south west from the end of Leason Street, across the site of Copeland's Spode Works on Church Street in Stoke. Immediately beyond the railings is the Fowlea Brook and in the distance, the higher ground of Honeywall and Penkhull. The photograph predates the building of the high rise flats at Honeywall.
Josiah Spode's works were established on this site in 1767 and in the late 18th century Josiah developed and refined the formula to produce fine bone china. Spode was renowned for its blue and white Chinese Willow pattern porcelain. The open space in the centre of the photograph was once packed with coal fired bottle kilns. The company took the name W T Copelands in 1867, reverting to Spode in 1970. In 2016 plans were announced to convert the works into Spode Creative Village, a complex of accommodation, artists studios, offices and restauarnts.