from cover transporting them to the nearby Bell’s for many years. It is Mill where a stream running thorough the site now divided into two drove a water wheel. In 1836 John Bourne with new houses with much less business partner Matthew Mare renewed the lease land. of the Etruria mill site. On the death of Jesse The Shirleys The Shirley family become involved when John Shirley II in 1875 Bourne married Jane Shirley the widow of Jesse control of the business passed to his sons Shirley I in 1834. By 1841, John had taken Jane’s Jesse III born in 1848 of Etruria sons, Jesse and Joseph, into the business. John and Henry Benjamin known as Harry born in 1858. died in 1852 and in 1856 Jesse II commenced They attended the British School which was building a new mill, which consolidated all housed at the rear of the Wesleyan Chapel. operations onto the Etruria site. As well as successfully running the business the Shirley's Bone and Flint Shirley brothers were prominent members of Mill utilised a powerful Hanley Town Council with both serving terms as beam engine named mayor. Jesse III was also chair of the parks Princess made in the committee and instrumental in the development of 1820s by Bateman and opened in 1897 and Etruria Park Sherratt of Salford. opened in 1904. The brothers donated a drinking fountain to Etruria Park. It remains but is in need of In addition to bone other restoration. materials such as flint, Cornish stone, and colours The Shirley family have required by the expanding prominent and well kept Bicentenary Walking Tour pottery industry were graves and memorials ground. As specialists they became expert at close to the entrance of From the early 1800s the Shirley family Hanley Cemetery. producing the materials required to produce high was the second most well known and quality pottery, including bone china. The steam powered mill influential family in Etruria, the other being continued to run For many years the Shirley family lived in Etruria the - Etruria village being created commercially until 1972 and played a major role in the commercial, in 1765 by Josiah I to house the and the modernised part of community, religious and political life of the village workforce of the famous Etruria Pottery factory. and The Potteries. The first Wesleyan chapel the site operated until 2014, The Shirley dynasty was founded 200 years ago became too small so was replaced by the present still owned and managed by the Sh irley family. in 1820 when John Bourne and George Hudson building in 1820. Jesse Shirley I was involved in its Text and photographs by Etruria Industrial Museum. planning and opening. There are two stained glass Designed & edited by Potteries Heritage Society. started to produce bone flour for the developing windows and a tablet commemorating the Shirley pottery industry. It is known that they occupied the etruriamuseum.org.uk family who continued to support the chapel for © SBFMV CIO 2020 site of the present mill from before 1836 and many years. possibly from the start of their business. Having a In 1855 Jesse II purchased land from the wharf just off the was an Wedgwoods to build Etruria Villa which was his ideal location for the delivery of bone from all parts. home until death. The family continued to live there They boiled and calcined bones on the site T

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r t e g i & d The Walk: approx 3 miles, allow 2 hours. g M ri estate and the zig-zag path to the towpath. e b i r s y o site of n e y a C a C W a Bell's Mill Following the Trent & Mersey Canal south, to Starting from the Etruria Industrial l a n n ri l a i a n M Museum visitor centre entrance, cross the e l Etruria Junction, you will find the first two locks line site of the Etruria Rd of the Stoke flight and the buildings associated footbridge and the Museum car park before loop r 1986 National 3 e 5 l m o t with the industrial museum. It was here that following the route of the former tramway on the or A op f Garden line S opposite side of Etruria Vale Road. Cross Clough Festival railway Bourne and Hudson established the business in Sandon St d o o 1820 and Shirley’s Bone and Flint Mill was Street and follow a footpath and Josiah w y g a Cavendish St d w site of e m completed in 1857. Wedgwood Street to view the site of Bell's Mill. In F W a

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G o listed buildings and is the only operational Roundhouse John f it was here that calcined bones were originally Etruria Bourne's steam driven potters' mill in the world. Driven by brought for grinding. No traces can be seen above cottage Park a rare 1820s beam engine manufactured by Clough St ground and any remaining foundations are buried Bateman and Sherratt with steam generated ee Rd under the modern retail building close to the Dund d from a locally built 1903 Cornish boiler, the mill 3 R B Rd 5 d e mith A l lm dys junction of Road and Etruria Road. O La provides visitors with the experience of seeing a o ri H n u u t tr R d m y R E d berle a Victorian canal side manufactory in Following the road around to the left, Shirley's Etruria b Kim Etruria e r Villa t R Rd operation. The mill and machinery are in very Drinking Fountain may be found in Etruria Park . Methodist toria d re t P S Chapel & Cl ur n good condition and were purchased in 2015 The fountain was presented by Jesse III and his vo B ow a School u d C ln E ll i t d M r K r R u u by a charity whose members and volunteers brother Henry in 1904. Three of the Wedgwood E rt e s James Brindley ri e h a tr b r u m e e V u s s a s H i Statue l maintain and operate the mill. c d C e panels were damaged many years ago and the a e R n l C d S Stoke l pieces are in storage at the Potteries Museum and t Top Lock Etruria Continue along the towpath and turn right by Industrial two calcining kilns, through the housing Art Gallery. There is no water supply and the lamp Museum & on top is missing. purchased the land from Shirley's Bone estate which occupies the site of the & Flint Mill Bedford St Wedgwood’s in 1855. The Villa T Staircase former Twyfords Factory. After Beyond the park is the site of John Bourne's r e Locks t is now split into two dwellings n rd S Bedfo crossing the canal, follow the Cottage which was later the site of St Matthew’s t

and most of the original extensive & Church consecrated in 1847. John died in 1852 paths through Hanley gardens and coach house have M C e Cemetery to the Shirley a and was buried in a tomb in the church yard which r s s t l been sold and are occupied by e e graves, on the left as you f t i S was originally part of his garden. y e as l m other buildings. It can be viewed d Lo C approach the twin chapels. S C a t Etruria's Wesleyan Methodist Chapel was d a from Etruria Road. It is interesting to n R ew l a n N d From the gate, follow l to o opened in 1820 to replace a smaller chapel. Jesse hel n note that the end gables are of the S C a n Planet Twyfords C a l Cemetery Road left, Shirley I was involved from the beginning and the em e Lock same design as those of the Factory te ry turn right onto Shelton Shirley family continued to support the chapel until engine house at Shirley’s Rd P S e t New Road and join its closure. They served as trustees, wardens and n o Bone and Flint Mill with the s k to Shirley e c k R the towpath Sunday school teachers. In the chapel is a plaque graves d finials replaced with chimney D calcining r commemorating Jesse Shirley II, his wife Sarah kilns on the left. pots. It was regarded as the Chapels and daughter-in-law Sarah Elizabeth and two second best house in Etruria Continue past Bedford stained glass windows commemorating Jesse III after Etruria Hall. Returning via Hanley Street Staircase and his wife Sarah Elizabeth. Cavour Street, the old school building Cemetery Locks and return to Further along Etruria Old Road, Etruria Villa was can be seen at the rear of the Chapel. the museum site to built by Jesse Shirley II as his dwelling after he Follow Humbert Road through the modern complete the walk.