Tilsley's Burslem & District Advertiser

Burslem is the oldest of the Pottery towns- and on a map published in 1740, it is noted that post letters were taken to Burslem from Newcastle once a week, viz : on Sunday, by an old woman. For many years later the mode of conveying mails to Burslem and other parts of the district was of a very primitive character. It is recorded that in 1750 Burslem contained five shops only. Common brown earthenware was manufactured in the district in the 17th century; but it was not till the second half of the 18th century that much progress was made; and the present flourishing state of the manufactures of the district is attributed to the genius and energy of Josiah Wedgwood, who was born in 1730.