Although Geography is in the School of Arts and Creative Industries, the two schools have people and research in common.

On a cold February day last week a group of Geography students visited the Middleport regeneration area near to Burslem, as part of their Urban Worlds module.

In the heyday of the pottery industry this was a thriving area of factories, mills and a close-knit residential community. Economic decline hit this area very hard, the result was neglect and dereliction.

At the turn of the century (2000) Middleport became the focus for a redevelopment project to breathe new life into the area, however with the demise of the Renew initiative in 2011 the Prince’s Regeneration Trust saved the Middleport Pottery.

There is still much work to be done, but the students were able to see the transformation that has taken place in the complete refurbishment of the terraced houses in Port Street including the provision of gardens; Middleport Visitors Centre and learn from a local volunteer about the Burleigh Pottery, archive and studio provision for artists and ceramicists as well as the modern face of the pottery industry in Steelite nearby. http://www.middleportpottery.org

Port Street BEFORE & AFTER (front and back)