Have you heard of Potters’ holidays? We explain this tradition and share our memories of Potters’ over the years…
What Are Potters’ Holidays?
Also known as ‘Wakes' week, the history of Potters’ in Stoke-on-Trent dates back to mid-17th century, when the potteries would co-ordinate holidays so all staff would be off work at the same time. This allowed workers to enjoy a break with their families and the temporarily empty factory would then be free to service, clean and fix any machinery – referred to as ‘shutdown’.
Some factories such as Burleigh, Steelite and Churchill China still continue this today.
When Are The Potters’ Holidays?
There have always been two Potters’ Holidays in Stoke-on-Trent – one at the end of June lasting for two weeks and the other one in August for one week.
Memories To Last A Lifetime
Most families spent Potters’ holiday either travelling to a seaside town or staying home to enjoy the fairground with friends. Historically, the people of Stoke would travel to these destinations by bus or take the train. Rhyl was even referred to as ‘Stoke-on-Sea’ because so many Stokies would be there!
Potters’ Holidays – Steve
With Steve working at Wedgwood for almost 25 years, along with his Dad and other family members also working there, he’s spent many years looking forward to this local tradition and thinks back on it fondly.
When asked about Potters’, Steve explained “It’s the holiday where all the pot banks shut down for 2 weeks – last week of June, first week of July. It also means it’s the time when you expect not to see your colleague for two weeks but it ends up you tend to go to similar places anyway, so you see them on day trips or on holiday too.”
“We always holidayed in the UK so it was North Wales for a few years and then we started going to Torquay in South Devon. Lots of memories of family holidays. It was a time when you got to spend time with your parents, without school or work getting in the way.”
Is it still a tradition he’s part of now? “Unfortunately not. We rarely take a two week holiday these days. My wife works in finance and has to manage month-end reporting, so we don’t follow Potters’ holidays anymore. I’d love a full two weeks holiday to switch off though. It’s the perfect amount of time to feel ready to get back to work afterwards.”
Photos below of Steve in a caravan in Paignton, Devon and (possibly) Llandudno, Wales.
Potters’ Holidays – Amy
While Amy hasn’t experienced the traditional Potters’ like Steve, her Mum’s very familiar with them – with an album full of black and white family photos and a head full of magical memories of going on holiday with her Mum, Dad and three siblings.
“My Dad worked at Twyfords in Cliffvale as a Sanitary Caster making toilets, sinks, wash basins and ‘bidets’ (later working at Johnson Brothers). The Potters’ holidays were brilliant! There used to be loads of coaches leaving Stoke from the Potteries generally to go to North Wales. Very often we’d go to a place like Rhyl quite regularly and you’d see more people up there from Stoke than you actually did when you were at home! It was lovely.”
"Potters’ was in June and then August. During that time there’d be a fair just down the road from where I lived, so we spent a lot of time going there.”
With so many fond memories in Rhyl, Blackpool and Caister-on-Sea in Norfolk, and stories about the smell of donkeys, missing false teeth in sand dunes and buying beer for a Nun – Sue proudly recalls winning a talent contest with her sister, where they did the twist, followed by going up on stage together to sing.
Photos below of Sue in the sand dunes with her Dad and dancing with one of her sisters.
All other photos: Stoke Sentinel.
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