Click here for a map and property prices for Stoke-on-Trent

How it rates

Stoke-on-Trent came into being on March 31, 1910, with the federation of the six older towns - Tunstall, Burslem, Stoke, Fenton, Longton and Hanley, made famous by Arnold Bennett's novels. “The Potteries” is the only place in Britain named after its main industry (for a photo of the kilns at full blast, go to timesonline.co.uk/archive). It was not until the 18th century that ceramic production boomed, with the opening of Josiah Wedgwood's Etruria factory, the exploitation of local coalfields and the development of the Trent and Mersey Canal. Today Stoke is known as the birthplace of the singer Robbie Williams; it's also the location for a new British film, Souled Out, starring Alfie Allen, about clubbing in the Seventies.

Architectural gems

The Gladstone Pottery Museum has a complete Victorian pottery factory. The Mausoleum in Trentham is the only Grade I listed building in the area. Farther afield, Little Moreton Hall is a famous timber-framed house. The Wedgwood Museum, housing more than 8,000 historic ceramics and artefacts, is to re-open in new premises at the end of this month.

What's new

Lock 38 is a new development, near the Trent and Mersey Canal, aimed at first-time buyers. Prices start at £129,950 (Countryside Properties: 01782 272458) for a two-bed canalside flat. Waters Edge is part of the large-scale City Waterside development; two-bed flats start at £135,500 (Redrow: 0845 6760516).

Travel

The nearby M6 motorway takes you to Manchester or Birmingham in an hour. Central London is an hour and a half by train. There are also plans to create a bus station as part of a wider £1.4 billion city regeneration project.

Quality of life

Mixed. There is disquiet in the city as the old Stoke of “pots, pits and engineering” vanishes and little else replaces it. But regeneration is afoot: £281 million will be spent over the next three years on improving and building housing.

Population

The city population is in decline. In 1958 it stood at 272,000. The 2001 Census showed a total population of 240,643.

Smartest streets

The leafy suburbs of Lightwood and Barlaston are popular. Lightwood Road has large detached houses for sale from £250,000. Detached houses in Barlaston Old Road cost from £250,000 to over £1 million.

Restaurants

The Church bar and restaurant, a 19th-century former Methodist chapel, serves locally sourced meat and English cuisine. Café Davide is a great place for coffee or Mediterranean food after a day in Trentham Shopping Village.

Nightlife

The renovated Art Deco Regent Theatre puts on theatre, music and comedy. Stoke is home to Northern Soul and the Kings Hall hosts monthly all-nighters. Liquid club has dance evenings and Sugarmill is a live indie venue.

Education

A student population of 26,000 attends Keele and Staffordshire universities. St Joseph's College, a secondary, achieves excellent exam results; Ash Green primary also achieves good results.

Working life

The main employer is Stoke-on-Trent City Council. The potteries, Bet365, Alton Towers, WaterWorld and Trentham Gardens are also big job providers. The unemployment rate in 2001 was 4 per cent.

Upside

Stoke City's promotion to the Premier League this year gave the city a well-needed boost. Stoke is one of the greenest cities in the country: it has a number of impressive Victorian parks and an extensive network of cycle routes.

Downside

The decline of industry has led to a loss of identity and fears over jobs - which may explain why the BNP holds nine seats on the council, the party's second-largest presence in the country.

At a glance

152% - the increase in house prices in Stoke over ten years. Source: Halifax

£1.1 million - the most expensive house yet sold in Stoke-on-Trent. Source: Knight Frank

1889 - the year Stoke's listed swimming pool opened.

3,410 - acres of park and green spaces within the city.

55 million - the number of albums sold by Robbie Williams. Source: bbc.co.uk

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