Potbank Dictionary - definitions and explanations of those fabulously mysterious words, terms, phrases and dialect of the Potteries. 

Established in 1976, still going strong, still being added to and still being tweaked.

Here are those strange and very special terms, such as saggar makers bottom knocker, wedging, and ginneter that were, at one time, very common in the Potteries potbanks. There's also the special dialect of the district.

HINT: Search a page for your particular word by using CTRL together with F 

With almost nearly, but not quite, 1800 definitions, the Potbank Dictionary explains and demystifies the peculiar words collected during a lifetime in potbanks. Some are specific to a particular factory, others are quite common in the district. Some are quite technical. Much of this language is disappearing as potbanks are closed, as skills are lost and as manufacturing methods change. 

This is by no means an academic work but it is accurate and is rather quirky in places! Originally established in 1968 and first published by Gladstone Pottery Museum in The Friends Broadsheet Newsletter in January 1976. 

Compiled by Terry Woolliscroft and constantly updated since then. This website, launched in May 2012, is archived for preservation by the British Library.

This film, on YouTube, is a wonderful introduction to the area and how the language of the Potteries evolved. Incidentally, the guy in the image is not me but you will see him in the film.

"The film below gives thay a grate start un sums eat owe up. Thay wonst give eat a goo, duck 😉 " 

https://youtu.be/N6DJu1Ti5Kg


If you have any words or phrases which you think should be in the Potbank Dictionary, or if you find any errors please do get in touch, here > terry.wool@proton.me 

What is a POTBANK?

A place where pottery is made. 

It is the entire pottery factory including all the buildings and the yards involved in the potting process, from sliphouse to warehouse. According to the late Robert Copeland: “The term Potbank has been used for generations ... I believe that it derives from the days when Josiah Wedgwood was unable to meet the demand for his creamwares so he sub-contracted to other potters to make his shapes in the body of his specification, and to hold these stocks in their own warehouses for him to call upon as he required them. These warehouses were called banks. The term does not imply that the pottery was on a hillside nor by a canal or river.”  More here>

"Five Towns. An introduction to the glorious heritage of the Staffordshire Potteries"

Britain on Film. Directed by Terry Bishop. 26 mins. The five towns of the Staffordshire Potteries region are passionately described in the film. As well as lovingly detailing the area’s famed production techniques, the documentary also looks at the challenges of post-war reconstruction in the region.