The Potbank Dictionary - definitions and explanations of those fabulously mysterious words 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.

With over 10,000 terms, the Potbank Dictionary explains and demystifies the peculiar words and phrases collected during a lifetime in 'potbanks'. Some are specific to a particular factory, others are quite common and some are quite technical. Much of the language is dying out as potbanks are closed, skills are lost and manufacturing methods change. 

This is not an academic work but it is factual and accurate and is rather quirky in places! Originally established in January 1976 by Terry Woolliscroft and constantly updated since then. This site, 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 terms which you think should be in the Potbank Dictionary 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.