Stoke School of Art
Other names: Stoke School of Design, London Road School
Foundation date: 25 January 1847
Active: 1847 - 1952
Function: Art school
Policy: Began as a Pottery School of Design in January 1847 backed by the Government and administered by local committees [see Warrilow (1960), p. 284].
Operated as a government branch art school with Hanley School of Art until c. 1860 when Hanley became a seperate school. Stoke School of Art expanded in 1858 with funds from the Minton Memorial Project [see Haggar (1953), pp. 12-13].
The 1925 'Report of Inspection of Stoke-on-Trent Schools of Art' describes the relationship between the school and the local industry: 'The principal aim of the various Schools is to provide courses of instruction suited to the needs of those engaged in the pottery industry'. Three firms [not named] paid the fees of ten students to attend the school [summary, p. 2]. The acomodation for mould making in Stoke is descbribed as good' but 'for Modelling it is deplorably bad and for Throwing and Turning it is very cramped and thus adequate equipment cannot be installed' [p. 3]. The report lists Stoke as providing classes in advanced modelling, mould-making, throwing and turning [p. 5]. The facilities for the life modelling class was critisised in the report [p. 11].
In the 'Schools of Art Prospectus' (1938-39) Stoke is listed as the 'School of Sculpture'[p. 7]. It offered classes in modelling, design and pottery decoration, mouldmaking, throwing and turning, modelling design, and advanced modelling and design class[p. 17]. The prospectus describes the 'School of Sculpture' as follows: 'courses of instruction will be graded to enable Pottery Modellers to become Sculptors. With this end in view students will be trained to be able to draw as well as to model, and will take, for one Session at least, a class in Architecture to enable them to set out a scale sketch design on paper, and to be able to draw full-size cartoons for any feature of Architectuure enrichment by Sculpture' [p. 23].
A report on the 'Suggested Re-Organisation - Burslem, Hanley & Stoke Schools of Art' (1945) recorded that pottery (described as 'throwing, turning, modelling, mould-making and pottery painting') is taught at Burslem and Stoke but that each school had partial facilities (e.g. pottery from Stoke had to be fired at Burslem as there was no kiln at Stoke) and that thus these should be amalgamated [summary, p. 1]. The pottery school at stoke was to be moved to Burslem and housed in the old Junior Department [p. 2].
It was resolved in the 'Memo. Re-organisation Stoke-on-Trent Art Schools' (30 June 1945) that Stoke Art School would become the School of Printing [p. 1]. It was agreed in a report on 'Notes on recent proposals for re-organisationfor the Stoke-on-Trent Art Schools' (1949) that Stoke would receive all the printing, lithography, photography and ceramic transfer processes, also the painting and decorating classes which included sign-writing and well-papering together with some embroidery and dress making, etc.'
Stoke and the local schools of art were amalgamated into the City of Stoke-on-Trent College of Art in 1952 [see Warrillow (1960), p. 289].
History or description: In a report on the 'Schools of Design' (1850) by the Head School of Design, Somerset House, London, on modelling in Stoke and Hanley (which were operating together in 1850), it is recorded that 'the models, which are the joint productions of the two pottery schools, are satisfactory; there is, besides, a design for a flower vase executed in terra cotta, which is a tasteful adaptation from the well known Neapolitan Cups'.
The report records the number of works sent by each branch school for 'Modelling': Hanley and Stoke sent five 'ornaments', three 'figures' and one work 'from nature, flowers, etc' [summary].
A report written by Ambrose Poynter dated 7 September 1849 (which is included in the 1850 'Schools of Design' report) states that 'it is also intended, on the next competition, to offer special prizes to the modelling classes; these classes are now assuming their proper importance in the schools, not only from their numbers, but still more from the quality of the pupils, many of whom are modellers of long practice, established in the manufactories, who came to the schools already skilled in the handicraft of their business.'
It continues: 'There are, besides, several pupils in the modelling classes who have begun at the beginning and worked throught the elementary studies abroad. One of the principal modellers in the Potteries is stated to have drawn his first lines in the schools'.
This report also records 170 male and 35 female pupils; 100 of the males and 25-30 of the females are based at Stoke School and the remainder at Hanley. The larger number of female students at Stoke is attributed to 'the continued exertions in their favour by Mr. Minton'.
The report continues: 'of the whole amount of the student, about three-fourths are actually engaged in the manufactories, and about 30 are established modellers and painters.'
Employees, Students & Members
Numbers: 295
Numbers: 94
Period Start: 1917
Period End: 1918
Numbers: 196
Period Start: 1924
Period End: 1925
Exhibitions, Courses, Meetings and other Events
Organized Scholarship to the Royal College of Art, 1938-1939
Institutional and Business Connections
Affiliated with Hanley School of Art
1847 - 1860
See Haggar (1953), p. 12.
Associated People
Assistant teachers of modeling included Thomas Longmore
1880 (Circa) - 1888 (Circa)
See Haggar (1953), p. 26: reference 'Report: Stoke on Fenton School of Art', 1888.
Directors included J.S. Murdoch
1847 - 1848
See Haggar (1953), p. 6.
Members of committee included Edward Adams
1847 - 1848 (Presumed)
See Haggar (1953), p. 6.
Members of committee included William Baker
1847 - 1848 (Presumed)
See Haggar (1953), p. 6.
Members of committee included Samuel Bloye
1847 - 1848 (Presumed)
See Haggar (1953), p. 6.
Members of committee included S.T. Garratt
1847 - 1848 (Presumed)
See Haggar (1953), p. 6.
Members of committee included Michael Daintry Hollins
1847 - 1848 (Presumed)
See Haggar (1953), p. 6.
Members of committee included Herbert Minton
1847 - 1848 (Presumed)
See Haggar (1953), p. 6.
Principals included John Charles Robinson
1848 - 1852 (Presumed)
Headmaster; see Haggar (1953), p. 6.
Principals included Silas Rice
1852 (Presumed) - 1864 (Presumed)
See Haggar (1953), p. 12.
Principals included Joseph Patrick Bacon
1864 (Circa) - 1894 (Circa)
See Haggar (1953), p. 21 and p. 26.
Haggar notes in 'Dictionary' (1947) that from 1847 to 1856 there are no records for Stoke art school and that he may have been assistant master before becomming principal.
Principals included Henry Woolner
1875 (Circa) - 1879 (Circa)
See Haggar (1953), p. 51.
Principals included Frederick Richard Wooldridge
1894 (Circa) - 1900 (Circa)
See Haggar (1953), p. 26.
Principals included Reginald George Haggar
1934 - 1941
Listed as 'Master in Charge' of Stoke School of Art [see 'Schools of Art Prospectus' (1938-39), p. 5].
Listed as Master of Stoke Art School from 1934-4 [see Haggar (1953), p. 43]. According to Elliott, 'Potters', 2004 Haggar was headmaster at Stoke from 1935-41.
Principals included Arnold Machin
1941 (Circa) - 1942
See Haggar, 'Dictionary' (1947), unpaged, and Wilkinson 'Ceramic Artists' (2007), p. 98.
For the end date of his employment see a photograph of a letter from Gordon Forsyth to Josiah Wedgwood, 24 December 1942, in which Forsyth discusses Machin's choice to leave the school: see Wedgwood Museum Digital Archive, LET286.
Principals included Dearden
1945 (Presumed) - 1946 (Presumed)
Students included Charles Toft
See Haggar (1953), p. 31 and Atterbury and Batkin 'Dictionary of Minton' (1990), p. 311; no dates are given by the authors.
Students included Frederick Alfred Rhead
Atterbury and Batkin 'Dictionary of Minton' (1990), pp. 294-295: no dates are given.
Students included Roy Austin
1939
'He attended Newcastle and Stoke-on-Trent College of Art until 1939 when joined the forces and served until 1946 in the Air Sea Rescue': see an article in Wedgwood Review, vol. 4, no. 4, Sept. 1967, p. 9 (Wedgwood Museum Digital Archive).
Students included George Birks
1847 (Circa) - 1864 (Circa)
See Haggar (1953), p. 12. In his 'Dictionary' (1947), however, Haggar gives the date of 1847.
Students included Thomas Allen
1849 (Circa) - 1864 (Circa)
See Haggar (1953), p. 12 and p. 37.
Students included Simon Birks
1849 (Circa) - 1859 (Circa)
See Haggar, 'Dictionary' (1947), unpaged.
Students included Arthur Spode Birks
1849 (Circa)
See Haggar, 'Dictionary' (1947), unpaged.
Students included George Woolliscroft Rhead Senior
1849 (Circa) - 1857 (Circa)
See Haggar, 'Dictionary' (1947), unpaged.
Students included Joseph Birks
1858 (Circa) - 1859 (Circa)
See Haggar, 'Dictionary' (1947), unpaged.
Students included Robert J. Abraham
1860 (Circa) - 1880 (Circa)
See Haggar (1953), p. 22.
Students included Hamlet Bourne
1860 (Circa) - 1864 (Circa)
See Haggar (1953), p. 12.
Students included Matthew Elden
1860 (Circa) - 1864 (Circa)
See Haggar (1953), p. 12 for dates. See also Atterbury and Batkin 'Dictionary of Minton' (1990), p. 266.
Students included Joseph B. Evans
1860 (Circa) - 1864 (Circa)
See Haggar (1953), p. 12.
Students included Thomas Longmore
1860 (Circa) - 1869 (Circa)
See Haggar, 'Dictionary' (1947), unpaged.
Students included John Lockwood Kipling
1860 (Circa) - 1864 (Circa)
See Haggar (1953), p. 12.
Students included George Pedley
1860 (Circa) - 1864 (Circa)
See Haggar (1953), p. 12.
Students included Charles Toft
1860 (Circa) - 1864 (Circa)
See Haggar (1953), p. 12.
Students included George Ryles
1860 (Circa) - 1864 (Circa)
See Haggar (1953), p. 12.
Students included John Hénk
1863 (Circa) - 1868 (Circa)
See Haggar (1953), p. 43 and Wilkinson (2007), p. 79.
Students included John Slater
1863 (Circa) - 1868 (Circa)
See Haggar (1947), unpaged.
Students included Thomas Hassall
1880 (Circa) - 1900 (Circa)
See Haggar (1953), p. 26.
Students included Charles Bernard Wood
1892 (Circa)
See Haggar (1947), unpaged.
Students included Arnold Machin
1925 (Circa) - 1931 (Circa)
See Haggar, 'Dictionary' (1947), unpaged; listed as an evening student.
Teachers included Charles Bernard Wood
See Haggar (1947), unpaged; no dates are given.
Teachers included Ada A. Jones
1927 (Probable) - 1943 (Probable)
See Haggar, 'Dictionary' (1947), unpaged.
Teachers included Freda Beardmore
1938 (Presumed) - 1939 (Presumed)
Listed as tutor of pottery decoration at Stoke School of Art [see 'Schools of Art Prospectus' (1938-39), p. 6].
Teachers included Reginald George Haggar
1938 (Presumed) - 1939 (Presumed)
Listed as tutor of 'life, head, design, model making, window display etc.' at Stoke School of Art [see 'Schools of Art Prospectus' (1938-39), p. 6].
Teachers included John Scott
1938 - 1939
Listed as a tutor of 'throwing' at Stoke School of Art [see 'Schools of Art Prospectus' (1938-39), p. 6].
Teachers of modeling included George Thomas Scott
See Haggar (1947), unpaged; became instructor in pottery throwing - no dates are given.
Teachers of modeling included Pierre-Emile Jeannest
September 1848
See Haggar (1953), p. 6.
Teachers of modeling included Hugues Protât
1850 (Circa) - 1864 (Circa)
See Haggar (1953), p. 13 and p. 21.
Wilkinson suggests that the artist taught evening modelling classes at Hanley and Stoke Schools of Art from 1850 to 1864: see Wilkinson 'Ceramic Artists' (2007), p. 120. See also Reilly and Savage, 'The Dictionary of Wedgwood' (1980), p. 290.
Teachers of modeling included Eric Owen
1938 - 1939
Listed as tutor of 'Modelling (Technical)' at Stoke School of Art [see 'Schools of Art Prospectus' (1938-39), p. 6].
Teachers of sculpture included Geoffrey Austin Milsom
This was his first post, Milsom taught in Stoke from sometime in the mid or late 1940s until about 1950
Descriptions of Business or Institution
Listed in Dictionary of Painters, Sculptors, Architects, & Writters on Art 1. Born in Staffordshire, 2. Lived in Staffordshire, 3. Worked in Staffordshire, 4. Died in Staffordshire, or with close staffordshire associations, December 1947
1947 (Circa)
Haggar notes that no records exist for Stoke School of Art c. 1847-1856, and c. 1860-68 [summary].
Sources
'Art Education Struggles in Potteries Century Ago', Evening Sentinel
12 June 1964
p. 1.
A Century of Art Education in the Potteries. With notes on the Artists, 1953 Local Studies
1953 (Circa)
p. 6 and p. 13.
City of Stoke-on-Trent Education Committee, c. 1948 Stoke on Trent (formerly Burslem Art School) 1936-1955
1948 (Circa)
p. 1.
City of Stoke-on-Trent Schools of Art Prospectus, 1938-1939
12 September 1938
p. 4.
Memo Re-organisation Stoke-on-Trent Art Schools, 30 June, 1945 Stoke on Trent College of Art (formerly Burslem Art School) 1945-1955
30 June 1945
p. 1.
Notes on recent proposals for re-organisation of the Stoke-on-Trent Art Schools, 26 March, 1949
26 March 1949
p. 1.
Schools of Design, 1850
15 August 1850
pp. 12-13 and pp. 32-35.
Suggested Re-Organisation - Burslem, Hanley & Stoke Schools of Art, 14 June, 1945 Stoke on Trent College of Art (formerly Burslem Art School) 1945-1955
14 June 1945
p. 1.
Citing this record
'Stoke School of Art', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/organization.php?id=msib4_1221649958, accessed 25 Mar 2023]
