Tilsley's Burslem & District Advertiser

Burslem is the oldest of the Pottery towns- and on a map
published in 1740, it is noted that post letters were taken to Burslem
from Newcastle once a week, viz : on Sunday, by an old woman.
For many years later the mode of conveying mails to Burslem
and other parts of the district was of a very primitive character. It is
recorded that in 1750 Burslem contained five shops only. Common
brown earthenware was manufactured in the district in the 17th
century; but it was not till the second half of the 18th century that
much progress was made; and the present flourishing state of the
manufactures of the district is attributed to the genius and energy of
Josiah Wedgwood, who was born in 1730.