A Wedgwood Diary 1897 - 1903 book by Paul Anderton published by Clayhanger Press 2025

A Wedgwood Diary 1897 - 1903: A Story of Real Life in Arnold Bennett's 'Bursley' by North Staffordshire historian Paul Anderton.

Softback book published by Clayhanger Press in 2025

This is a first edition hardback book of 130 pages, including publication of the original 1897 diary of the last of the Wedgwood family to be based in Burslem, with detailed commentary by Historian Paul Anderton. It is beautifully written with illustrations and calligraphy inspired by the diary and its time by Oliver and Lyn Leech.

This is a unique and incredible book which touches the real history of Burslem as it was in 1890s, has been championed by Clayhanger Press, Oliver Leech and especially by the established and well-known North Staffordshire historian and author of many books of special interest to the area, the recently passed and late Paul Anderton.

The author of the diary and the narrator, in effect, Josiphiah Wedgwood, spent his entire working life in Burslem. A diary in which he noted his 18th birthday provides clues to his early life, his father, Aaron and his family. All were born in the town, except for two, who moved to America. After transcribing the diary, Paul Anderton follows a paper trail to show aspects of Victorian Burslem as experienced by real people as a contrast to the fictional characters imagined by Arnold Bennett. The story of Josiphiah's life takes readers to the Potter's Emmigration Society in the 1840s, the building of the Wedgwood Institute, William Woodall MP, the early use of electricity in the town and Potteries folk on holiday in Llandudno. Family relationships, personal success, and sad dramas involving real people, not invented people, are revealed. The streets, buildings and society Bennett knew as a youth were the same for Josiphiah, his father and son. He may never have met Arnold Bennett, but he and his family were of the kind on which Bennett modelled the figures in his novels.

Published in 2025 by Clayhanger Press

Size: 25.25cm x 17.27cm x 1cm