The best street in the Potteries
IOFTEN get to thinking about what are the ‘best bits’ of our city. The best building. The best neighbourhood. The best park. The best pub. But what about the best street?
Percy Street in Hanley would be up there. Burslem’s Queen Street takes some beating, as does Brook Street in Stoke and Fenton’s Foley Place. However, if push came to shove I’d give the honour to Dresden’s Ricardo Street, which is home to some very good residential properties, including what is arguably the best house in the city.
Dresden was developed as a suburb of Longton from the 1850s by the Longton Freehold Land Society. Freehold Land Societies grew following the Reform Act of 1832, which set out the two most important qualifications for voting which were the ownership of a freehold with a minimum value of 40 shillings, and the occupation of a property worth at least £10 a year. Radical Liberals seized upon this as a potential tool to achieve parliamentary reform and championed the movement as the means to change the balance of political power.
The country’s first Freehold Land Society was established in Birmingham in 1847. The venture in Birmingham was a great success, and the movement quickly spread to other major urban areas including the Potteries. Initially it was proposed to form a North Staffordshire-wide Freehold Land Society, but by the end of 1849, independent branches had been formed in both Burslem and Longton.
Within six months, the Longton Freehold Land Society had acquired Spratslade Farm on the southern fringes of the town for £5,000 and commenced the development of the Dresden Estate which went on to provide a total of 505 homes. It’s been suggested that the estate was named after the famous porcelain producing German city.
At the heart of the Dresden Estate was Ricardo Street, which – as with other streets in Dresden – was named after a prominent Liberal politician, namely John Lewis Ricardo, Liberal MP for Stoke-on-trent from 1841 until his death in 1862. Ricardo was also chairman of the North Staffordshire Railway Company.
Ricardo Street had two distinct sections. The western end was formed mainly of terraced properties, while the eastern end which adjoined the estate’s boundary was largely made up of grander villas, and this contrast provides a lively and interesting streetscene.
A number of very prominent properties were built, including Dresden House – now known as Eldon House – which took up three plots and was built for local potter John Green, and Moneto House, which has become known locally as the Tower House.
Moneto House was built in 1865 by Nottingham architect R.C. Sutton in red, yellow and blue brickwork ornamented with stone, its unique tower topped with ornate ironwork making it a local landmark. It is the best house in the Potteries, and surely one day will be listed by Historic England.
Sadly, Dresden fell victim to the wrecking ball during the 1970s, with many good properties razed, particularly on Cobden, Villiers, Russell and Peel Street, which had the effect of diluting the area’s character and historic interest.
However, Dresden still remains one of the city’s most attractive neighbourhoods. Walkable streets containing some beautiful residential properties with good access to town, and with Queen’s Park on the doorstep. What’s not to like?
What is remarkable about Dresden is its individual, but at the same time uniform character. This was achieved due to the nature of the scheme. Development of individual plots but with varying house types – from genteel terraces to prominent detached villas – and different but contextual architectural design, while properties were available both for sale and to let.
Such approaches to residential development are less common these days, with the housing industry dominated by big players that pursue volume which is more suited to the formulaic methods that they favour.
But despite this, there is still the possibility of modern day Dresdens being achieved. In recent times the Government has sought to encourage the expansion of self and custom build housing which is well-suited to the kind of individual and bespoke design achieved in Dresden, while the Community Land Trust and housing association movements would also offer the potential to achieve something unique.
In the past, Ricardo Street was often described as ‘the best street in Dresden’, and I wouldn’t disagree.
And I reckon it’s also the best street in the Potteries.