Blue plaque unveiled at pottery honours writer

Arnold Bennett visited Middleport Pottery and incorporated the site in his novel Anna of the Five Towns

A blue plaque has been unveiled at a pottery in Stoke-on-Trent to celebrate a famous city writer.

Arnold Bennett, who was born in 1867, visited Middleport Pottery and incorporated the site in his novel Anna of the Five Towns.

His books immortalised the Potteries and his reputation as a respected English realist writer was firmly established by the time of his death in 1931.

The plaque was unveiled by the Arnold Bennett Society on Tuesday.

The plaque is near to the main gates of Middleport Pottery

There are already plaques in Burslem highlighting buildings mentioned in the author's novels, but this was the first in Middleport.

"It's important to recognise Bennett's role not just in national literary culture but also here in Stoke-on-Trent," said Alasdair Brooks from Re-Form Heritage which owns Middleport Pottery.

He said he was "absolutely delighted" when the Arnold Bennett Society approached the regeneration charity about the idea.

Ray Johnson from the society said having a plaque at the site was important as the location was a key feature in Bennett's "first famous work".

Middleport Pottery was the model for the Providence Works in the story.

The tale of love, tyranny and rebellion was set against the vitality and harshness of life in the Potteries in the late 19th Century.