In 1888 there was an early federation proposal that was in the form of an amendment that was brought to the Local Government Bill. The amendment wanted there to be six town districts in the county of Staffordshire Potteries. The six towns were not brought together until April 1910 though. The combined borough was the called Stoke.
In 1919 it was proposed that the borough expand further and that the neighboring borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme and the Wolstanton United Urban District, which were both located to the west should be annexed. Newcastle Operation fought the proposal and won so it never happened.
1930 saw another attempted through the Stoke-on-Trent Extension Bill. In 1932 Newcastle-under-Lyme was added to Ultimately, Wolstanton instead. Further attempts to take Newcastle, Wolstanton and Kidsgrove did not work but the borough saw expansion in 1922 when it took in Smallthorne Urban District in as well as parts of other parishes.
The borough was given the city status in 1925 by Lord Mayor. In 1974 it became a non-metropolitan district of Staffordshire when the city's county borough status was abolished. The local authority as Stoke-on-Trent City Council restored its status as a unitary authority in April of 1997 but kept it as a ceremonial county of Staffordshire.
It began to be known for its pottery industry in the 17th century because of its industrial-scale pottery manufacturing. The ample supply of coal and clay suitable for pottery led to the development of the industry there. When the Trent and Mersey Canal was constructed is allowed china clay to be imported from Cornwall as well other material that allowed them to make cream ware and bone china. Unfortunately other areas of Britain and elsewhere in the world had a major lead on making the high quality china.
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Other accommodation close to Alton:
| Alton hotels | Burton-on-Trent hotels | Cannock hotels | Eccleshall hotels |
| Leek hotels | Lichfield hotels | Newcastle-under-Lyme hotels | Rugeley hotels |
| Stafford hotels | Stone hotels | Tamworth hotels | Uttoxeter hotels |