An updated version of this profile is online at nationalcharacterareas.co.uk. This pdf is retained for historical and completeness purposes.
Located in North Staffordshire, the landscape of Potteries and Churnet Valley National Character Area (NCA) exhibits a strong contrast between the industrialised landscape of the Potteries and the pastoral, strongly dissected hills and small plateaux that flank the Churnet and Dove valleys. Natural resources associated with the Coal Measures enabled industrial development leading to the settlement patterns of the Potteries, which form a large conurbation. There is a rich industrial heritage associated with manufacturing, particularly of pottery and the mining of coal, clay, minerals and metal ores, which contributes strongly to the sense of place.
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