Left to Rot: The Industrial Ruins along the Trent & Mersey Canal

Along this stretch of the Trent & Mersey Canal between Etruria and Westport Lake, the Industrial Revolution didn't just happen — it was left behind. Bottle kilns, crumbling brickwork, abandoned wharves. Most people walk straight past it. In this video I walk the towpath from Etruria Junction, passing some of the most overlooked industrial ruins in the Potteries — including the remains of Oliver's Mill, the Burslem Arm, and the ghost of what was once one of Britain's busiest canal corridors. Some of it is still standing. Some of it has been left to rot. A section I first filmed in 2020 — finally finished and uploaded. ⏱ CHAPTERS 00:00 Etruria Junction & the start of the walk 01:09 Westport Lake — made by industry, forgotten by it 01:52 The Wedgwood Roundhouse (1769) 06:27 The Burslem Arm — a mile of canal that vanished 06:52 Oliver's Mill (1909) 09:00 Middleport Pottery — still standing 10:30 Longport Wharf & the kiln ruins 📍 Location: Trent & Mersey Canal, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire If you know of other forgotten industrial sites along Britain's canals, drop them in the comments — I'd love to explore them. If you enjoyed this, please consider subscribing and leaving a thumbs up. It really helps the channel. This has been Our History Underfoot. See you in the next one. #TrentAndMerseyCanal #CanalWalk #Etruria #WestportLake #StokeOnTrent #WalkingTour #CanalsOfBritain