mis 18 My Christmas Memories by Dr. Richard Talbot

My guess is that the words ‘highway robbery’ or ‘stand and deliver’ conjure up words that belong to the past and probably have little equivalent in use today. However, in the 17^th and 18^th centuries they were frequently used so was ‘money or your life’. There was however a distinction between ‘highway robbers’ who were people on foot, whereas ‘highwaymen’ were on horse-back and promoted by the most famous highwayman of all Dick Turpin. Turpin had a short life of thirty-four years 1705-1739. He was the son of an alehouse keeper, and apprenticed to a butcher, but later known for his cattle stealing. He joined a notorious gang of deer stealers and smugglers in Essex later turning to highway robbery in Lincolnshire with his partner Tom King. After shooting his partner by accident he fled to Yorkshire and changed his name. In 1739, he was caught and jailed for horse theft in York.

The thought if Dick Turpin could be duplicated, yes his rewards would be far greater that those of North Staffordshire where you would rob and receive severe custodial punishment for just a silk scarf or a sheet. The author uses accurate press reports to illuminate life and the consequence. A great read and an asset for school, colleges or humanities. Three pages. Nearly 1500 words.

In reality there has been no potters holiday for a number of years as the industrial landscape of the Potteries of thirty years ago has long gone as there are no longer a pottery industry to speak of, no coal mines employing thousands or the Michelin at its height employing over seven thousand employees. To be correct prior to the 1970s the title was the wakes weeks but then lost its significance as all the large industries and the schools of north Staffordshire voted to change the date from the first two weeks in August to the last week in June and the first week in July to become new the potters holiday.  Why, because the weather patterns had changed, and early August became consistent with bad weather. Before the 2^nd World War there was only one week’s holiday and that was with no pay until 1937. Two weeks holiday came after the second world war.

But what were the origns?, Well, you’ve read it here first in the Sentinel remember for press reports in 1838 the wakes in Stoke was described as an ancient festival. In fact it dates from Anglo-Saxon times probably the 6^th century when the junction of the Trent and Fowley formed a religious site for pagan worship which incorporated the festival of Lamas, a holiday celebrated on the 1st August.

However, by the late 18th century the religious aspect had been lost and became a time for holidays and enjoyment in all its varities for the working people of Stoke-on-Trent.

More than 136,000 people decided to take a holiday as the fear of it being their last for some years was dominant in their minds. Over 34,000 left the potteries on the Friday and on the Saturday, 52,000 travelled by special trains, 35,000 by ordinary service and 15,000 by coach, car, or cycle. This was even though the weather predictions were not good, but the threat of rain impaired the cheerfulness of the crowded platforms.     Three pages x A4

Stoke Market, built in 1900 still dominates the central section of Church Street. It is of red brick in the Flemish style with curly gables and a central tower. Next to this stood the former National Provincial Bank dating from the 1890’s built also of red brick in the Jacobean style. The opposite side of the road there is a mixture of properties, but mostly of the mid-late 19^th centuries for which the upper floors still retain the original architecture.

The history of Stoke-upon-Trent is interrelated with the parish church of St. Peter-ad-Vincula. It is known that there has been a church on this site from 805a.d. but probably was a firmer site for Pagan worship.

Prior to the coming of the industrial revolution Stoke was the place where the parish church, rectory and parish clerks house was situated. There were no other buildings in the immediate vicinity except an old Inn known by the sign of the Red Lion. (now demolished).  In 1296, Stoke was the joint largest parish in the country and lates there became a number of Chapels of Ease dotted around North Staffordshire but remained under the authority of the Rector of Stoke. They became separate parishes by an Act of Parliament in 1807 as the parish was becoming too burdensome for a single priest and a curate.

Stoke town formed a part of the Township of Penkhull with Boothen until it became a Borough in 1875.  From early times, the inhabitants of the township did not live in Stoke town, but in either the small hamlet of Boothen, half a mile to the South or the larger Domesday Village of Penkhull standing high above the town to the Southwest.

This article is packed with date from 1807 and follows through with details of the towns development to become a commercial success with the building of a Town Hall which still remains the base of authority but other advances such as the public market and so many other examples of early developments during the 19th century. Again, a good read but also an asset for students of all levels.