pop 3 Causes of death 1839 Biddulph, Staffs.

This four-page article is reproduced from the Potteries Mercury of 1839. The writer commences with a gloomy view of his visit to the potteries with its slag heaps, air pollution, hovels and a general demise of the area. It then explains how he finds potteries people, dirty, downtrodden, no ambition where every day is a challenge with long hours and little pay.

The writer in one section describes his feeling: All this time imagine yourself marching beneath great clouds of smoke, and breathing various vapours of arsenic, muristic acid* sulphur, and spirits of tar, and you will have some taste and smell, as well as view, of the potteries; and, notwithstanding all which they are as healthy as any manufacturing district whatever.

The place is described further with large chapels that are scattered throughout the whole region and describes it as one of the strongholds of dissent and democracy. Nine-tenths of the population are dissenters. The towns have sprung up rapidly, and comparatively in a few years. In fact, and why it has been reproduced here as it is probably the most depressing but sad to say a factual essay of the potteries. It is certainly worthy of a read and an assessment and a most valuable piece of social and economic writing to stimulate, thoughts, discussion and perhaps on how the city now appears in comparison to that of 1839. *getting rid of mould and rust from a variety of surfaces including brick, concrete and stone and swimming pools.

Four x A4 pages

Hanley [population 1701

This study studies the details of both Stoke and Chell workhouses from 1871-1901. It is a major piece of research listing not only the percentages of ages, family status, gender, occupation and place of birth. Each subject is supported by percentages to enable an immediate indication of the severity in both workhouses and the year covered making comparatives between the two possible. Surnames are listed first, then second names and their relationship with the head or other status such as lodger are given.

The objective of this study is to ascertain the causes, implications and consequences of each set of figures which presents a wide view of what was happening within the whole of the potteries. For example, a large number of inmates in workhouses is a compelling sign that the economy and employment levels the potteries are at a high and order books low, hence unemployed with no income at all therefore the poor had to seek poor relief or starve. But if the numbers resident in workhouses were lower at various times, the indication is that employment within the district is doing well.

There are various permutations to each category, each of which the author offers his knowledge in explaining as to why. A further important study and is a perfect contribution to social, economic research as well as that of expanding the technique of making accurate findings for debate and also family research.

Eleven  x A4 pages