pub 16 A Village Cobbler – Jack Burton a personal reflection.

pub 8 1841

If I stated that this collection of the Potteries Mercury from 1830-1846 was a unique collection being the only one in the world in its present format, I would not be exaggeration and is exclusive only on this site and it is now offered in a totally different format than the original the copyright is mine only.
It could be nearly thirty years ago when I used to purchase just a few at a time from the British Library in 35mm reel format which could not be accessed without a viewer and even then, impossible to search or copy therefore unable to do anything with them for possibly nearly twenty/thirty years until technology improved allowing me to have them converted and each reel placed become available on a cd. So could have then downloaded onto my computer for ease of use and copy paste etc.
Because of the high cost at the time, this process like the same as acquiring, the original collected taking several years to first purchase them one at a time, then the cost of having each converted from 35mm file to cd again at considerable cost. The total cost could easily be several thousands of pounds invested over all these years.
Now as it happens the British Library no longer hold this collection but have sold it on with all other newspapers a number of years ago both national and local. As a result, they are my copywrite as they are no longer in the original format and am the only person to have this unique collection of the first newspaper published in North Staffordshire and this is the very first time are now available to purchase.
The Staffordshire Mercury was a weekly regional newspaper published Hanley in Staffordshire. The publication was founded in 1824 by Thomas Allbut, with the Rev. Leonard Abington as its first editor. It was later renamed The Potteries Mercury at some point. Sadly, for the years copies from 1824-1830 have not survived or deposited in the British Library. The paper became the North Staffordshire Mercury in March 1834 but returned to being named the Staffordshire Mercury in April 1845. The paper probably folded in May 1848.

This fifteen-page Government Report is one of the most accurate reports, that I have lectured upon written by a senior physician at the North Staffs Royal Infirmary.

From his many years of working at the hospital he has experienced just about every medical condition of those working in either the pottery industry or in one of the many coal mines found in North Staffordshire. Arlidge combines his medical findings along side an extensive knowledge of the area, the housing conditions and the lack of any sanitation with cesspits almost everywhere, lack of clean water and with it came conditions such as scarlet fever. Also, Arlidge describes the conditions of young children working in dangerous places within the pottery factories and the terrible chest conditions of children having to work long days, six days a week and frequently pulling trucks of coal to the shafts. He describes both industries and the conditions of patients at the hospital and importantly and constantly pushing the need for better sanitation and better living conditions in all of the pottery towns.

This a perfect report for local history groups to study but also sixth form colleges, university students either studying medicine, humanities or working conditions and the consequences experienced in the mid 19^th century.

Fifteen x A4 pages

Potteries Mercury 1846 December – 1848 May

If I stated that this collection of the Potteries Mercury from 1830-1846 was a unique collection being the only one in the world in its present format, I would not be exaggeration and is exclusive only on this site and it is now offered in a totally different format than the original the copyright is mine only.
It could be nearly thirty years ago when I used to purchase just a few at a time from the British Library in 35mm reel format which could not be accessed without a viewer and even then, impossible to search or copy therefore unable to do anything with them for possibly nearly twenty/thirty years until technology improved allowing me to have them converted and each reel placed become available on a cd. So could have then downloaded onto my computer for ease of use and copy paste etc.
Because of the high cost at the time, this process like the same as acquiring, the original collected taking several years to first purchase them one at a time, then the cost of having each converted from 35mm file to cd again at considerable cost. The total cost could easily be several thousands of pounds invested over all these years.
Now as it happens the British Library no longer hold this collection but have sold it on with all other newspapers a number of years ago both national and local. As a result, they are my copywrite as they are no longer in the original format and am the only person to have this unique collection of the first newspaper published in North Staffordshire and this is the very first time are now available to purchase.
The Staffordshire Mercury was a weekly regional newspaper published Hanley in Staffordshire. The publication was founded in 1824 by Thomas Allbut, with the Rev. Leonard Abington as its first editor. It was later renamed The Potteries Mercury at some point. Sadly, for the years copies from 1824-1830 have not survived or deposited in the British Library. The paper became the North Staffordshire Mercury in March 1834 but returned to being named the Staffordshire Mercury in April 1845. The paper probably folded in May 1848.
This archived which I have over the years used extensively and probably most valuable and useful items in my archives. The Potteries Mercury Newspaper was a weekly local paper sold at a cost of two pence. The contents included Commercial advertisement, Irish news, National news items, Properties to let, Business pages, local Bankruptcies, Birth, Marries etc, Turnpike Roads and rents, Foreign news, Parliamentary matters, covering both the local area, foreign news, political and parliament. The Royal family and visits, travels and finally two pages dedicated to all local news of importance at the time including reports of the Chartists Riots etc and finally, visits of Royalty to Trentham Hall.
This important permanent history of the time is unique. This is for the first time available electronically, one period at a time, or the whole collection. As far as I am ware from the British Library the whole collection was taken over by ‘Find my Past’ a number of years ago and to date they are not available on the site as some are of mediocre quality.