Catalogue

Origins of this old building, the Newcastle under Lyme Barracks is reminiscent of a buy-gone age and remains much as it was when built. The first mention of significance is found in Keates Directory of 1882/3, nearly thirty years after the date that it states the barracks were built – 1855. An opening of a donation list commenced with the donation of £100 from the North Staffordshire Colliery Proprietors followed by numerous pottery owners and people of importance totalling twenty-eight who donated a total of £595, a huge amount in 1842.

Moving on in 1881, there were eleven resident families under the leadership of Sergeant Major William Dickinson, 3^rd Staffordshire Militia, aged forty-nine, and his wife Mary aged forty-three occupied No.1 The Barracks. They had four children, the eldest was James aged fourteen, a tailor’s apprentice in the town. There were two families with five children, Joseph Payne, aged forty-three, Colour Sergeant 3rd Staffordshire Militia, and his wife Jane and five children aged from ten months to eight years. The second was John Walton, Colour Sergeant 3rd Staffordshire Militia, aged forty-two and his wife Jane aged thirty-five. Their children were aged from one year to 13 years of age.

Its a facinating study to read of its development from 1855 until the Militia finally left the barracks.  Four pages long and a facinating read of an important feature of the town of Newcastle under Lyme.

Quite by chance I came across an article dated 26^th December 1846 which pre-dates the official published date of 1847. In the article recorded in the Potteries Mercury it first acknowledged the work of Prof Simpson, who had demonstrated chloroform for its anaesthetic properties on humans but in fact had applied numerous experiments on himself and others first which gave rise to its rapid increase by the of the medical profession in favour to that of ether. The interesting fact remains is that surgeons at Etruria had performed operations with the use of chloroform several months prior to the work of Simpson being published, such was their skill of administering the drug resulting in a number of successful operations. Two pages

Guilty or Not Guilty that is the question or does a Duel prove who is or who is not?

Searching through my archives of the Potteries Mercury for 1830, I came across a most interesting account of a duel taking place in London but what made it special was the behaviour of both parties following the outcome of the duel but also the inquest that followed.

Duelling had been the way officers and gentlemen settled matters of honour for centuries. Up until the mid-19th century there were situations where a meeting with pistols or swords was seen not just a possible response to a perceived insult, but the only honourable one. Men risked being ostracised from society for not issuing a duelling challenge in response to an insult. This is a true story. An introduction to a two page facinating artical of the once popular was of resolving and argument or a public insult. two pages.

In May 1810 Spode proceeded to develop further workers’ dwellings in the village of Penkhull. He acquired two sites with existing properties owned by Thomas Chapman, a resident of Penkhull, The first site contained five old cottages described as being the inheritance of Joseph Bourne and afterwards his sister Margery Chapman. These five cottages stood in what was Farm Lane and were either demolished or converted into six cottages by Josiah Spode.

The new or converted cottages were built in a similar layout to others built by Spode, two up and two down. At the rear was a communal yard with shared privies, ash pit and one shared water pump. Even with the lack of facilities compared with other houses built by Spode, the occupants were charged the same rent at 8s 9d, per week subsequently creating a high turnover of tenants as it was a large sum to find.

Originally called Farm Lane as Penkhull Farm was almost opposite, but like many streets in the 50’s the name was changed to Garden Street as opposite were allotments.

The last cottage was converted into a Beer House, converting the front room to accommodate as many as possible. Again, a good read for anyone at college and taking Humanities. A great read of life then two pages with photographs.

The history of the new family home of Josiah Spode II, The Mount built in Penkhull in 1808 and still stands as a testament to his wealth of a potter. The beautiful dome covered entrance stand proud as it overlooks Clayton and Newcastle under Lyme, and importantly away from the grime and smoke from the town of Stoke, where his factory stood and contributed to the serious issue of pollution of the area.

This is a comprehensive history, covering many documents, photographs, sales documents and contents as well as details of the Mount Farm and the importance of its location. From the death of Spode in 1827 the story continues with the number of tenants who occupied the home from pottery manufactures, a girls posh finishing school, a home to one of Stoke on Trent leading solicitor Mr. Frederick Bishop who sold of much of the land. A huge amount of original research has gone into this over a long period of time and is a much-valued contribution both to the social and economic history of the area but to the important development of Penkhull itself from around the 1870s.

twenty four pahes including phiotographs

The 1851 census provides and unique account Mrs Allbut’s Ladies Finishing School which occupied the Mount from that date. Again, much material has been un-earthed to capture and provide an insight of its development; problem with having a son in a female institution; fees; lessons taught and where the ladies came from – one even from Calcutta. A great contribution to the history of the largest house in the district and a good product to stimulate discussion is schools or colleges. Three x A4 printed pages.