Catalogue

Although this article is a history of the Newcastle Canal its origins stem from the opening of the Trent and Mersey canal in 1766. It’s from this time that the industrial revolution in the six towns took off as this new mode of transport from roads to canals.
It enabled raw manufacturing materials and coal delivered almost to the door at a smaller cost, quicker with less damage to good than previously. This advantageous mode of transport gave an urgency to extend its waterways for others to take advantage of increased sales at lower costs. One such emphasis was to create a branch from the Trent and Mersey at Stoke through to the town of Newcastle-under-Lyme to bring coal from the mining village of Silverdale to markets both in the Potteries and further afield. And in addition to bring much needed materials to the manufacturing town of Newcastle under Lyme. In 1795, the year of Wedgwood’s death, this new canal was cut from Stoke to Newcastle but because of the hills of Penkhull and Hartshill it was necessary to take a route the long way around on level ground of four miles. Its purpose, according to the preamble of the Act, was to provide for Newcastle and the establishments and manufactories near to it with a link to the main canal at Stoke and thereby the whole of the midlands and the Liverpool docks and to assist the agriculture of the neighbourhood of the canal by a supply of materials. A four x A4 pages long and nearly 2000 words long it follows the growth and the decline of the canal.
It also covers events that occurred because it was a canal and the drowning of a Bus Conductor whilst saving the life of a little girl. Other drownings are also listed as well as the Spittles Workhouse and Newcastle dumping raw sewage and with-it major health issues. A further good article for the study of social history as well as humanities.

The name of Margaret (Molly) Leigh of Burslem has been vilified by the press and so-called amateur historians who have taken pleasure in perpetuating the myth that she was actually a witch coming up on a regular basis.

Hardly a month goes without a further slant has been added to these ridicules theories in attempt to draw attention to the writer as an authority where history is concerned. Nothing could be further from the truth.

So, in attempt to place on record the actual FACTS I have studied these and present and with my own research provide a true account re Margaret Leigh the supposed witch buried at St. Johns, Burslem 1^st April 1748 and the copy of her will dated 25^th March 1748 written just one week before her death. In my experience over many years this was normal practice. The explanations I give destroys all the exaggerations and wrong information in an attempt to be known as an authority on the subject and further stretch the imagination to include their theories.

This article is there for all to make up their own mind on this subject. Two pages

Bluebird 1935 land speed car in storage at London Road, Stoke during WWII.

The resurgence of the name Bluebird as the speedboat in which Donald Campbell was killed in 1967 as it crashed on Coniston Water in his attempt to break his own water speed record and now following years of restoration following its being brought to the surface years after the crash has once more finally been tested in the water.

His father, Sir Malcom Campbell was a British racing motorist and motoring journalist. He gained the world speed record on land and on water and holder of 13 world speed records during the 1920s and 1930s.

Campbell broke the land speed record for the first time in 1924 at 146.16 mph at Pendine Sands near Carmarthen Bay in a 350HP V12 Sunbeam, now on display at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu. He broke nine land speed records between 1924 and 1935, with three at Pendine Sands and five at Daytona Beach. His first two records were driving a racing car built by Sunbeam.

I wonder if there is anyone reading this who remembers the car in storage at 245, London Road as it would be great to receive their memories. Two pages of the life of Malcolm Campbell.

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.

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 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.

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.