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hea 4 Measles in the Potteries in the 19th century.

£3.00

ByRichard Talbot

For children of measles, mumps and rubella in the middle ages and Victorian times caused considerable concern to medical professionals who rightly feared a major outbreak with terrifying consequences including the loss of life. Since 1796, when Edward Jenner an English country doctor introduced a vaccine for smallpox it has saved more lives worldwide than any other vaccine to date. However, in the case of measles in was not until 1963 that a vaccine became available to protect mainly children but also adults.

The use of historical data used in this article helps us to evaluate and understand this importance of vaccination today. It shows that every town in the potteries was affected by measles in epidemic proportions every few years during the 19^th century.

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hea 3 Longe Report 1862 employment of children – Potteries.

£6.00

The Longe Report is in context with the earlier Scriven report of 1843 on the same subject but updated. It’s a comprehensive report covering all the large pottery manufacturers in the potteries for their employee comments on how children are treated within pottery manufactories.

Also, and importantly many children are interviewed on how they are treated by their masters, the education, hours of employment and their meals and importantly from what age and their living accommodation.

It’s an important work for any study on the potteries area.

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hea 2 Health Report for Newcastle under Lyme 1872.

£3.00

ByRichard Talbot

Filthy, unsanitary areas of Pool Dam and Seabridge of Newcastle like in 1872? describes areas of Newcastle under Lyme as filthy, unsanitary areas of Pool Dam and Seabridge perhaps of Newcastle like in 1872. Mainly small cottages and hovels all occupied at the time and occupied by the poor population of the town. It was reported to be entirely neglected by the Newcastle authorities with a filthy sewage stream or brook about ten feet wide running through the area of Pool. In time of flooding the water from the stream rose at least eighteen inches to flood nearby properties and in some of the adjoining houses together with the condition of the cesspools and privies loaded with excrement, leaking and horribly offensive, give rise to a large number of complaints from many of the inhabitants and classed as disgraceful.

The water supply was from wells sunk into the ground along saturated with the filth of generations upon generations of inhabitants. Some of these wells are said to be dry many times during the year. The attention of the Newcastle Corporation was reported as paying no attention to the area nor enforcing the rules regarding sanitation etc.

The main problem was that from 1738 the populations of the district had increased causing additional issues of water and sanitation. The areas covered for the stats are:- Tunstall, Burslem, Sneyd, Rushton Grange, Hanley and Shelton, Penkhull, Boothen, Stoke, Fenton and Longton and Lane End.

This report is a perfect study for colleges or people interested in Social History. Three x A4 pages.

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Bucknall

hea 1 Bucknall Isolation Hospital – its history.

£3.00

ByRichard Talbot

The Potteries, as an industrial conurbation consisting mainly of tightly knit groups of hovels, no sanitation, no clean running water and loads of cesspits plus the constant pollution caused by its native industry. Smallpox became almost a never-ending pandemic with no cure, the problem with the sick and dying became an unsolvable problem and the cause then still a mystery. It was not until 1798 that Edward Jenner discovered that a vaccination could prevent smallpox, but the reality was to get people, especially children vaccinated in the 19^th century.

Stoke-on-Trent did not escape the infections, in fact it suffered badly because of its poor cramped accommodation, mostly owned by pottery manufacturers for their workers. For the vast majority of those infected the only accommodation was the workhouse where accommodation was limited to just a few wooden huts with a limited number of beds separated some distance from the main buildings. Care was provided by the odd female inmate who had suffered the disease previously and therefore immune from in getting it again. For this they would receive a payment of a few shillings or a half-bottle of gin. However, the one thing both had in common as the only way to stop its advancement was isolation.

So, from this position came the thought of Isolation Hospitals and the towns of Fenton, Stoke and Hanley combined to solve the problem. Longton did not join them. From this came the search for land isolated which was the all-important factor and finally accepted a large plot in Eaves Lane, Bucknall.

Through the years it treated thousands of patients for the districts who supported it. Later it became a hospital that catered for infectious dieses and finally a hospital for elderly people. Now it has become a large housing estate and all signs of its previous life no longer exists.

An important study for those researching early medicine and treatments in industrial towns.

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Penkhull Farm 2

far 2 Penkhull Farm – Its life from the time of Domesday.

£3.00

ByRichard Talbot

Penkhull Farm was the largest of five farms that covered the area of Penkhull. This farm which has formed the basis of a major study of its life from the time of Domesday 1086 all of which is included in a ninety-minute video of its history from Domesday to the 1960s, but also and importantly of the last farmer in Penkhull, Doug Jarvis and his wife Betty. It is probably one of the largest essays available on this site amounting to twelve pages of well researched documents and interviews with photos on this site.

The farm situated in Garden Street, formally Farm Lane and previous to that Tittensor’s Lane and was listed as one of the ancient messuages in 1714 manorial survey. It went then by the name of Drarwell and was occupied by the Dale family. The Hearth Tax returns of 1665 refer to a Roger Dale, having property with five hearths. Roger died the same year, leaving the farm to his son, Thomas, a bachelor, aged thirty-two. He later married Margeria Townsend, daughter of a wealthy local farming family, in 1672 which was not uncommon at the time. The parish listings of 1701 confirm a Thomas Dale, yeoman, as living in Penkhull aged sixty-nine. In the list of 1714, his son, also named Thomas, occupied the farm but died four years later in 1719, aged forty-five. His estate was left to his sisters, Elizabeth, and Maria. Between the years 1720 and 1781, both the farm and considerable copyhold land attached passed to the Alsager family of Alsager Hall, near to Congleton.

Almost every possible bit of historical information has been researched to provide a twelve-page essay of over seven-thousand words. To achieve this, the information from Manorial Surveys, extensive Manor Court Rolls covering many centuries have been utilised to the full, tithe schedule, reeve books, census returns, parish registers and other documents far too many to list here, a massive undertaking.

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far 1 Lease for Penkhull Farm – to Josiah Spode.

£3.00

For many decades Penkhull Farm situated in the centre of Penkhull Village was in the ownership of Mr. Harvey Boulton but in 1831 passed onto Josiah Spode III, his father Josiah II died suddenly in July 1827 four years prior to the lease of the farm.

This document is of significant importance as for an historian it gives several packages of relevant information. Firstly, there is a full description of the property especially referring to the demolition of several parts of the old farm and the building of other parts.

Secondly, and importantly it describes all the land attached to the farm by measurement, name and location and thirdly it provides a list of the fitments, fittings and furniture in the property and finally it lists both the agricultural equipment and in terms of quantity the animals that Harvey Boulton held at the time of the lease. Its a facinating document for the study of social and economic history.

This document therefore contributes well for an historical perspective and to the student a most valuable source of information of farming life at the time. Ideal for those interested in early 19^th century farming, land occupation and its use and social and economic history.

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Dr Palmer

exe 3 The Execution of Dr William Palmer.

£3.00

ByRichard Talbot

The final essay records in graphic details the activities of Dr. Palmer known later as the Rugeley murderer, a prolific murderer whose case has been well documented in the press, in books and TV series and the last recorded in a run of thee in this series of executions at Stafford is that of Dr William Palmer of Rugeley, one of the most prolific mass murderers of his time attracting national notoriety
Palmer first started to work as a dentist but changed to that of a Doctor. The major issue was that he was a prolific gambler and would do anything to clear his debts. and forged his mother’s signature to pay off creditors and took out an insurance policy on his wife, his brother Walter and a friend George Bate.
Throughout his trial, even up to his time at the gallows with the prison Chaplin he would not admit to murder. A great story and certainly one worth reading.

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Stafford p rison

exe 2 The Abbots Bromley Murder 1857

£3.00

ByRichard Talbot

What was known as the Abbot’s Bromley Murder commenced in May 1857 at the Coach and Horses Inn, situated in the village of Bromley Hurst, a short walk from Abbots Bromley. At the bar stood William Charlesworth, a farmer aged sixty-seven who had been to market to sell cattle and had money on his person. Two young men were also in the bar, George Jackson aged twenty and Charles Brown aged twenty-one. At around midnight Charlesworth left with a friend but were followed by Jackson and Brown who were overheard before they left that they were going to have some fun with him. Charlesworth and his friend soon went their separate ways. Charlesworth had not walked far before he was knocked face down by Jackson. Brown then turned the body over and searching his pockets found a purse containing a large amount of money.
In this case the press reports seem to focus on the serious state of mind of Jackson as he awaits his coming ordeal in goal at Stafford. The writer spends some time in explaining the state of mind of Jackson, the involvement of the prison Chaplin and the final visit of his family.
As customary on these occasions the streets were flooded with visitors, many from miles away and were excited at the thought until Jackson was led to the high platform and the noose placed over his head. Despite the involvement of the prison Chaplin to console Jackson and then the final visit of his family to say goodbye was traumatic and he could not be consoled.
As customary on these occasions the streets were flooded with visitors, many from miles away and were excited at the thought until Jackson was led to the high platform and the noose placed over his head.

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Three executions

exe 1 The horror of three executions at Stafford.

ByRichard Talbot

Executions used to be held in public, normally outside the goal gates and here hundreds of people from many parts of Staffordshire would arrive in Stafford to watch such an event and determined to get a good view. Why, perhaps psychologists can explain why you would wish to watch the last breaths taken by a fellow human being creates so much pleasure.

I guess that reading such an article regarding three executions one following the other remains a fascination to people like it did in times past. This one from 1834 refers to a good-looking lad of sixteen, Charles Shaw who was charged with the wilful murder of John Oldcroft, aged 16. For a lad of that age to have committed such a murder for the price of one shilling firstly illustrates the circumstances of poverty which his family lived. The other executions are recorded in full in the article available.

But who knows of his home life, for at 16 he may have been the breadwinner if his mother was a widow and he is perhaps the only one capable of earning anything at all just to survive and not being admitted to the workhouse. All three present a truly sad picture of the early years of the 19^th century.

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wakes Hanley

ent 13 Wakes Annual Workers Holiday

£3.00

ByRichard Talbot

By the early 19th century, this annual event had become a festive period in so much as the “Wakes” fairgrounds, amusements, side-shows etc’ to which came thousands over the week August holiday. Many press reports exist which all describe in great detail as workers, for those occasion appeared clean and smart wearing their Sunday best, and for the women – well they turned out frequently in new dresses, many home made for the occasion.

So, if you want to learn and without doubt settle down to read this fascinating true story of potteries folk having a ‘good old-fashioned knees-up, this is an article not to miss. A good study of the social history of Stoke-on-Trent.

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Original Plans

ent 12 The Victoria Hall, Concert Hall, Hanley.

£4.00

ByRichard Talbot

Once the Hanley Borough Council had taken over the firmer Queens Hotel in Hanley in 1886 from the brink of bankrupsy, thoughts turned to the need for large assembly hall. Usually, town councils frequently put out work of this magnitude to external consultants but in this case the brief was given to the borough engineer and surveyor, Mr Joseph Lobley. The site was to the rear of the town hall, situated on the former bowling green to the Queens Hotel. The new Assembly Hall had to be of a standard to compliment the new town hall and the reputation of Hanley, the most important and prestigious town in the Potteries.

The main feature of this concert hall has always been its outstanding acoustics, valued by world renowned artists. The main objective of Dr Talbot’s was to research the basic planning issues from the start. This meant a visit to the National Archives at Kew where discovered was the full details with drawings of how and why the Victoria Hall was designed and the impeccable dedication in getting it right by the architect, not a specialist but by the Hanley Borough’s own architect. The original name was to be The Assembly Room, but this was changed as it opened in the year of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. One other fact was that Elton John appeared there and performed to an audience totally overcome by his outlandish performance. Want to know more – well order your own copy with photographs.

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ent 11 The Life and Joy of the Kozy Cinema, Trentvale.

£3.00

ByRichard Talbot

Little if anything has ever been written about a small, corrugated steel-built cinema that stood facing the A34 at Trentvale opposite to the entrance of London Road called the KOZY and created an interest and determination to find out about as much as possible as Richard lived only a matter of yards away for a few years.it was opened on 14th September 1922, at a time following the end of WW1 when the Trent Vale district was starting to develop with more social housing and estates both at Trent Vale and nearby Hanford.
This account covers most of the ups and downs of a small local cinema and how it evolved as part of the community. Between films the scree would be moved for short live shows, magicians, dancers, ventriloquists and more to attract more bums on seats.
It became a second home to many mostly within walking distance and on a number of occasions the building was hires out for special occasions such as lectures or specific films for certain groups. A good read for those keen to learn more about provincial cinemas of the early 20th century.

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ent 10 The Crown Theatre, (Wooden) Stoke.

£4.00

ByRichard Talbot

This is a ‘First’ in the theatres history, the subject has never previously been approached despite having the important role of producing a local audience that would support a theatre in the town of Stoke. Planning permission was difficult as it was built of wood but in the end the council agreed to its building as it was meant as a trial theatre to support the building of a grand permanent theatre which it did. A great read with full details of the building but sadly there is no image available.

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Bill_Haley,_Pubilicity_stil_from_1955

ent 9 Rock Around Clock (film) article

£3.00

ByRichard Talbot

This is an accout phenomenal success, Rock around the Clock, released in 1954 and show first in the Potteries at the Gaumont Cinema in Hanley. To packed houses, dancing is the isles, it was like a musical revolution never seen since the 1920s. Bill Haley and the Comets recorded Rock around the Clock and created nothing less than a cultural revolution in the USA and Europe. This film and its music will go down in history as the one song that gave total freedom to the art of dancing.

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Majestic-1957-Carry-on-Admiral-2-1024×740

ent 8 Majestic Cinema Stoke, History from 1914

£3.00

ByRichard Talbot

At the height of cinema growth in 1914, and with luck the area in Campbell Place had been cleared from the old pottery pot-bank and vacant for commercial development. And so, the thought of a brand-new purpose luxury cinema in the middle of Stoke town became a reality and opened on Monday 13^th April 1914.

The new Majestic in the town of Stoke was one of the most popular of the four cinemas in the town. Designed with the best architecture and facilities of the time, even had its own orchestra not just a solo piano as most picture houses to accompany silent movies. It also boosted ‘upturn seats’ and the best ventilation system available (remember people smoked a lot in those days)

As such it was a success from the day of opening, the staff all in uniforms and a welcoming steward at the door. In fact, they all formed a kind of a second family if you were to attend twice a week as films changed on a Monday and Thursday. This article of two pages will no doubt bring back many memories of early cinema days. Contains four pahes of information on the advancement of cinema history with first talkies then in the mid-1950s the re-opening of the Majestic by the Lady Mayoress and many civic dignatories of CinemaScope in June 1955 which was sadly closed only a few years later as a result of many former patrons turing to television.

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matinee

ent 7 – Majestic Cinema, Stoke Children’s Matinee

£3.00

ByRichard Talbot

In the early 1950s children’s cinema matinees had become the norm and for the town of Stoke it was the ABC (Associated British Cinemas). Over a thousand children packed into the ‘ABC Minors Club’ at the old Majestic Cinema in Campbell Place, where children would hand over their precious six pence for a seat in the stalls and for the better-off nine pence for the circle. In the 1950’s these Saturday matinees became popular throughout the UK.
This article is a personal reflection of the author on the Saturday morning matinee at the Majestic cinema in Stoke. Quite a few surprises, even a letter from the once cinema manager who was called Aunty May who I traced living in Devon since retirement.
Memories kept flooding back regarding so many activities held, fancy dress, Christmas party, on state for a free ticket to celebrate the birthday children and much more. So, if interested in what the 1950s children got up to in those days, a great read and an eye opener.

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