Catalogue

pub 12 Potteries Mercury 1845 – Jan-April

£5.00

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.

pub 13 Potteries Mercury 1845 April – November 1846

£20.00

Potteries Mercury  1845 April – November 1846

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.

pub 14 Potteries Mercury 1846 December – 1848 May

£20.00

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.

Pub 15 Arlidge Medical Report on health in the Potteries 1864.

£5.00

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 19th century.

Fifteen x A4 pages

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

£4.00

This is a fascinating true story of the one-time village cobbler, Jack Burton who had a small cobblers shop in Manor Court Street, Penkhull. Born in 1907 his first recollections were attending services of the Primitive Methodists, which throughout his life he remained a regular worshipper and trustee of the Penkhull Methodist Church.

The story commences with his early school life then followed by WW1. His father was a collier and in 1921 Jack left schools at the age of fourteen. But with it came poverty and depression the same year with the miners’ strike which lasted six for months. Jack describes the impossible task of finding work with three million unemployed. It was impossible. With no dole money at that time and the family were desperate. For many they worked at the workhouses where for their labour would receive bread, the number of which depended upon the size of the family. He writes about his uncle who was a cobbler knowing of Jacks predicament offered to take him on to learn the trade. That was his start and stayed there until 1935 when he got married.

He later describes reading in the Sentinel of a cobbling business for sale in Penkhull, then run by an ex-WWI invalid with one leg. Jack attempted to get a bank loan and trudged around for help until he finally obtained a loan to purchase the shop. The story full of early difficulties continues to provide an almost compelling read of hard work, finally leading to success. It’s a story to enthuse perhaps those younger audience of life in the 20s and the over whelming hardships endured and yet it was hard work and determination against the odds which in the end made it all worthwhile. Jack’s essay is over five thousand words long over five pages with illustrations of him at his little shop. Certainly, one of my favourite reads and an inspiration to others today.

Five x A4 pages

pub 17 Longe Report – employment of children in the potteries 1862.

£6.00

This is an updated version of the Scriven Report of 1843 and the layout, and contents are the same, but different people have been interviewed with different results. This, like the Scriven report presents a unique, well documented comprehensive report of children working in the pottery industry. In many of the testimonials of young children it’s a moving testimony of life and to read just how children were treated by their masters, some even whipped with a clay cutting wire. The home life was a form of existence and the only opportunity to learn to read and write was at a church Sunday School frequently of the Methodist tradition but also the Anglican church without which there would be nothing. This report is a valuable contribution to the social and economic life in the potteries and would make an ideal study for students or local history groups to assimilate. This is a major source of original documented evidence.

ninty-seven pages

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