Stoke would be a truly unique place if all these old buildings and kilns were still standing, Imagine converting a kiln into a home. Tragic loss really, stoke needs to fire up the kilns again and embrace it's heritage.
As a child growing up in Abbey Hulton in the 50's I can remember pea soup smog, sitting on the back door step on bonfire night with the sky crimson from all the bonfires, playing football in Whitehouse Rd and only having to stop once every 20 minutes when the bus came down the road. Working as a dental technician in Shelton , getting off the bus in the morning and nearly retching at the stink from the gas works and Shelton bar, working overtime until 8.pm and the owner saying "I'll pay you in cash" and giving me half a crown (25p) Going to the Kings Hall on a Friday night to the "Mod balls" and walking home from Stoke to the Abbey at 1am in the morning. Buying my first record at Sherwins, Helen Shapiro "Walking back to Happiness" Seeing The Beatles at Trentham garden Going to the Place and meeting my wife there. Good luck to you all, hope this brings back memories for you
I remember getting off the train in Stoke passing through Etruria thinking as a little girl what a dirty hell hole Stoke was the buildings were black the smell of smoke every were I had been staying in Blackpool with relatives for convalescence Bronchitis almost took my life living in that smoke Grandma took me too live in Milton village then family had a new home in Abbey Hulton
Them were better times than now. Seriously you seen Hanley nower day's it's gone to the dog's. I miss the good day's my mate. Bring back them day's were happier times honestly
To think I was a baby in all that pollution but I’m still here to tell the story I asked my aunt why she moved to Blackpool to get away from the Poverty filthy place poor souls what ever comforts they have now they deserve it not many left now though ❤️👌
Where did you get the photos from please? As I'd love to know where each one is. I wish each photo had a name on it. But thank you, some I hadnt seen before.
So sad - All gone now - The smokeless zone act killed the potteries with owners unable to switch to gas fired bottle kilns Or newer electric kilns so I am told . So much history in the 6 towns.
The potteries were going strong into the eighties. I worked in recruit at the time and always wish I'd made a list of all the potteries I dealt with. They'd all moved to tunnel kilns by that time. What really finished them off was the combination of a strong pound and high interest rates. The government wanted a high pound, but that made exports virtually impossible. The firms took out loans, hoping that something would be done to encourage exports again. Nothing was done and interest rates were put up. Firms went into liquidation, got bought out by London finance companies who either asset stripped them and sent the work abroad, or introduced trendy ideas that fell flat. Mr Hirst of Wade's told me about his new manager deciding that everyone needed to learn everyone else's jobs. So he had decorators sent down to the clay end and were expected to do labouring and labourers were sent to paint flowers. He didn't last long. Somehow Wade's kept going though. Until recently that is.
"Always Merry and Bright" - also used by Cedric Price here:- www.cca.qc.ca/en/search/details/collection/object//307573 Do you know where I might be able to obtain a copy?
Stoke would be a truly unique place if all these old buildings and kilns were still standing, Imagine converting a kiln into a home. Tragic loss really, stoke needs to fire up the kilns again and embrace it's heritage.
The whole country needs it's manufacturing back.
As a child growing up in Abbey Hulton in the 50's I can remember pea soup smog, sitting on the back door step on bonfire night with the sky crimson from all the bonfires, playing football in Whitehouse Rd and only having to stop once every 20 minutes when the bus came down the road.
Working as a dental technician in Shelton , getting off the bus in the morning and nearly retching at the stink from the gas works and Shelton bar, working overtime until 8.pm and the owner saying "I'll pay you in cash" and giving me half a crown (25p)
Going to the Kings Hall on a Friday night to the "Mod balls" and walking home from Stoke to the Abbey at 1am in the morning.
Buying my first record at Sherwins, Helen Shapiro "Walking back to Happiness"
Seeing The Beatles at Trentham garden
Going to the Place and meeting my wife there.
Good luck to you all, hope this brings back memories for you
I remember getting off the train in Stoke passing through Etruria thinking as a little girl what a dirty hell hole Stoke was the buildings were black the smell of smoke every were I had been staying in Blackpool with relatives for convalescence Bronchitis almost took my life living in that smoke Grandma took me too live in Milton village then family had a new home in Abbey Hulton
Them were better times than now. Seriously you seen Hanley nower day's it's gone to the dog's. I miss the good day's my mate. Bring back them day's were happier times honestly
Aged 8, used visit great-gran/dad. Last time was 1962. They lived 96 n 98 years.
I'm very proud to be a man from the potties
Wherever we may roam , Stoke is always our home ❤
I am a Stokie ❤ well said
To think I was a baby in all that pollution but I’m still here to tell the story I asked my aunt why she moved to Blackpool to get away from the Poverty filthy place poor souls what ever comforts they have now they deserve it not many left now though ❤️👌
We played on the spoil heaps, got cup/saucer 4 Mother's day . . .
Being born in 1950, lots of these photo views I can relate to, unlike the multi culture toilet Stoke has now become !
The music isn't from the era, but it has a kind of epic power that gives the history more weight and seem more poignant.
Where did you get the photos from please? As I'd love to know where each one is. I wish each photo had a name on it. But thank you, some I hadnt seen before.
A tragic loss.
"I'm on the pots duck"
So sad - All gone now - The smokeless zone act killed the potteries with owners unable to switch to gas fired bottle kilns Or newer electric kilns so I am told . So much history in the 6 towns.
The potteries were going strong into the eighties. I worked in recruit at the time and always wish I'd made a list of all the potteries I dealt with. They'd all moved to tunnel kilns by that time.
What really finished them off was the combination of a strong pound and high interest rates. The government wanted a high pound, but that made exports virtually impossible. The firms took out loans, hoping that something would be done to encourage exports again. Nothing was done and interest rates were put up. Firms went into liquidation, got bought out by London finance companies who either asset stripped them and sent the work abroad, or introduced trendy ideas that fell flat.
Mr Hirst of Wade's told me about his new manager deciding that everyone needed to learn everyone else's jobs. So he had decorators sent down to the clay end and were expected to do labouring and labourers were sent to paint flowers. He didn't last long. Somehow Wade's kept going though. Until recently that is.
"Always Merry and Bright" - also used by Cedric Price here:- www.cca.qc.ca/en/search/details/collection/object//307573
Do you know where I might be able to obtain a copy?
marshallcolman.blogspot.com/2012/03/old-postcard-of-stoke-on-trent.html
Music does not fit