In 1927 Edward Johns & Co., (later Armitage Ware and then Ideal Standard) produced the very first coloured sanitary ware in the world. Biscuit-fired ware was shipped to their sister company, Richards Tiles Ltd in Tunstall, who applied a mottled colour glaze and fired it again. Only four colours were created – Mottled Armitage Green,… Continue reading Armitage Ware colour samples
Tag: Armitage
A coronation carnival
If you are looking for events with which to celebrate King Charles’ coronation this year then why not take a look at the 1937 version and stage pillow fighting, cutting down a leg of mutton or even ‘climbing the greasy pole’? Like most towns and villages at that time a lot of effort was put… Continue reading A coronation carnival
A shipwreck find
An email from John Bennett last week, giving me a link to a BBC news article on a new display at the Gladstone Pottery Museum, gave me an excuse to look again at one of my favourite characters from the history of Armitage potteries – Robert Hedderwick Penman. The picture above, courtesy of the Gladstone… Continue reading A shipwreck find
The pottery pay dispute in 1914
In 1914 the pottery industry followed the same procedure for pay discussions that had been developed in the 1890s and it had a very set annual pay round – every company in the industry followed exactly the same routine. Prices that were to be paid to the potters for the following 12 months were set… Continue reading The pottery pay dispute in 1914
Caring for the needy – Part Three
In 1834 the system for poor relief in England and Wales was completely changed by the Poor Law Amendment Act, also known as the New Poor Law. The Parish was no longer allowed to provide out-relief i.e. help out the poor with financial help. Relief would only be given in workhouses and, furthermore, it was… Continue reading Caring for the needy – Part Three
Never goo to weddin’s
An interview with George Hackett 1896-1992 about growing up in Armitage-with-Handsacre in the early 1900s
Samuel Morecroft 1850-1934 – a life lived in Armitage
Samuel Morecroft was a man of many parts – basket maker, cycle maker, inventor, photographer, undertaker, postmaster and Methodist preacher
Soldiers from the Great War
Many of the survivors of The Great War had also been wounded or gassed or otherwise injured. On walking around the churchyard, you can see a number of gravestones for those who died after the war.
Marriage Bonds
I started looking into my family history back around the year 2000. My dad’s surname was Conway and he came from a small village called Armitage in Staffordshire.
Assault and battery in the church
On 20th August 1837 Mrs Mary Short was assaulted in St. John the Baptist church, Armitage