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Hem Heath
Hem Heath maps
Historic maps of Hem Heath and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Hem Heath maps
Hem Heath photos
We have no photos of Hem Heath, although we do have photos of these nearby places:
Blurton| Trentham| Longton| Normacot| Hanley| Weston Coyney| Oulton| Caverswall| Newcastle| Swynnerton| Wolstanton| Stone| Porthill| Burslem| Wetley Rocks
Hem Heath area books
Displaying 1 of 4 books about Hem Heath and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Hem Heath
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Hem Heath.
Add your memory of Hem Heath
or of a photo of Hem Heath.
Good Times
We came down from Scotland to Stoke in 1953 as my dad had got a job in the newly opened Pit Hem Heath. As children we used to stay at the house which is sitting in front of the pit . We used to go across the brook on the pipe what ran from one side to the other so we could buy sweets from the pit canteen and wave to the miners, many of who we knew as dads friends and workmates, then back across the pipe to play in the fields all round the house which is still there. Sadly the pit no longer stands but we had some really good times. In case anybody reads this and worked with my dad, his name was Bill Watson. I would love to know if anyone remembers any thing I have wrote about.
Staffordshire memories
Critchlows Corner
The building in view was a Post Office and General Stores, the area was known as "Critchlows Corner" after the name of the family that owned the shop. The post office was the only one in the area. At the age of 10 I would cycle to the Post Office to collect our familys child benefit.
The bridge in the background was used by railway engines taking coal from Hem Heath Colliery to Florence Colliery. The trains travelled slowly and on many occasions I have "caught" the train to Longton Park as the line passed it.
Sadly the shop no longer exists and the gardens in which it stood are now a small housing estate. The rail line is no longer used due to pit closures.
Them Were The Days
I remember going to Critchelows corner shop to get my sweets before I went to school, I also remember walking across the fields with my brother to get to Blurton Road Chemist because that was the only one in Blurton at the time to get my mums prescription, we used to buy a liquorice root stick to eat on the way back we always went back via the brook so we could jump it Happy Days!!!!
My Memory
I remember I was about 10 and Critchilows Corner was a derelict building at this point, probably in 2000, and we used to try get in to see what it was like inside. I moved away but do visit the area from time to time and it's a housing esate now, seems a shame.
I Went to That School
I went to that school. I went to the nursery and stayed there right up until the year 2000 and then moved away to Scotland. It was a great school.
Brings Back Memories of my Childhool.
I lived in Blurton from 1964 to 1983. My memories of Critchelow's Corner, called so because of the Critchelow sisters who ran the Post Office, is of walking past this corner to get to Gom's Mill and then walk on to Longton. In my dreams when I dream I am back in Blurton, I am often walking down this road, past the Post Office. I can remember in 1970, it was a really hot summer, and I was fascinated with the giant sunflower plants that the Critchelows had grown in their back garden that summer. They were enormous, over 6 feet tall. I was very sad to hear about the closure of the Post Office.
?Sutherland Primary School
I recogise the picture but from my memory the school was called Sutherland Primary School and the building towards the back was Sutherland Junior School. Not sure where the name Smiths Arms comes from. There was a pub to the left of the school. Perhaps this was the Smiths Arms. I attended Sutherland Primary and Junior School before going on to Blurton High School. I loved my time at Sutherland. My particular memory is of Miss Kane who was my class teacher in Primary. She was so quietly spoken and gentle. All of the children loved her.
