BELCHER'S
Running parallel at the back of this church [St James] runs High street, where I was born as generations of my family were.
The two pot banks on the right represent a fraction of the "Belcher's"
that existed in Longton in the 30s/4os, they dominated everyone who lived amongst them with their endless stream of black smoke belching six days a week and covering all the buildings with soot and dirt. Night time brought short relief, until the next firing. Wash days were a nightmare, clothes went on to the line clean only to be covered later on with black spots that poured down relentlessly from the heavy smoky skies. White washing was unheard of in the Potteries until the eventual closure of the pot banks.
Perhaps on reflection in the late evenings when the kilns stood like silent sentries, silhuette outlines in the night skies, we should remember the generations of potters who worked endlessly in all this grime who gave us once an industry 2nd to none .........
Each photo is a lasting memory .............
A Longton Lass. Barbara.
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RE: RE: BELCHER'S
Hi Barbara, I was born in Meir in 1929. I used to take my father's food to him at weekends as he was the fireman at Aynsleys in Sutherland Road. He used to work odd hours while the ovens were firing. I remember the carthorse that was stabled just inside the pot banks gates. Used to bring the coal from the wharf. During the Second World War was there were problems with the black-out so steel plates had to be fixed above the open top of the bottles ovens to stop the glow that would have been seen by German aircraft. Also they had to listen before opening the doors to put the batings on for the same reason. I used to go into the factory at weekends and the place was alive with crickets attracted by the warmth, a chorus of their chirping which stopped immediately they heard your footsteps. My mother was born in Longton in Normacot Road. She also worked in the pots as a cup handler and scolloper. We went to live in Blythe Bridge and then moved to North Wales when my parents retired 54 years ago. And I still live here, near Caernarfon. Regards, Roy Allen.
Comment from Roy Allen on Thursday, 9th December 2010.
RE: RE: BELCHER'S
I was born in Normacot 1922. We lived in Victoria Road, No. 53. My mother worked in the pot factories. When did all the china industries leave Stoke-on-Trent? I have always missed S-on-T and particulary Normacot. I am now 88 years old, live in Philadelphia and have lived in New York and Los Angeles. When I last saw Normacot, No. 53 was gone and I didn't recognize Victoria Road. Love, all my love to Normacot, I still miss it. Mary Olshan
Comment from Mary Olshan on Wednesday, 16th March 2011.