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Sydney Malkin
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Sydney Malkin was born in
1865 at The Mount, Penkhull - which was the imposing home originally built
by Josiah Spode II.
He was born into a potting family - his father (James Malkin) was married
to Annie, the daughter of Joseph Edge. The Malkin and Edge families were
involved very successful tile and earthenware manufacturers. Sydney
Malkin joined the family pottery businesses and in 1894 he and his brother
Elijah set up their own tile manufacturing business.
| 1898 |
Malkin's first venture into public life
was when he was appointed to the
Burslem School
Board. |
| 1900 |
Was elected to the Burslem
council.
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| 1906 |
Sydney Malkin was appointed an
Alderman. |
| 1907 |
He served as
mayor for Burslem.
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Malkin was in favour of federation but
he resigned from the federation committee of the Burslem council
because of its anti-federation majority.
NOTE: The Burslem position was
generally anti-federation.
In the November 1907 Burslem held a poll, at which 74 per cent. of the
electorate voted; the verdict was against federation by 3,240 votes to
2,040 |
| 1908 |
On February 23rd, 1908, the Local Government Board issued their
Provisional
Order for the federation of the six towns - federation was now more,
or less inevitable - it was the financial schemes that had to be
thrashed out.
The Bill went before the House of Commons Select Committee
on the 2nd July 1908. For some reason Malkin refused to
attend. Sir GEORGE WHITE reported from the Committee on Group K of
Private Bills; That the parties promoting the
Local Government Provisional Order (No. 3) Bill had stated that the
evidence of Sydney Malkin, Mayor of Burslem, was essential to their case;
and, it having been proved that his attendance could not be procured
without the intervention of the House, he had been instructed to move that
the said "Sydney Malkin, Mayor of Burslem, do attend the said Committee
to-morrow (3rd July), at half-past Eleven of the Clock". |
| 1909-10 |
Against opposition Malkin pushed through
the building of a new (Burslem's third) town hall - it was hoped that
this would be the municipal centre of the anticipated federation
(because of Burslem's position as 'The Mother Town').
The foundation stone was laid by Alderman Malkin on 14 March 1910,
however by the time it was completed in 1911 it was redundant as Stoke
had been chosen as the civic centre.
Burslem's 'town hall' became the Queen's Theatre and was known as 'Malkin's
Folly'
see
the battle for the town hall
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Malkin
became an alderman of the new county borough of Stoke-on-Trent. He
resigned because of what he called Frederick Geen's dictatorship. |
Sydney Malkin continued in
public service - in 1922 he stood as the National Liberal candidate for
the Burslem parliamentary constituency, he was narrowly defeated by Andrew
McLaren.
Malkin was a preacher at the Wesleyan Methodist church at Swan Bank,
Burslem. He was chairman of the North Staffordshire Cripples Aid Society
and chairman of the justices' probation committee.
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The Mount -
built in 1803 by Josiah Spode II
Sydney Malkin was born here
photo: July 2006 © Mr Clive Shenton
Even
today, the house is an imposing structure which was built to impress
upon all visitors the commercial success, wealth and status of its
owner. It is built mainly of brick with stone used to emphasise its
architectural features.
Charles Osmond's
house and school buildings in Richmond Terrace, Shelton
Sydney Malkin was
first educated at Charles Osmond's Academy
Malkin's home 'PENRYN' - Waterloo Road, Cobridge
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