Cobridge Station

In Bennett's novel Cobridge was referred to as "Bleakridge"

"On the following afternoon Hilda travelled alone by the local train from Bleakridge to Knype, the central station where all voyagers for London, Birmingham, and Manchester had to foregather in order to take the fast expresses that unwillingly halted there, and there only, in their skimming flights across the district.

It was a custom of Five Towns hospitality that a departing guest should be accompanied as far as Knype and stowed with personal attentions into the big train. But on this occasion Hilda had wished otherwise. "I should prefer nobody to go with me to Knype," she had said, in a characteristic tone, to Janet. It was enough. The family had wondered; but it was enough. The family knew its singular, its mysterious Hilda.

And instead of at Knype, the leave-takings had occurred at the little wayside station of Bleakridge, with wavy moorland behind, factory chimneys in front, and cinder and shawd heaps all around."

Arnold Bennett - Hilda Lessways

Cobridge station on the Potteries Loop Line - 1898
this map shows Cobridge station in what was to become Cobridge Park

the map amply illustrates Bennett's observation of the surroundings of Cobridge station:

 "the little wayside station of Bleakridge, with wavy moorland behind, factory chimneys in front, and cinder and shawd heaps all around."

the Greenway following the Loop Line into Cobridge park - 2008
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