"I was
born at number 42 Talbot Street, Hanley in 1942 and lived there for 20
years.
At one time there were two general stores: one in the front room of number
48 run by the Mrs. Harvey; the other being the corner property adjoining
Eastwood Road run by Mrs. Platt. Both were kept very busy, especially at
lunch times, by the workers of Johnson Bros. which was at the end of the
street in Eastwood Road. There were similar shops at the corner of Berkeley
Street and Bernard Street.
the shop run by Mrs. Platt adjoining Eastwood Road
(converted into a house at the time of this photo)
For many years there was an air-raid shelter in the middle of the street,
even numbered side, allowing single passage of carts. When it was
demolished I do not know. One day I noticed that it was no longer there.
It had always seemed to be full of rubbish, dirty and smelly. Only the boys
dared to enter!
In the 1950's we
didn't need a clock because the buzzers of Johnson's told us the
time.....
7.50am - 10 minutes
to go!
7.55am - ought to be there!
8.00am - time to start work!
12.25pm - almost dinner time;
12.30pm dinner time.
1.25pm - 5 minutes to go;
1.30pm - back to work and so on.
How we coped on
Sundays I don't know!
looking up Eastwood Road, the
Johnson Brothers
Hanley Pottery is on the right and first left is Talbot Street.
House on the corner of Talbot Street
The side of Johnson Brothers Hanley Pottery in Eastwood Road
can be seen at the end of
Talbot Street.
Our
playground was the streets - rounders in Eastwood Road, the canalside,
Johnson's 'extension', the crateyard in Pelham Street, 'farmer, farmer may I
cross your field' in Talbot Street, top and whip, two ball, skipping, etc.
It seemed we were never bored although we must have been. It was usually
warmer outside than in!
All gone."
