The American, Cobridge

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The American, Cobridge
to.. club house

The hotel was a postinghouse by 1834 - in 1851 Thomas Green was the proprietor of the Waterloo and American Hotel, Waterloo Road, Burslem.

"Waterloo Road, constructed in 1815–17, contains much small-scale housing of that time at its northern end. Farther south, the older part of the front range of the Washington Works has a dignified treatment of recessed brick arcading dating from the 1830's.

The three-storied bow window of the American Hotel opposite is similar in detail to those at the 'Leopard' and is probably of much the same date.

As Waterloo Road approaches Cobridge the houses become larger, more pretentious, and progressively later in date, representing the first middleclass area of 19th-century Burslem."

A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 8 (1963)

Run by the Potteries Housing Association as a community centre for people with mental health needs. This service is available to people with mental health needs in the Potteries area.

"The American has a bow reminiscent of the Leopard's two, and of similar date. Its name derives from an epidemic of the New World fever which swept through the Six Towns in the 1840s, when escape to North America was seen as the only way out for hundreds of locals at a time of high unemployment and industrial hell. In 1844 the Potters' Joint Stock Emigration Society and Savings Fund was set up by William Evans, a prominent figure in the United Branches of the Potters' Society, but its impetus failed to match his initial enthusiasm. He believed emigration to be the panacea for all the ills of working potters. As there were more workers than work, his solution was to deport each unemployed member of the trade to America and a new life, assuring those left behind an enhanced market value. He envisaged an exodus of 5,000. When funds permitted, the Society bought a large tract of land in Wisconsin and divided it up into 20 acre holdings. Members entered a lottery for the prize of a little slice of the American cake; the draw was made in Hanley's Meat Market, amid great excitement, and eight families came up trumps. In time, more followed them to this promised land.

However, like Potteries folk through the ages, many emigrants found the change from home too great and returned. Others could not settle to the farming life and took up hunting. Very few became wealthy. The town that grew up around that initial tract of Wisconsin holdings is called POTTERSVILLE. Whatever else they do there, they have no involvement in the making of pottery.

Evan's idea was too novel and far-reaching to command universal approval, particularly among people whose roots were deeply entrenched in North Staffordshire. As the Union became identified with the Emigration Society, its popularity waned and its membership declined, spelling the end of the Wisconsin venture. The Society collapsed in 1849 — and so did the Union."

From "Six of the Best" by Richard Weir

map showing the Waterloo and American Hotel on Waterloo Road
from an 1851 Burslem drains map

STAFFORDSHIRE ADVERTISER 27 FEBRUARY 1836

To be LET, with immediate possession

ALL that newly-erected MESSUAGE or TENEMENT, called the WATERLOO, or AMERICAN HOTEL, together with the DWELLING-HOUSE thereunto adjoining, formerly used as a Spirit Vaults, situate on the westwardly side of the great road and throughfare, leading from Burslem to Hanley, in the Staffordshire Potteries.

These Premises have been erected within the last three or four years. The Hotel contains on the ground floor, Commercial-room and large dining-room to the front; back parlour, roomy entrance, bar, from which there is a direct communication with spacious wine and ale cellars, an excellent kitchen, wash-house, also a large billiard room, fitted up in a suitable manner and detached from the house.

On the first floor is an elegant drawing room, and an excellent parlour for private parties, and the bed rooms are airy and commodious.

There is stabling for 12 or 15 horses.

The whole of the premises are finished in a most superior style, and possess every accommodation requisite for conducting business of the first respectability. The town of Burslem is rapidly improving, and the Hotel is situate in the centre of a district comprising a population of nearly seventy thousand inhabitants, which district is daily increasing in importance. There are coaches to and from London, Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham, which pass the Hotel daily.

The above premises might easily be converted into two excellent Messuages, one for an Inn and the other for a private boarding-house, the latter of which would be a great convenience for the numerous travellers, whose business leads them to this part of the country.

Any further information may be obtained (if by letter, post-paid,) on application at the Office of Mr J P HARDING, Solicitor, Overhouse, Burslem.

Name	Marr \| Age \| Sex		Birthplace	Occupation
Lewis LONGDEN	M 43 M	Head	Kimberley, Nottingham	Licensed Victualler American Hotel
Elizabeth LONGDEN	M 38 F	Wife	Codner, Derby
Abraham J. LONGDEN	3 M	Son	Moxley, Staffordshire
Mary E. LONGDEN	1 F	Daur	Burslem
Eliza M. LAKIN 1	6 F	Serv	Blyth Bridge, Staffordshire	Gen Serv