Green Star Public House, Esperanto Way, Smallthorne, Stoke-on-Trent

Green Star Public House, Esperanto Way, Smallthorne, Stoke-on-Trent

Horace Barks, the Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent for 1950/51 was known as "Mr. Esperanto" because of his passion for the language.

He persuaded Bass Worthington brewery to name his local public house 'Green Star' and to add the words 'la verda stelo' to the side of pub - giving the Esperanto translation to the name.

The Green Star is on the corner of 'Esperanto Way' and nearby is 'Zamenhof Grove'

the Green Star was the original symbol of the Esperanto movement
the Green Star was the original symbol of the Esperanto movement

Esperanto Way, Smallthorne

Esperanto is a language created by Dr. Zamenhof from Poland in 1887.
It was developed as an international language to enable people from all over the worlds to communicate with each other.

Green Star Public House, Esperanto Way, Smallthorne, Stoke-on-Trent

photo: April 2011

Green Star Public House in 2001

la verdo stelo - is Esperanto for 'The Green Star'

North Staffordshire has a long history of Esperantism. The 'poeto' (no translation needed - Esperanto's pretty straightforward) Marjorie Boulton was brought up in Stoke and taught Esperanto. Some of her poems were written in Esperanto.

In addition, Alderman Horace Barks, a former Stoke 'lord-urbestro' (lord mayor to you and me) helped set up the first Esperanto courses at the Wedgwood Memorial College 'somer-lernejo' (summer-school) and also had a hand in the naming of the local 'trinkejo' (pub - vital word!) La Verda Stelo (The Green Star) on Esperanto Way, Smallthorne in the north of Stoke on Trent.

plaque on the wall of the Green Star Public House

Dr. Lazar Ludovik Zamenhof
1859 - 1917
Creator of
Esperanto
the international language
The green star is the symbol of Esperanto

Zamenhof Grove

near to Esperanto Way is Zamenhof Grove
near to Esperanto Way is Zamenhof Grove
which was named after Dr. Lazar Ludovik Zamenhof the inventor of the Esperanto Language

Wedgwood Memorial College, Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent
Esperanto-Asocio de Britio

Esperanto Association of Britain
Esperanto House, Station Rd, Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent

Barlaston - at least for British Esperantists - is the centre of the world.

The office and administrative centre of 'Esperanto-Asocio de Britio' (Esperanto Association of Britain) is in Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent in the Wedgwood Memorial College, Barlaston. Horace Barks helped set up the first courses there in 1960.

The Esperanto-Asocio de Britio was based for many years in London, the association decided to sell its main premises (the building was costing a lot to maintain) and use the money to convert a building at Wedgwood Memorial College - in Barlaston.

The college was chosen because of its long history of running Esperanto courses.

contents: 2011 photos