St. John's Square (Burslem) Stoke-on-Trent

The layout of central Burslem today still has the street plan of a medieval market town. The area of St. John's Square can be seen on a 1720 map. An 1818 trade directory records "St. John's Square, near new Market place."

From the 1818 Trade directory we know that the following professions and trades were carried out in St. John's Square: (Note that many carried out more than one trade) (Note - the Star inn is more properly located in Queen Street, and is so in the 1851 directory)
Crate Maker:	Thomas Oakes
Grocers:	Thomas Oakes
Inns & Taverns:	Thomas Adams Hannah Sheldon Thomas Hargreaves George Lowe Thos. Machin	Bull's Head Duke William Mason's Arms New Inn Star
Iron Mongers:	Joseph Wade
Surgeons:	Charles Rawlings

The rapid development of the importance of St. Johns Square can be seen from this listing in Whites 1851 Trade directory: (Note that many carried out more than one trade)
Agents:	Geo Jackman Rutherford
Bakers and Flour Dealers:	John Ledsham William Wright
Boot and Shoe Makers:	Charles Gerard
Chemists and Druggists:	Thomas Blackshaw George Hawthorne
Confectioners:	Joseph Edge John Ledsham
Eating Houses:	Mary Walker
Fire and Life Offices:	Anchor, G. Hawthorne William Dixon	Representing Clerical Medical and General. Representing National & Mercantile.
Glass & China Dealers:	William Tomkinson
Grocers and Provisions:	William Dixon Hill Chas, James Thomas Kenderdine John Ledsham
Hairdressers:	William Tomkinson
Hatters:	Lazarus Salisbury
Inns and Taverns:	James Mann James Lockett Geo. Jackman Rutherford John Whittle	Bull's Head Duke William Freemasons Arms New Inn
Linen & Woollen Drapers:	John Cook
Watch & Clock Makers:	George Slater

Arnold Bennett in his novels used The Potteries, especially Burslem as a thinly disguised location. He re-named St. John's Square to St. Luke's Square.

1909 picture of St.John's Square taken from Fountain Place.

The buildings at the bottom are (left to right) Longson's, Lovatt's (Tailors & Outfitters) and The Masons Arms.

The street at bottom right with the terraced houses visible was Hanover Street - this street and the area around it has been cleared and now Woodbank Street replaces it and forms part of the Burslem ring road.

Click here for Photos of the Square 1900-1910

Photographs around St. John's Square (From the turn of both the 20th and 21st Centuries)
Manchester and Liverpool District Bank	'The Fountain'	Top of Liverpool Road	Home & Colonial
Duke William Inn The Clock House The Bull's Head Corner Furlong Passage	St. John's Square from a 1898 O/S Map See More of Map		1889 Shop Corner Queen Street
Back of Furlong Passage	'Baines' family home