Renamed Streets of Stoke-on-Trent (1950s)

Old and New Street Names Across the Potteries

A research resource for local history and genealogy

 

Why were Stoke-on-Trent streets renamed?

 

During the early 1950s many streets across Stoke-on-Trent were renamed to remove duplication and confusion between the Six Towns.

Before the federation of the six towns and later city expansion, identical street names existed in several districts simultaneously. For example, there were 7 “Albert Streets”, 11 “Church Streets” and 12 “High Streets”.

The changes created unique names for postal services, emergency services, businesses and local government records.


This section allows you to:

  • "find an old street name"

  • "discover its later name"

  • "search by district"

  • "trace addresses in census and family history research"

  • "identify streets which later disappeared entirely"

 



Find renamed streets by:

 

» A-Z of OLD Street names [A] [B] [C]...

» A-Z of NEW Street names [A] [B] [C]... 

» Browse by district  Hanley • Burslem • Cobridge • etc


Search Renamed Streets

Examples: Church Street, York Street, Minster Street

Source Note: These changes were formalised in March 1955 when the City of Stoke-on-Trent published the official booklet: "Complete list of streets renamed and list of new streets laid out since January 1950."


 

The importance for Family History Research:

If an address appears in such documents as...

  • census records

  • trade directories

  • birth or death certificates

  • electoral rolls

...but cannot be found on modern maps, the street may have been renamed in the 1950s.

 

 

Related Street Renaming Resource:

Longton Street Renaming and Redevelopment, 1828–1969 »

This companion resource documents the gradual renaming, redevelopment and disappearance of streets in Longton over more than 140 years.

 

 

Examples of street renaming:

The examples below illustrate how street names changed across Stoke-on-Trent during the early 1950s renaming programme.

They include typical old and new street name changes, map comparisons and photographs showing both names displayed.

 

Old Name New Name District
Church Street Garbett Street  Golden Hill
Church Street Manor Court Street Penkhull
King Street Madison Street Tunstall
Oxford Street Lindsay Street Hanley

 

 


Penkhull centre - 1937 OS map 
Penkhull centre - c.2020 ESRI World Top map 

Street renaming around St. Thomas’s Church, Penkhull in the mid 1950s

The 1937 map shows the original street names, while the 2020 map shows their later replacements: 

Newcastle Street became Newcastle Lane, East Street became Rothwell Street and Church Street became Manor Court Street.

Corresponding streets on both maps have been marked using matching coloured underlining.

 

 


Hall Street to Floyd Street

Hall Street, Stoke, showing both the old and new street names.
The street was renamed Floyd Street in recognition of the pottery manufacturers R. Floyd & Sons, whose works operated there.


York Street to Minster Street

(Image: StokeonTrentLive) 

York Street, Burslem, later renamed Minster Street during the 1950s street renaming programme.

At the time five “York Streets” existed across Stoke-on-Trent; the Hanley example retained its original name.

 

 


Page History:

  • Page created: 18 August 2001

  • Last Updated: 8 May 2026 - improved navigation, examples, maps and historical photographs.