The Etruria Inn, Etruria

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No 60 - The Etruria Inn

The Etruria Inn (nearest the camera) was just off Etruria Road by the bridge which crosses the Trent & Mersey canal (Where Wedgwood's Etruria factory used to be), the Bridge Inn was further along, at the end of this path.

photo taken 1985 - Ken Green

"In continuing the story of St. Matthew's, Etruria, I thought it might be interesting to draw the building where it all began, especially as it is likely to be demolished in the near future.

In 1844 a mission centre from St. Mark's, Shelton, was opened in a clubroom over the stable of the Etruria Inn. Later the same year, it was replaced by a new parochial organisation, and a chapel erected on the canalside for the use of boatmen employed on the Trent and Mersey Canal. In 1845 the Bishop gave orders for the school, then being built, to be used for services when complete. The need for a church soon became clear, and, in 1848-9, on a site given by the Duchy of Lancaster, the church of St. Matthew was built and consecrated on May 9th, 1849. It was designed in the Early English style by Henry Ward and Sons, of Hanley, and built with sandstone from Cauldon Low. Originally, St. Matthew's consisted of a nave, aisles, chancel, a north west tower and galleries on three sides. During its history it was constantly menaced by mining subsidence and has had to be restored on several occasions.

In 1893 the condition of the church was so bad, it seemed it would have to be closed, but at a cost of £350 donated by the Duchy of Lancaster, to whom the mining rights belonged, the church was restored and reopened in July, 1894. The worst disaster to befall the church was a German air raid on the night of June 30th, 1940, when all the windows were blown out and most of the roof collapsed. On January 22nd, 1950, following extensive repair work, the Bishop of Lichfield unveiled six stained glass memorial windows, which had been made by Weir's, from designs by Mr. Forsthye, late Principal of Burslem Art School. One of the windows bears the inscription "Little Jimmy" (James Straw), a well-loved member of the Sunday School, who lost his life in 1940 when a bomb fell on his home. The names of 13 other boys who lost their lives in the war are also remembered in the windows.

By 1960, the church was again unsafe; most of the walls were out of perpendicular and had to be secured with iron rods. Later alterations have required the removal of the tower and a great deal of restoration work."

Neville Malkin 21st January 1976

next: The Methodist Chapel, Etruria
previous: St. Matthew's Church, Etruria
contents: index of buildings in Etruria