No 77 -  The Minworkers Union Building, Hanley

"This attractive two-bay red brick and terracotta building, dated 1878, is No. 4, Broad St, Hanley. The interesting facade, which has recently been cleaned, is built from a variety of local materials. Red brick was used for the main structure, with an occasional layer of blue. Both bays, the central entrance and the various trimmings are made of stone and decorated with carvings that help to break up the strong symmetry of the building. The bays are surmounted by triangular gables, each of which contains a colourful and decorative tile panel. The interior is still much the same as on the day the building opened, there is the spacious entrance hall with doors leading to various rooms and a wide wooden staircase leading to the upper floor balcony.

I am told that it was originally built as a private house and occupied by a dentist, who had his surgery and offices on the ground floor, living accommodation on the upper, and servants' quarters and stables at the rear. It seems that the dentist's great friend was a doctor who lived in the adjacent building, now occupied by the Students Bookshop. Their close relationship continued for many years, until one day, without consulting his neighbour, the doctor decided to build another floor on to his house. The dentist did not take too kindly to this intrusion of his privacy, and their long friendship came to an abrupt end; in fact, they never spoke to each other again. The dentist eventually managed to get some kind of compensation when the doctor was ordered to cover the overlooking part of his building with white tiles. These can still be seen if you stand in the alley separating the two buildings.

The upper floor is currently the head office of the Power Group N.U.M. who represent more than 6,000 craftsmen in the mining industry. They moved into their present offices in June 1973, after the Transport and General Workers Union had vacated the building and moved to new accommodation in Shelton. The ground floor is occupied by a branch of the Co-operative Bank, and a rates office."

Neville Malkin 18th August 1976