Staffordshire Archives / reading material

[elizasutton]

Hello, was starting to plan a trip to Staffordshire to do some research.
I notice that there are three different archives covering the area.
Can someone tell me which one I should be heading for in order to research family from  Longton  / Trentham / Fenton and West Bromwich areas? Or will I have to visit them all?
Would it be an easy feat to work out which pottery my family worked in from the area/ street in which they lived ? (from 1881 nearly all of Pitt Street, Longton is populated with the family)

I know very little about the pottery industry and would like to read more about the area and the sort of work that was carried out in the 1800's. All my Fathers mothers side of the family worked in the pottery industry, potters jigger/ dipper/placer etc, I have been reading Arnold Bennets Five towns books but the stories cover more of a middle class family, can anyone recommend some reading material either truth or fiction that tells of the working class families?

Many thanks
Liz

[BumbleB]

Hi:  I think your best bet would be to telephone one of the Archives - and I would suggest Stoke on Trent if you want local Potteries information.  Lichfield Archives does have copies of the parish registers, plus the Bishop's Transcripts for the whole of the Lichfield Diocese, but I would strongly recommend that you telephone them, the staff, certainly at Lichfield, are very helpful and knowledgeable, and they will point you in the right direction.

BumbleB

[mshrmh]

Liz - BumbleB's advice to call is sound.

Here's a couple of pages from the Staffs Archives website that may help:
Key collections:
http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/leisure/archives/collections/key/keycollections.aspx

Guides to sources (via PDF downloads):
http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/leisure/archives/services/publications/GuidestoSources.aspx

Stoke tends to concentrate on the north of the county with copies of church registers (fiche) and newspapers (film) from that area. I think Stafford has the widest selection of church registers (fiche) but does not have newspapers * they are nearby in the William Salt Library (which doesn't have the same opening hours so if you need both beware). Wills are at Lichfield though Stafford has a listing (film).

I've not been to the office at Lichfield so can't comment from experience.

Stoke Archives are just along the road from the Potteries Museum which is interesting (not just for pottery - also a spitfire & part of the recently discovered Staffordshire hoard for example).
http://www.stokemuseums.org.uk/pmag
Last time I visited they had an exhibit about the stages of pottery manufacture.

The potteries website has a guide to occupations and may have other sources for you:
http://www.thepotteries.org/family_history/resources.htm

Hope you have an interesting and productive visit!

[elizasutton]

Thanks, BumbleB, I shall give them a ring,
Mshrmh, you have given me a lot to investigate, many thanks shall start to check out those links.
Liz

[sugs]

Hi if you haven't rung already
I can tell you that it is Stafford records office for the areas you are looking at
Sue
Sorry just read your message properly and I now think you would be better off at Stoke!!

[Zen rabbit]

Lots of good information posted above for you.

All I can add is Stafford is a good bet as they have parish reg. fiches for Stoke on Trent as well as Walsall plus other records archived.
The William Salt library is just next door and a readers ticket for Stafford will get you in there too (as it will for Stoke-on-Trent) archives and Lichfield.
Lichfield is excellent for wills and I have found them exceedingly useful.

Generally Stoke archive is close to the Potteries museum which has some excellent displays and mock ups of working class houses on display from the 19th century.

There are various books available on the Potteries history. Stocked by bookshops in Hanley (where Stoke archives is located)

[elizasutton]

Thanks to the links, I think stafford is probably my best bet, but maybe I will try to stay for a couple of days to cover all bases just in case!
Looking forward to visiting the bookshop in Hanley also, thanks peeps
Liz

[mshrmh]

Liz - just to add that all the archives (Stafford/Stoke/Lichfield/William Salt etc) have a single combined ticket - they're not members of the CARN system so you'll need to register at the first visit (details on the website of what's needed in terms of proof of id etc). IIRC Stafford & Stoke both have a lobby area with lockers & a drinks vending machine and there's a bench or two outside at Stafford (which has an appropriate knot garden), for when you need a break.

[garethgriffiths]

Liz
To get a feel for the potbank as a place of work you would be also advised to visit the Gladstone Pottery Museum in Longton near where they lived.
Do you know which pottery factory they worked at?

Have you been on one of the popular map sites and walke dup and down the street as it is now, I find that useful to look left and right on both sides of the street.
By touring the area you also get the feel.
Gareth