the angel – issue 11, summer 2009

ANGELthe

AN UPDATE ON BURSLEM REGENERATION PROGRESS

ISSUE 11 Summer 2009

NewUrban Rangerin town

PAGE SIX

Rachel aims to breathfresh life into park

BurslemPark’s new Urban

Ranger Rachel Clearyis pictured at the playarea with youngsters

from MoorparkJunior School.

I was recently appointed to the Board ofBurslem Regeneration Company and I’mdelighted with this opportunity to play apart in reviving the fortunes of a town withsuch a great heritage.

The newly constituted Board is made upof people from various walks of life who allcontribute a wide range of talent, skills,expertise and experience towards theefforts to regenerate the Mother Town. Ibring to the table a background in retail –I’ve been a retailer since the age of 16 –and will be working hard to revitalise thecommercial heart of the Mother Town.

I intend to fully support Julian Read,Burslem Regeneration Manager, and histeam in any way they think I can,particularly with the resources of the mostethical and community focused brand in theUK at our disposal, but in particular I hopethat my experience of retailing will be ofbenefit in creating a vibrant commercialcentre for Burslem.

Co-operative Travel will utilise itsextensive infrastructure in every waypossible in order to help bring to the townan exciting mix of shops and brands thatwill benefit people living in new housingnear the town centre and attract shoppersfrom a wider area.

Burslem is of course the home of theCo-operative Travel which has grown intothe UK’s largest travel agent from six shopsin Stoke-on-Trent to a turnover of £1.2billion– a success largely driven from thecompany’s Burslem headquarters whichemploys more than 350 people and operatesas very much part of the community.

I therefore have a great affection for thetown and have shared the frustration ofmany people that Burslem has beensomewhat left behind other towns such asHanley and Tunstall as they have benefitedfrom investment in regenerationprogrammes.

Bringing the shops – and the shoppers –back is a key part of the strategy toachieve the economic and socialtransformation of Burslem. It will ensurethat the Mother Town will once againbecome a centrepiece for Stoke-on-Trentand not a town that everyone has forgotten.

Town must againbe a centrepieceof Stoke-on-Trent

2 T H E A N G E L

By AlistairRowlandBurslemRegenerationCompany Directorand Director ofDistribution, theCo-operative Travel

Prince’s Trust toreport on ideas forhistoric gem

The famous statue ofJosiah Wedgwood on themagnificent facade of theWedgwood Institute whichis in need of restorationand an economicallysustainable new use.

A “HARD HATS” tour of theWedgwood Institute was part of aPlanning Day held by the Prince’s

Regeneration Trust to help determine anew role for the historic building as partof Burslem’s regenerated town centre.

Around 50 representatives of public,private and voluntary sectororganisations as well as local peoplecontributed their own views about thefuture of the building.

Their feedback will help the Prince’sRegeneration Trust to prepare a reportthat will be published later this year.

The Trust has extensive experience inhelping local communities identify newways to regenerate historic buildings andit has organised several Planning Daysacross the UK that have paved the wayto successful regeneration projects.

Its experts were invited to visit the

town after months of ongoing discussionswith Stoke-on-Trent North MP Joan Walley,who helped organise the Planning Day.

Roland Jeffery, the Trust’s ProjectsAdvisor, said: “There was lively interestin the event which produced some veryinteresting ideas and a good level ofconsensus.”

Julian Read, Burslem RegenerationManager, said: “This is part of the firstphase of planning to prepare some ofthe currently unused historic buildings inBurslem town centre for long term usageand to make them economicallysustainable.”

The Institute – renowned as one of thecity’s foremost architectural gems, famedfor its magnificent facade – wasdesigned by Rudyard Kipling’s father andRobert Edgar in the 1860s and is a Gradell* listed building.

T H E A N G E L 3

MOTHER Town stalwartEdmund Yorke, picturedabove, has beenappointed Chairman of therelaunched BurslemRegeneration Company.

As The Angel went topress, his colleagues onthe Company Boardelected Edmund to the keypost, vacated by theretirement of HughEdwards.

“I’m relishing thechallenge of working witheveryone in the town tomake sure Burslem has abright future,” saidEdmund, who is formerChairman of Wood andSons pottery and also theCeramica Trust.

Meanwhile, excitingplans for the future ofBurslem were unveiled atan event to relaunch theCompany. Traders,employers, city councillorsand Company Boardmembers were invited tothe ceremony opened byStoke-on-Trent North MPJoan Walley at the SwanBank Methodist Mission.

The company was setup in 2003 to driveforward a programme ofaction for Burslem andhas already scorednotable success inregenerating the town.

Now a new set of actionplans has been drawn upto take the town forwardand breathe new life intoderelict sites and emptybuildings.

Joan Walley introducedCompany Board membersand called on the wholetown to work together toraise Burslem’s profile.

Major supermarket is onregenerationshopping list

Ed Yorkeappointed CompanyChairman

TALKS are under way with some of thebiggest names in retail to locate a majorsupermarket in Burslem town centre.

Discussions are at an early stage but the BurslemRegeneration Company is convinced a majorshopping development is one of the solutions tobring thousands of people a day to the Mother Town.

Ambitious plans to step up the town’sregeneration have been announced as part of thecompany’s relaunch. As well as the proposedsupermarket, they include:● Proposals to create a new local service hub like

the one attracting thousands of visitors to Stoke,complete with library, access to councildepartments, free internet access and a host ofother facilities.

● A thriving shopping, living and working quadrantin the town’s central area between Queen Street,Market Place, St John’s Square and Swan Square,with historic buildings and courtyards broughtback into use as open space, community squaresand live/work units.

Work on the central core scheme – alreadyknown as the Wedgwood Works – has alreadystarted with the creation of a wine bar in theformer Violets are Blue florists, and talks tobuild live-work space and retail units in theformer Mark One shop at Swan Square.

Town Centre Manager Julian Read said thetown had support from major funders likeAdvantage West Midlands, the Heritage LotteryFund, English Heritage and the Homesand Communities Agency, and he wasconfident their commitment would meanprogress for Burslem in the comingyears. He said plans for the future of thetown were under four main headings:

● Encouraging investment in projects likethe Wedgwood Works, BurslemTownscape Heritage Initiative andvacant properties.

● Accesibility and movement:investing in completing the reliefroad, better use of public spaceand improved car parking.

● Destination Burslem: marketing toattract tourists and investors.

● Improving communities: includingbetter housing, more communityfacilities and working withpartners to improve health andeducation facilities.

Julian said: “We have a plan ofaction to transform the town and acommitment to drive Burslem forward.

“We are finding ways to bringfootfall back to the town through it’s

historic buildings, unique heritage and sense ofcommunity. We have a real commitment toaccelerate the regeneration process wherever wecan.”

Julian pointed to the success of the TownscapeHeritage Initiative (THI) which was improvingbuildings in the town and helping to secureemployment. He said: “Our aim is to bring a markettown feel back into Burslem by building on thehistoric, heritage element that we can sell toinvestors.

“Talks with the major retailers are progressing.These are exciting times as we all recognise thebenefits a supermarket development would bring tothe town, and how it would act as a catalyst tolever in additional investment.”● To have your say on the future of the town [email protected]

Town Centre Manager JulianRead pictured by the ornateVictorian drinking fountain inSt John’s Square which hasbeen earmarked forlandscaping improvements.

4 T H E A N G E L

AREMARKABLE piece of Italy in themiddle of Burslem is to benefit from amulti-million pound package of grants

for essential repairs to Grade II listed placesof worship across England.

St Joseph’s Catholic Church is to receive£81,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund andEnglish Heritage – an answer to prayers bythe congregation concerned that cracks in thewalls and a leaking roof are threatening thesplendid interior decoration of the church thatfirst opened its doors 82 years ago.

This money is one of the grants that willhelp to repair 56 historic places of worship,including seven churches in the WestMidlands.

The congregation of St Joseph’s will beholding a series of events to raise thebalance needed. The church already has£20,000 in the fund, thanks largely to abequest by a parishioner.

Its two distinctive Italianate-style towershas made St Joseph’s a landmark of theMother Town – but many who pass by theRoman basilica-inspired church in Hall Streetare unaware of the rich artistry inside.

However, time has taken its toll on theexterior, and the grant will be used to carryout urgently needed repairs to stonework,roofs and gutters in order to preserve thisfine church for future generations.

The nexttwelve monthswill be spentinvestigatingwhat needsdoing andinviting tenders to carry out the work, whichis expected to commence in the summer of2010. St Joseph’s was designed in 1925 byrenowned arts and crafts architect J SBrocklesby and the building was completedin 1927, using the materials of the area andartistic talents of local people wheneverpossible.

Inspired parishioners

Red and blue bricks supplied by FentonColliery Company were used to create thestriking outside brickwork design, while muchof the lavish decoration inside is attributed toGordon Forsyth who was principal of theBurslem School of Art in the 1920s.

Forsyth inspired local parishioners toproduce most of the stained-glass windowsand decoration for the nave and galleryceilings. He taught local unemployed pottersand miners how to cut and set the speciallyselected coloured glass to echo the windowsat Chartres Cathedral in France.

The half dome sanctuary ceiling depictingChrist surrounded by angels and symbols of

the gospel writers Matthew, Mark, Luke andJohn was painted by Forsyth’s daughter Moirawho also trained at Burslem School of Artbefore graduating from the Royal College ofArt. Her stained-glass work can be seen inGuildford Cathedral, Norwich Cathedral andEton College Chapel.

John Tiernan, Historic Building Architect forEnglish Heritage, said: “Much of the work willinvolve repairing the original asphalt roofs ofthe towers and replacing corroded irondowels in the limestone with stainless steelones.

“This is a fascinating building as it wouldlook at home anywhere in Italy, and yet it hasa lot of Stoke-on-Trent in its fabric.”

Paul Woodward, Parish Councillor at StJoseph’s Church, said: “Being awarded thegrant is tremendous news. The repairs willmake the whole building watertight and thenhopefully we can re-decorate the interior ofthe church.”

Paul added: “We would welcomesponsorship support from businesses to helpus match the funding by the Heritage LotteryFund and English Heritage.”

Italianate church to berestored with help of

lottery cash

Paul Woodward, Church ParishCouncillor, left, shows HarrietDevlin, of the Heritage LotteryFund, and John Tiernan, ofEnglish Heritage, some of thework that needs to be done.Below, the landmark exteriorof St Joseph’s Church.

Italianate church to berestored with help of

lottery cash

T H E A N G E L 5

GLASSES will soon beraised to toast thelaunch of a new wine bar

– and an exciting look for abusy town centre “gateway” inBurslem.

The wine bar is part of a majorextension to the popular Denry’srestaurant and forms anattractive three-storeydevelopment due to open soon.

Funding of £198,000 from theTown Centre Heritage Initiative(THI) has played a major role inenlarging the Victorian andEdwardian themed restaurant inSt John’s Square by extendingthe business into the adjacentpremises of the former flowershop on the corner of MarketPlace and St John’s Square.

The ground floor wine bar willmatch the restaurant’s periodstyle by featuring lots of woodenpanelling and mirrors, while onthe floors above there will beadditional function rooms withtheir own kitchen and threeletting rooms.

Denry’s proprietor and chefWayne Doyle

said: “What wehave done

will certainly improve thisentrance to the town centre andI’m confident it will attract morepeople into Burslem.”

Meanwhile, THI funding of£75,000 has been agreed for amajor £300,000 scheme at theSwan Bank Methodist Mission.

The project includes therefurbishment of a first floor hallto provide sports, drama, youthand general community facilities.The original vaulted ceiling willbe restored to its former gloryand there will be new seating forup to 300 people – which can bestored when not needed – aportable stage, new flooring anda new kitchen.

On the ground floor a formerdrop-in centre will be convertedto a stylish café serving a range

of quality coffeesand light

lunches, seven days a week.Rev Ashley Cooper, of the

Methodist Mission, said: “We willbe creating a superb communityhub in the town centre which willbe available to everyone.”

Grants have also beenapproved for renovation of theroof on buildings between 1 and6 Swan Bank and improvementto frontages.

In addition meetings are takingplace with the owner of theformer Co-operative Building inSwan Square to bring forward asuitable scheme for the building.

Since the THI funding schemewas launched a little over twoyears ago grants totalling£900,00 have been approved torenovation, repair andimprovement buildingthroughout the town centre. Thishas, in turn, generated a further£700,000 of private spending.

Helen Rhodes, THI ProjectOfficer, said: “The take up of

the scheme has been veryencouraging and theimprovement workscarried out onbuildings are makinga noticeabledifference to thelook of the towncentre.

“It has alsoresulted in vacantbuildings beingbrought back intouse.”

A MUSIC festival inBurslem Park is set toexpand after proving asmash hit with localpeople. Stoke Soundsstaged its first event lastyear, involving artists fromacross the city playingeverything from gospel todrums.

Now, the concert is set togrow from two to threestages of entertainmentwhen it takes place onSaturday August 1.

Mike Watson, Chairmanof the Burslem ParkPartnership Group said:“The new stage will featureheavier rock music –attracting a youngeraudience to the festival – inaddition to those watchingthe acoustic and rock actson the other stages.”

The event, which is runwith funding from privatebackers and the citycouncil’s city culturedepartment could also soonbenefit from a HeritageLottery grant.

Denry’s wine barsoon to be thetoast ofthe town

Music festivalin the parkset to expand

CHEERS... Denry’s owner Wayne Doyle toasts the imminent openingof the wine bar with waitress Sandra Doyle and builder Greg Hall.

COFFEECULTURE...

Glynis Coopertoasts plans for a

new stylish café atthe Swan Bank

MethodistMission.

6 T H E A N G E L

Rachel’s challengeBURSLEM Park’s new Urban Ranger RachelCleary believes the venue will become a keyhub for the future regeneration of theMother Town.

Rachel took up the newly-created post inJune and is looking forward to the challengeof attracting tens of thousands of extravisitors to the Victorian park.

Her appointment comes as the citycouncil and the Burslem Park Partnershipput in a bid for Heritage Lottery Fund cashwhich, if successful, would result in a £2.4million investment.

The scheme wouldsee a comprehensiverestoration of the

formal terrace gardens over the next threeyears, including the fountains, shelters andshrub borders.

As well as working closely with theexisting team of park keepers, Rachel willbe supporting the volunteers of the BurslemPark Partnership.

She will also be involved with the localcommunity and will be developing aneducational programme with schools to usethe park as a place for learning.

Rachel said: “To coincide with theplanned improvements, we will be creatinga host of new activities at the park with the

aim of attracting a huge number of extravisitors. The park is going to be a key

hub for Burslem’s regeneration and

play a central role in the town’s future.“Burslem Park has a great history and

heritage and I am passionate about thechallenge of making it an important andvalued venue for the local community.”

Rachel’s post has been jointly funded bythe Heritage Lottery Fund and the citycouncil.

To contact Rachel – pictured at the parkwith Burslem Park Partnership ChairmanMike Watson – telephone 01782 234030 ordrop in to the park’s pavilion where she isbased.

THE search is on for a photograph of ahistoric water nymph statue which onceadorned Burslem Park.

The 6ft high terracotta figure waspresented to the people of the Mother Townby Sir Henry Doulton – founder of the worldfamous Royal Doulton pottery company – in1895, a year after the opening of the formalgardens of the park.

The statue was removed from the parksometime in the early 1960s after falling intodisrepair and has since disappeared withouttrace. All that remains is the brokenterracotta plinth in the park, pictured above.

Now as part of wider plans for the

restoration of the park the city council islooking for ideas from local artists for astatue to replace the water nymph – andthey want an image of the original statue toact as inspiration.

Mike Watson, Chairman of Burslem ParkPartnership, said: “I can remember thewater nymph statue but try as I might I

cannot find a photograph of it. The CityMuseum have searched their architves andwe have appealed in the local media butwith no luck.”

Meanwhile, Nile Street based ArtWaves, acompany which promotes the work of localartists, has worked up a brief for areplacement statue.

Julie Gould, a partner at ArtWaves, said:“The disappearance of the water nymph is abit of a mystery and we have no pictorialevidence of the original and only a fewreferences to its existence.

“This in itself has inspired us to create adesign brief for the artist that shouldcapture the mystical and mythical sense ofits actuality.”

● If anyone has a photograph of thewater nymph please contact Mike Watson –telephone 07890 966290.

Water nymphstatue mystery

THOUSANDS of visitors areexpected in Burslem whena colourful international

Christian music festival hits thestreets of the Mother Town.

Residents are invited to join inthe fun at the Adoration 09Festival – the third of its kindto be staged in NorthStaffordshire – with eventstaking place on July 3 and 4.

The festival kicks off on theFriday evening with a concertby the renowned LondonCommunity Gospel Choirsupported by rock bandYFriday and The Steels.

Saturday will see the mainstage in Swan Square rock to aseries of free performances.There will also be an acousticstage and busy market place inthe Swan Bank church buildings,and a funfair in Market Place.

Face painting and craftactivities around the town meanthe festival offers something forvisitors of all ages.

Adoration 09 reaches its climaxwith a performance by Americanmusician Matt Redman, aninternationally acclaimedsongwriter whose songs are usedin worship around the world. Hewill be supported by up-and-coming Christian rock bandLifecolour, who hail from BirchesHead.

Reverend Ashley Cooper, ofSwan Bank Methodist Mission,said: “This year Adoration iscoming to the streets of Burslem,to showcase artists in the heartof the city.

“As well as bringing thebest Christianmusic to theMotherTownof

the Potteries, it’s a tremendousopportunity to show off

everything that’s best aboutour town, and will

boost the localeconomy by

bringingso

many visitors to Burslem on theSaturday.

“There is an excitingprogramme, with literallysomething for everybody, and wewant to see as many Burslemresidents as possible enjoying themusic. I’m sure they will be

surprised by the huge rangeand quality of the

Christian music onoffer.”

Queen Streetand Market Placewill be closed to

traffic on theSaturday and extra

parking will be availableat Port Vale Football Club.

For further informationvisit the festival website atwww.adoration.org.ukTickets for the evening

events in the Queen’sTheatre are available from

Swan Bank Church, or bycalling 0870 066 0766.

T H E A N G E L 7

Christian music festival torock the town

Getting in the mood for Adoration 09 –Reverend Ashley Cooper at the Swan

Bank Methodist Mission.

Getting in the mood for Adoration 09 –Reverend Ashley Cooper at the Swan

Bank Methodist Mission.

Thousands of visitors expected for two day Adoration ‘09 event

THE first phase of aprominent town centreresidential project isto be completed nextmonth. One and twobedroom apartmentsat the Furlong Passagedevelopment, locatedbetween St John’sSquare and WoodgateStreet, will beavailable in July.

The developmentwill provide four two-bedroom town housesand 25 one, two andthree-bedroomapartments. It willalso feature secureunderground parking,lifts and a communalgarden.

Apartmentsready soon

Americanmusician MattRedman is theheadline act on

Saturdaynight.

8 T H E A N G E L T H E A N G E L 9

AFAR-REACHING communityengagement programme isunderway so that

residents can help choose thebest way to drive forward multi-million pound regenerationplans in Middleport.

RENEW North Staffordshirehas prepared a detailedmasterplan outlining a packageof improvements for the area,

which will include delivering highquality housing, boostingemployment opportunities andenhancing the environment,while drawing on andmaintaining its heritage.

A steering group set up byRENEW has drawn up threealternative options all outlining abroad range of developments thatcan achieve these objectives and

provide sustainable regenerationover the next 15 to 20 years.

People are now being urged tohave their say on the options tohelp shape the long-term futureof the neighbourhood.

A launch event was held inApril to unveil the plans andmeeting with residentsassociations are being arrangedthroughout the early summer.

Exhibition stands have alsobeen set up in the BurslemSchool of Art and other publiclocations and questionnairesdistributed door-to-door tohomes in Middleport.

Members of the Western AreaNeighbourhood renewal teamhave also been visiting residentsto speak to them about theconsultation and to encouragepeople to fill in thequestionnaires.

RENEW Programme ManagerDebbie Hope said: “Publicconsultation is vital to this phaseof the programme.

“We feel it is very importantthat people have their say on thedifferent options and help shapethe future of theirneighbourhood.

“The comments and feedbackreceived will be carefullyconsidered and be used in takingthe plans forward.

“We are looking to make adecision on the desiredMasterplan option by the end ofJuly and after that residents willsee a whole raft of physicalimprovement works starting totake place based on thisdecision.”

WORK is well under way ona new £3 million GP surgeryin Middleport, part of theregeneration programme toimprove the health andwellbeing of residents inthe area.

Contractors moved ontothe site of the WoolrichStreet-based construction inspring and it is set to beopen by January 2010.

The new facility isexpected to have a patientlist of 6,000 within fiveyears – and five GPs, apractice manager, fournurses and fiveadministration staff willeventually work there.

An official sod cuttingceremony was carried out byStoke-on-Trent North MPJoan Walley and NHS Stokeon Trent Chief ExecutiveGraham Urwin to mark thestart of work.

Mr Urwin said: “We’rereally proud of what ishappening here. We havea responsibility to

ensure that local peoplehave easy access to a localGP surgery – this superbnew facility will help makethat happen.

“Five GPs will be basedhere with associatedsupport in a brand newbuilding, which we are surethe local community willboth benefit from and beextremely proud of.”

Joan Walley said:“Onceopen this will be a fantasticfacility which will benefitpeople from Middleport andthe surrounding areas andboost the general healthand wellbeing of residents.

“It fits in perfectly withthe other huge steps thatare being taken by agenciessuch as RENEW to revitaliseand regenerate the area inall areas of life such ashealth, employment,education, environment andtransport.

“It also boosts quality oflife and raises standardsand aspirations.”

An artist’s impression of the new Middleport GP Practice.

Works starts on£3m GP centre

Stoke-on-Trent North MP Joan Walley and NHS Stoke onTrent Chief Executive pictured at the sod cutting ceremony.

Option One includes a new housingdevelopment on Slater Street and land nextto the Woods Pottery site, as well as a newhomes for older people on the WoodsPottery site.

New business units on derelict land at theFurlong Industrial Area, shop frontimprovements and improved footpathsalong Newcastle Street are also in thepipeline. This option also includes apedestrian/cycle link to connect BurslemWharf via Navigation Road to the SlaterStreet area.

Option Two includes a new housingdevelopment on Slater Street and WoodsPottery site but also on the canalside Co-op(Steam) Bakery site and new homes onderelict land.

It would see the partial redevelopment ofthe Shirley Street area for business units

and car parking, and the conversion ofBurslem Wharf warehousing for use asoffice or live-work accommodation.

New children’s play facilities would bedeveloped at Middleport Park and newinformal sports pitch facilities would beprovided at Grange Park.

A bus link through Newport Laneconnecting to Hanley through Etruria Valleywould improve public transport.

Option Three would see housingdevelopment extended to include the edgeof Grange Park as well as previouslymentioned developments on Slater Streetand at the Wood Pottery site.

Properties on Maddock Street and YaleStreet would be partially refurbished, andnew homes would be built in attractive,partly-pedestrianised settings.

A big redevelopment of the Shirley Street

area would provide business units as wellas conversion of Burslem Wharfwarehousing for office and live-work use.

This option would also include thecreation of a Burslem Port nature reserve,new sports pitch facilities on Grange Park,and new children’s play facilities atMiddleport Park.

There would be new improved visitorattraction facilities at Burleigh Pottery and aGrange Park link road would connect EnochStreet to Festival Way.

Improvements would also be made toensure better pedestrian and cycle accessto Burslem Town Centre.

Debbie Hope added:“These three optionsare not set in stone and, depending on theconsultation and feedback we receive, theoption we move forward with could be anamalgam of all three – embracing the mostpopular features from each.”

The three masterplan options at a glance:

Residents shape the future for

their communityResidents shape the future for








their community

Janet Coates, a Project Assistant Western Area Neighbourhood renewalteam, left, show the Masterplan options to resident Tracy Hird during adoor-to-door consultation exercise in Middleport. Tracy is featured inthe The Angel cover picture outside her home in Slater Street.

RENEW Programme Manager Debbie Hope, right, discussesthe Masterplan options with resident Lauren Jackson at anexhibition of the proposals at Burslem’s School of Art.

ClareHumphreys

with her nephewOwen Humphreys,

aged two, at MiddleportPark where it is

proposed to developnew children’s play

facilities.

10 T H E A N G E L

URSLEM is staking aclaim to be the currycapital of the Potteries

with a host of top classrestaurants spicing up towncentre dining.

Customers can tuck into averitable feast of specialitydishes served up at no lessthan six Indian and Bangladeshirestaurants, all located within anaan bread’s throw of eachother.

On most evenings, theBurslem night air is infused withan unmistakeable blend ofaromatic spices and ingredientsas chefs stoke up their Tandooriovens and prepare their exoticculinary delights.

And if that’s not amouth-watering enough reasonto visit then here is another tastyfact to digest –The Mother Townboasts the oldest and newestIndian restaurants in the city.

The Kismet, which wasestablished in 1962 and is stillgoing strong 47 years later, is tobe joined by a new restaurant –yet to be named – which isopening this summer.

Add Badsha, The GreatMoguls, The India Cottage andSaki Spice and you have all theingredients for a great mix ofrestaurants catering foreveryone’s tastes.

And the healthy competitionensures owners are always ontop of their game when it comes

to the dishesthey cook up and the servicethey provide, meaningcustomers are spoilt for qualityas well as choice.

Burslem Town Centre ManagerJulian Read said: “It is fantasticthat Burslem has so manygreat restaurants servingIndian cuisine.

“Visitors are reallyspoilt for choice andvariety. You reallycan’t get bored ofeating in theIndian restaurantshere as there areso many dishesto try. Peoplecome from allover the cityand fromoutsidebecause theirfavouriterestaurant is inBurslem. It reallyis a vibrant areaof commerce.”

The India Cottage

is no exception with

regular customers

travelling from across the

Potteries and beyond to

sample its menu.

Opened in 1990 by ownerAbdul Kadir, on the historic BewsCorner, it replaced an Italianpizza parlour and is still goingstrong two decades later.Current manager Abdul Ahmed

works hard to maintain itsreputation as a family orientatedrestaurant serving the bestIndian food.

Specialities of the houseinclude a range of dishes cookedon the restaurant’s authenticTandoori clay oven, whichinclude Tandoori King Prawn andTandoori lamb chops.

He said: “Families know theycan come here at anytime of theevening to have a good meal incomfortable and relaxingsurroundings.

“Every so often we are facedwith a real challenge. Forinstance, a family came in with a

70-year-old lady who had nevertried curry before in her life.

“She was pretty apprehensiveabout spicy food so our chefwas given a real task. In the endhe cooked a chicken bhuna,which is a medium spice dish,and she loved it. She said shewould be definitely coming backfor more.”

Of course when it comes toserving up Indian food, TheKismet has been there, donethat and worn out the t-shirt.After nearly five decades ofproviding quality food therestaurant on Queen Street hasundergone a major revamp, very

Celebrations oftown’s iconic son

Historian Fred Hughes in18th Century dress for the

launch of events to mark the250th anniversary of thefounding of Wedgwood’sfirst factory in Burslem.

THE landmark 250thanniversary of an iconic sonof Burslem is being markedwith a series of walks, talks,exhibitions and familyactivities set in and aroundthe Mother Town.

The history and heritageevents will turn thespotlight on the life andtimes of Josiah Wedgwood.

The Wedgwood companywas founded in 1759 withthe opening of the masterpotter’s first factory, the IvyHouse, which was based inthe centre of Burslem, at thesite of the modern-dayCeramica exhibition.

Local historian FredHughes will be staging aseries of his popularhistorical tours aroundBurslem, to point out thesite and other featuresrelated to Wedgwood andthe 18th century industrialrevolution that centre onthe town.

He will be one ofseveral experts hostingsummer walks aroundthe Potteries aimed atproviding an insightinto the works andlife of the famouspotter.

In other parts of thecity major events

include a Potteries Museumand Art Gallery specialexhibition called JosiahWedgwood: The Man in theMaking, which runs fromJuly 18 to November 22.

Meanwhile, the £10.5million Wedgwood Museumis showcasing the fullhistory of the company anda fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpse of themanufacturing process is onoffer at the adjacent visitorcentre.

Full details of all thespecial events have beenpublished in a new leaflet,which can be obtained fromthe Stoke-on-Trent TouristInformation Centre.Telephone 236000 and fulllistings are available on thewebsite www.visitstoke.co.uk/anniversary

Spicy Burslem is city’s

Historian Fred Hughes in18th Century dress for the

launch of events to mark the250th anniversary of thefounding of Wedgwood’sfirst factory in Burslem.

Kismet Manager KabeerAhmed serves up amouth-watering dish todiners at the restaurant.

Kismet Manager KabeerAhmed serves up amouth-watering dish todiners at the restaurant.

B

much in keeping with theregeneration efforts of the town.

The restaurant received aTownscape Heritage Grant (THI)for new signage and to renovatethe facade of their building togive it an attractive new frontageoverlooking Swan Square.

Owner Kobir Uddin Ahmedsaid: “We are proud to have beena part of Burslem for so long –and long may it continue. Thereis a real buzz about eating Indianfood in the town and I’m glad somany customers keep comingback to us time after time.”

The new kid on the block is anIndian restaurant being openedby Burslem businessman AbdulKhayeer in the old Lloyds Tavernbuilding in Market Place.

The restaurant has yet to benamed but Abdul is promisingcustomers a tastedbud treat witha series of signature dishes hewill create himself.

It’s more good news for Burslem

and safe to say, the competition is

hotting up… and that can only be

good for people who enjoy a quality

curry.

HOT STUFFanother spicy

curry is cookedup in the Mother

Town.

India Cottage Manager Abdul Ahmed, left, and Chef Abdul Hanan witha chicken bhuna – a popular meal with diners who like a mild curry.

T H E A N G E L 11

Owner of TheGreat Mogulsrestaurant,Boshir Miah.

12 T H E A N G E L

BURSLEM’S Old Post Officeis delivering a first classshowcase for North

Staffordshire’s artists anddesigners. The town centrelandmark building has beengiven a new lease of life as theGlazed Art studio and gallery.

Ceramic and glass artists aswell as textile designers andpainters are brought together inthis creative hub where theywork as well as exhibit and selltheir creations.

The exciting Burslem projectis the brainchild of Mark Nixonwho owns the Glazed ArtGallery in Trentham GardensRetail Village which stocks newand interesting works from localglass and ceramic designers aswell as the work of nationallyrecognised ceramic artist AlanClarke.

The Burslem gallery displays

the complete range of AlanClarke’s work and also stocksnew and interesting works fromlocal glass and ceramicdesigners, including Lise BMoorcroft and Jo HearnCeramics.

In addition to the galleryspace there is a fully workingstudio which members of thepublic can visit by arrangement,allowing visitors to observe Alanand the other artists at work.

The Glazed Art gallery inBurslem will also be holdingmaster classes by leadingartists such as Lise B Moorcroftso that members of the publicwill have the chance to developtheir own creative talents.

Mark Nixon, who is alsoChairman of the NorthStaffordshire Creative EconomyForum, said: “It’s fitting thatGlazed Art should come to the

Mother Town as it has such aproud creative heritage.

“The new gallery/studio willbe a valuable facility for up andcoming as well as establishedartists, and we will be engagingwith the community as well asworking closely with the artdepartment of StaffordshireUniversity.”

Gallery set to becreative hub

A MAJOR new initiative tocelebrate the ceramicsindustry will see a topexhibition staged in theWedgwood Institute and avibrant programme ofevents taking place acrossBurslem.

The British CeramicsBiennial is a ten-weekprogramme of events,awards and exhibitions –showcasing some of theindustry’s most excitingtalent in the home ofpottery.

The Institute has beendesignated as one of themain Biennial venues andwill feature the Our Objects

exhibition – the only airingof the touring showcase inEngland – as well as aninteractive workshop andevents space.

Selected pieces from thecollections of The PotteriesMuseum and Art Galleryand the WedgwoodCollection will be on showas part of the displaywhich challenges ourperceptions of everydayobjects.

Other venues in theMother Town which areinvolved in the ongoingcreative Biennial projectsinclude The BurslemSchool of Art, the GlazedArt studio and gallery andthe Unity training centre.

The Take on Tilescompetition is also open toschools in the town whichcan enter artwork for a tile.Short-listed designs will beturned into “wonderwalls” –one of which will be sited inBurslem, subject toagreement.

The Biennial is the UK’sfirst festival showcasingthe finest in contemporaryceramics and will run fromOctober 3 to December 13.

For more information logon to www.britishceramicsbiennial.com

Institue tobe majorvenue forCeramicsBiennial

Swan is setto take flightTHE Swan public house inSwan Square has reopenedwith plans to run pool anddarts teams. ManagerNichola Dean is alsolooking to stage regularentertainment, quizzesand karaoke nights.

Gallery set to becreative hub

Glazed Artdesigner Alan

Clarke with some ofhis work at the studio

and gallery in theOld Post Office

building.

T H E A N G E L 13

HobbyGoblin isa modelbusiness

TOWN Centre Manager Julian Read isurging people in Burslem to eat therecommended healthy diet of five

portions of fruit and vegetables a day – afterthe opening of a new greengrocers shop.

The new store has been launched byDenry’s owner Wayne Doyle, across fromhis restaurant in St John’s Square.

Julian said the absence in recentyears of a fruit and veg retailer hasbeen a cause for many complaints.

“A lot of people havemoaned that you cannot buya fresh apple or a bananain Burslem – and that thetown desperately needs agreengrocers,” said Julian.

“Now we have one andI hope people will use thestore to make sure it isviable. There’s no excuse foranyone not getting their fiveportions a day.”

It will occupy the premisesthat previously housed the What

Women Want boutique, which has nowmoved to a new home in Market Placeopposite the Ceramica building.

● Pictured outside the newgreengrocers is Denry’s waitress TiffanyGarside with a mouth-watering bowl of

fresh fruit and vegetablesbought from the new

store.

Shop offersfive a dayShop offersfive a day

BURSLEM is now home to theonly model shop in Stoke-on-Trent – after owner Jane Faulderwas given all the right signalsabout the future of the town.

The Hobby Goblin in QueenStreet opened in June as thecity’s only official supplier oflegendary Hornby trains andScalextric sets. The business isnow going full steam ahead todraw more visitors into theMother Town.

Jane – pictured with a modelof the Flying Scotsmanlocomotive – said: “Burslem isstarting again.

“We decided that the townwould be the best location forour shop rather than anywhereelse in Stoke-on-Trent becauseit’s up and coming.

“The town is very accessibleand has already helped ourbusiness expand rapidly. Weare hoping to bring inenthusiasts from all over theregion to shop. There arealready a lot of customerscoming in.”

Miniature wagons featuring

local placenames will also soldin the shop. Jane is askingpeople for suggestions for alandmark they would likefeatured on a special run of 100she is ordering.

Jane added: “We sellmineral, coal and iron wagonsof the type that would have

been used in Burslem and onewith Chatterley Whitfield writtenalong the side. However, theremight be somewhere else thatlocal people feel should becommemorated. If so come andtell us.”

For more details log-on towww.thehobbygoblin.co.uk

14 T H E A N G E L

A N expanding creative quarter in Burslemhas been boosted with the arrival of agroup of talented artists all showcasing

their work at a successful town centre designhub.

The Burslem Arts shop in Queen Street nowplays host to the work of no less than nine upand coming artisans and designers as well astwo famous pottery manufacturers.

The work showcased includes paintings,jewellery, photography, ceramics and greetingscards as well as ware produced by Moorcroft andWades. There will also be monthly exhibitions.

The success of the shop, which was originallyset up in April 2006 by the Burslem Arts FestivalGroup, reflects the growth of the creative quarteraround the Queen Street area.

Other shops include the Beslem Internet Café,

Options Jewellery and Gifts, Unity CreativeTraining Academy, Canpaint creative servicesand The Hobby Goblin model shop. There arealso regular exhibitions and displays in theSchool of Art.

Artist and Burslem resident Rob Pointon, oneof the people whose work is on display at theBurslem Arts shop said: “Burslem is culturallyunique, steeped in heritage and the sort ofsurroundings that artists love to work in.

“It is great to see the Queen Street design andworkshops taking off as fast as they are. Thereare a lot of talented people working here and Ihope the public as a whole continue to enjoywhat is on offer here.”

Burslem Arts is continuing to look for talentedlocal artists all the time. Anyone interested ingetting involved should contact the shop via itswebsite www.burslemarts.co.uk

Shop showcaseslocal artists Shop showcaseslocal artists

Some of theartists whose work is

on sale at the newBurslem Arts shop – Bruno

Santos, back left, RobPointon, back right, andfront left to right, LevaAlksne, Michelle Saxon

and Jim Adams.

TRIBUTES have been paid toBurslem antiques dealerDerek Bradbury who has diedafter a long illness.

Derek (picured above) –owner of the BurslemAntiques shop in marketPlace, which attracted salesfrom all over the world – wasreceiving hospital treatmentfor a chest condition when hecontracted pneumonia. Hepassed away in March on his67th birthday.

Stoke-on-Trent North MPJoan Walley, a member of theBurslem RegenerationCompany Board, said: “Derekwas one of Burslem’scharacters and waspassionate about the town.

“It would be an appropriatetribute to him if we all workto ensure the town isregenerated in the future.”

Derek leaves two sons –Wayne, aged 34, and Paul, 33– and Wayne plans tocontinue running the antiquesbusiness.

It sells rare ceramiccollectables from famousPotteries manufacturers tocustomers all around theworld, both to visitors to theshop and through a busyinternet sales service.

Wayne said: “Dad’s deathwas a huge shock. The shopwas his hobby and a passion– he loved fine ceramics madein Stoke-on-Trent, andBurslem was an ideal placefor the business. I’m lookingat plans for the future, whichmight involve diversifying andusing the upper floor.”

Julian Read, Burslem’s towncentre manager, said:“Derek’s heart was in Burslemand he had a confidence thatthe town would come good.

“He was well known andrespected in the town centreand will be greatly missed.”

Tributes totown antiquespecialist

T H E A N G E L 15

TEENAGE studentspersistently absent fromschool are being helped to

get back into education with anew mentoring scheme launchedby Port Vale’s community team.

The ground-breaking link up

between the club and two nearby

high schools is headed up by

Chris Taylor, a former teacher with

more than 30 years experience

who is now working as Vale’s

Education Advisor.

Although the initiative has been

running for just four months at

Brownhills Maths and

Computing College, Burslem,

and James Brindley Science

College, Chell, it can

already claim some initial

successes.

So far Chris has

mentored 14 students,

aged 15 and 16, who were

not attending school regularly

for various reasons – and now

more than half of them

have been persuaded to

resume their education.

“Hopefully I have

made a difference –

attendance for some has

improved,” said Chris,

58, who specialised in

work-related learning

during his time as

Assistant Head at Leek

High School.

“Approaching the

students and their

parents as a member of Port

Vale’s community team gives me a

different angle – I can go to their

homes and talk to them whereas

a teacher or education welfare

officer might not be so welcome.

“The majority of these students

have problems outside school

and there were real concerns that

some could become involved in

drug taking, antisocial behaviour

or criminal activities.

“I try to show them there is

another route and get them to see

there can be a better life for them.

I want them to have a plan for

their future.”

Chris works in partnership with

the schools, the careers service,

Connexions and the city council’s

education welfare department.

The schools set up

appointments for Chris to go to

see the students and their

parents at their homes.

“Firstly I try to establish a

rapport and agree a way of

working that initially may not

involve them going into school,”

he said.

“One way of doing this is to

persuade them to attend Friday

sessions we set up at the

classroom in the community

building at Vale Park. This is a

place where they can do their

coursework and even sit exams. It

is a start which we can build on.”

“Our ultimate aim is to get the

students to re-engage with their

schools and to encourage them to

access support from the schools’

advisers and teaching staff. We

also intend to track the students

when they leave school for at

least another year to offer

guidance and support.”

The scheme – thought to be the

first of its kind in the UK involving

a league football club – has been

welcomed by staff at the two high

schools who are closely

monitoring the results of the

programme.

Deb Broadhurst, Attendance

Officer at Brownhills, said: “This

link up with Chris Taylor and Vale

is something I have found to be

positive. Some of the students on

the programme have re-engaged

with school and one has really

turned the corner.

“It is another option for us

when we are trying to help

students who have stopped

attending school on a regular

basis. They are a tiny minority at

our school and we want to avoid

them becoming NEETs – a term

for young people who are not in

employment, education or

training and consequently have

poor prospects.”

Kathy Cowen, Lead Learning

Mentor at James Brindley, said:

“Although it is early days, I think

it has helped some students who

had become disengaged with

their education. Chris Taylor’s

involvement with them has had a

positive effect.

“Probably having a different

venue other than school for them

to resume studies has also

helped – at the Vale Park

classroom they have benefited

from being taught in a small

group or one-to-one.”

Mentoring initiative helpsabsent students backinto education

VALECommunity

inthe

POSITIVEPARTNERSHIPS:

Vale Education AdvisorChris Taylor with Deb

Broadhurst, AttendanceOfficer at Brownhills, and

Caroline Edwards, PersonalAdvisor for career serviceConnexions, at the Vale

Park classroom.

Ground-breaking link up between club and schools is first of its kind in UK

The Angel is produced on behalf of Burslem Regeneration Company by Smith Davis Press

Lanceand Steph

Bates with exhibitswhich will feature in

the new chimney pot museum at

Burslem.

WITH some people it’s trains orplanes, with others it’s birds.Lance Bates, however, travels the

country spotting chimney pots. Now Lance and his wife Steph – who

shares his unusual passion – have newsworth shouting from the rooftops. They areto open Britain’s first National Chimney PotMuseum at their business premises inStation Street, Longport.

With help and encouragement fromLeek-based Chimney Pot Preservation andProtection Society and Stoke-on-Trent CityCouncil, the couple potty about chimneysare working hard to get the museum readyfor its launch in September.

Lance said: “A unique attraction like thiswill be good for Burslem as it will bringvisitors from far and wide to the town andcontribute to its regeneration.”

His rare collection was displayed in amuseum on the same site for 15 years, butpublic liability costs forced its closure twoyears ago. Now, however, the newvisitor attraction will be bigger andbetter, bringing beauty and designsnormally obscured high up in the skydown to ground level to be admiredand appreciated close up.

Lance’s interest in chimney potsstarted 28 years ago. He travels allover the UK to acquire interestingexamples to add to the collection and

sell to architects for regeneration buildingprojects that demand the use of originalmaterials. The Leeds, Bradford and Halifaxareas of Yorkshire are his happiest huntinggrounds.

He said: “I have a general interest inarchitecture but I regard chimney pots asthe crowning glory. I started by thinking Icould collect one of each type until Irealised there are literally hundreds, plusvariations and variations of variations. Now28 years later I’m still coming across potsI’ve never seen before.”

Rooftop comebackHe added: “The skyline has changed as

pots have been replaced by aluminium cowlswhich fail to break up the skyline and make itlook bland. There’s nothing like the sight of aline of chimney pots – and Britain has alwaysdone them best.”

The Smoke Abatement Act of 1955 and theage of central heating rang the death knell formost of Britain’s chimney pot makers, butpots are making a rooftop comeback, asmore new houses incorporate an open fire –and even some that don’t now boast a mockpot.

Most of Lance and Steph’s collection ismade up of ceramic pots, but there are alsosome in cast iron or stone and they come inevery shape and size with a myriad ofdesigns and patterns as varied as Italianate,

art nouveau, art deco and down toearth Lowryesque.

Lance’s favourites include a fourfoot high stack made in Scotland bythe Garnkirk Fireclay Company andanother built in the shape of a dovecote complete with a clay doveperched on top.

Interest in the re-launchedmuseum has been generated onnational TV by BBC’s The One Show

which sent John Sergeant toLongport to spend a day filming withLance and Steph for a feature that appearedon the programme earlier this year.

A book sale on the premises is helping toraise money for the museum which will befitted out with visitor facilities including atoilet for the disabled.

Steph said: “We both live and breathechimney pots – researching them in booksand on-line and travelling all over to seethem. They are things of art and beauty notalways appreciated in their normalenvironment on the top of a roof.”

Lance added: “We collect pots from allkinds of buildings, from stately homes to twoup and two down terrace houses. The mostinteresting usually come from the morehumble or ordinary properties.”

For more details about the re-opening ofthe chimney pot museum phone 01782825801 or email: [email protected]

fire up townfire up townfire up townfire up townfire up townfire up townfire up townfire up townChimney pot museum set to

fire up town

the angel – issue 11, summer 2009

Documents

mother town

town withsuch

burslem regeneration

princesregeneration

upof people

particular i hopethat

experience of retailing

frustration ofmany people