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Stoke-on-Trent Districts: Lower Lane

 


next: Fenton Town Hall and Square
previous: The Baker family & Christchurch
 

Lower Lane, Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.


The Bakers - the family who 'built' Fenton:

Fenton Athenaem

William Baker IV (1800-65) took an active part in local affairs, serving as an Improvement Commissioner from 1839 and as Chief Bailiff of Fenton in 1840. 
In 1853 he provided a building known as the Athenaeum at his own expense. It stood on the corner of Church Street and High Street East (what is now Christchurch Street and City Road) and was described in the Staffordshire Advertiser on 15 October 1853:

"The building will be erected to the design of Messrs Ward and Son, Hanley. The site of the building is an excellent one, being in the very midst of the population and at the junction of the two main streets in the place." 
 



High Street East, Fenton (now City Road)
looking  towards Lane Delph area.

On the right at the corner of Church Street (now Christchurch Street) can be seen the corner of the Fenton 'Athenaeum' built by William Baker in 1853 with a newsroom, library and laboratory.

In 1865 part of the building was leased to the Manchester & Liverpool District Banking Co., Ltd. and later the National Westminster Bank - it was demolished in 1977 and replaced by a modern bank building.



The picture above shows the building in about 1970 
when it was occupied by the National Westminster Bank.


 

 


next: Fenton Town Hall and Square
previous: The Baker family & Christchurch

 

questions / comments / contributions? email: Steve Birks

December 2007