Christmas in The Potteries
Health & Prosperity from Stoke-on-Trent

In Potteries dialect: 

In 1833 the Mills and Factories Act (Althorp’s Act) allowed for younger children to attend school for at least two hours on six days a week, and holidays for the children and young persons to be all day on Christmas Day and Good Friday, and eight half days.

"A day at Christmas"

the testimony of a 12 year old in 1840 - he worked at Minton and Boyle Potters, Stoke:

 "I have been in the printing-room 3 years; can't read very well ; can't write ; I go to Sunday school at the Ranters ; I went to a day-school before I came to work ; I cut papers for ware; I do nothing else ; I come at 6 ; leave at 6 ; 
I live at Upper Stoke ; mother brings my breakfast; I go home to dinner ; I never do work after 6 o'clock ; I go to no school after I leave work; stop at home; get to bed at 10; mother works at transfering ; I get half a-crown a-week for cutting; always give it to mother; mother finds me in clothes and eating; I got enough clothes, three frocks, and good shoes ; 
I get beef and tatoes every day, and sometimes bacon; have holidays at Martilmas, Easter, Whitsuntide, and one day at Christmas; I like work; should not have been a cutter if mother could have got me another place ; I like cockspur making best; I am healthy."

Christmas Day in the Workhouse: 

NEWCASTLE UNION WORKHOUSE: The inmates of this establishment, 150 in number, were enabled to enjoy, on Christmas Day, the comforts usually found in the dwellings of those in much more favoured circumstances. Roast Beef and plum pudding were provided in abundance, and a moderate supply of malt liquor was given to all such as wished it. Other little comforts were furnished during the day, and all was done by the officials to make it a season of rational and cheerful enjoyment. (emphasis added)

STOKE-UPON-TRENT WORKHOUSE: The inmates in this workhouse, about 400 in number, were regaled on Christmas Day, according to a benevolent custom, which has been acted upon for some years at this joyous season, with a bountiful supply of roast beef, plum pudding etc. 

Staffordshire Advertiser Newspaper 1st January 1848

Mike Stanton's memories of Christmas 1949:

"Although I have many memories from this period there are some memories that seem to jump out at you with irritating regularity and one which I recall was the Christmas of 1949 when I was 4 years old. I was in Hanley accompanying my Mother doing some last minute shopping  and remember walking through Lewis’s Arcade. The late afternoon was cold and dark  but passing by Huntbach’s  the light  emanating from the windows shone like a beacon, warm and welcoming.
In the distance the remnants of a carol could be heard from the Salvation Army in the Market Square. As  we approached  they were huddled in a circle stamping their feet to get the circulation moving. Upon resuming with Hark the Herald Angels Sing I clutched my Mother’s hand tightly as we watched them call down Christmas from the cold dark sky. I didn’t know what this scene meant to me then but I think I do…..now."

Peppers of Piccadilly, Hanley:

The basement of the Piccadilly showrooms sold prams, scooters, cycles, Hornby trains and Meccano sets to the children of Stoke-on-Trent; over the Christmas 1951 period more than 10,000 sales were made in the toy department. 

Peppers of Hanley Ltd - Toy and models department at Christmas
This department was in the basement of the car showroom. Photo around 1936

On display are: 
Model airplanes, jig-saw puzzles, Meccano, Holby Trains
table-tennis equipment, board & easels, model soldiers, farmyard animals 

Lewis’s, Stafford Street, Hanley

Lewis’s Christmas window - 1967

A Christmas window display full of toys at Lewis’s department store, Hanley.
No electronic video games or Playstations, all low-tech toys such as dolls, books and jigsaws.

photo: © The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery - Staffordshire Past Tracks

photograph taken around Christmas 1960 at the Northwood C of E Junior School.
This is Mrs William’s class: she taught the oldest of the infants.
Father Christmas who looks suspiciously like Mr Wolley from the senior school … just along the corridor.
The vicar will be from nearby Holy Trinity Church.

Police Christmas Party at School Street School, Newcastle - December 1948

photo: © Borough Museum and Art Gallery, Newcastle under Lyme 
Staffordshire Past Tracks

Pantomime in 1916....

Members of Porthill Pantomime c. 1916.
(still going as the Porthill Players)

The cast are sitting on a float, dressed as artists,
with oversized neck scarves, paintbrushes and palettes.
 

photo: © The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery - Staffordshire Past Tracks