Fowlea Bank, Basford
Lost and forgotten roads of Stoke-on-Trent

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Fowlea Bank, Basford

Basford Bank:

In the late 18th and early 19th centuries there were frequent complaints to the turnpike trust about the steepness of the gradient at Basford Bank (Fowlea Bank).

Finally, in 1820, largely as a result of representations made by Josiah Wedgwood II, the trustees agreed to improve the road. This involved cutting a new road through the top of the hill and building a viaduct at the bottom of the bank. The cost of this and associated improvements was £4121 16s which almost bankrupted the turnpike trust.

An embanked road was built up to the Queens Arms which was now separated from the turnpike road.

Andrew Dobraszczyc's notes

 


A postcard of Basford dated 29th September 1905.
A postcard of Basford dated 29th September 1905.
The photograph was taken from the top of Basford Bank looking down Etruria Road, towards Etruria and Hanley. The Queens Hotel can be seen in the centre of the photograph.

© The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Staffordshire Past Tracks

 


the same view - May 2008
 

extract from Hargreaves map of 1832
extract from Hargreaves map of 1832

The small red square marks the location of the original Queen's public house.
The road highlighted in light blue is the newly built Basford Bank ; the purple line indicates the route of "Brick Kiln Lane" and the light green line joining at the Queen's is the track way from Stoke Lane (now Stoke Old Road) to Basford.


still existing just behind the Queen's is the track way
from Stoke Lane (now Stoke Old Road) to Basford.
 

Bank Terrace at the bottom of Fowlea Bank
Bank Terrace at the bottom of Fowlea Bank

most of the row of houses in Bank Terrace were demolished to make way for the A500 road

 

483 & 485 Etruria Road, Basford
483 & 485 Etruria Road, Basford
the homes of Christine Poole and here parents Bob and Doll
and their next door neighbours Mr & Mrs. Wall

 

Mr Bob Poole and Mr Wall of Basford
Mr Bob Poole and Mr Wall of Basford

 

Contribution by Christine Poole:

"I think this picture was taken around 1953, I was around 7yrs old at that time. My father is Bob Poole, he is sitting in his car, Mr. Wall is standing at the side. Mr. and Mrs. Wall lived in the cottage that was joined to our home.

When you entered 485,(Mr and Mrs Wall)  there was a wall that had a curve, then our parlour we had the other side of the curve. I can remember both home with the little gas lights in the ceiling.

My dad, worked at Grimewades pottery company, at night my dad would work at the Queens Hotel, except on a Thursday and Sunday night, he would take my mum out to the Queens on his off nights. I have spent many happy hours sitting on the Queens front steps with a bag of crisp and a bottle of pop.

The Queens was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson, I can remember one room was for men only. The street was cobbled stones. There was a gas light half way up the bank and another one at the bottom of the bank.

We use to sliding down the hills of clay in front of my house, we would get a piece of cardboard and sit on it and slide all the way down the bank.

In the two big trees on the end of the parking lot, for many years, there was a Owl in the tree."

Christine Poole Holford.
483 Etruria Road

 


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