Stoke-on-Trent Local History

 

 

 

 

Federation of the six towns
31st March 1910 saw the federation of the
six towns to form the County Borough of Stoke-on-Trent

 

 


next: Malkin's bid for to be a Parliamentary candidate
previous: Frederick Geen
contents: Index page for Federation

Sydney Malkin

Sydney Malkin -

Sydney Malkin was born in 1865 at The Mount, 2nd Avenue, Porthill - a later occupant of The Mount Porthill, was W E Robinson mayor of Stoke on Trent during the first world war who was subsequently MP for Burslem in the early 20's.

In 1908 Sydney moved from Penryn to The Limes, First Avenue Porthill. He left there in 1926 to live at Westfield Endon.


He was born into a potting family - his father (James Malkin) was married to Annie, the daughter of Joseph Edge. The Malkin and Edge families were involved very successful tile and earthenware manufacturers.  Sydney Malkin joined the family pottery businesses and in 1894 he and his brother Elijah set up their own tile manufacturing business.
 

1898 Malkin's first venture into public life was when he was appointed to the Burslem School Board.
1900 Was elected to the Burslem council.
1906 Sydney Malkin was appointed an Alderman.
1907 He served as mayor for Burslem.
  Malkin was in favour of federation but he resigned from the federation committee of the Burslem council because of its anti-federation majority.

NOTE: The Burslem position was generally anti-federation.
In the November 1907 Burslem held a poll, at which 74 per cent. of the electorate voted; the verdict was against federation by 3,240 votes to 2,040

1908 On February 23rd, 1908, the Local Government Board issued their Provisional Order for the federation of the six towns - federation was now more, or less inevitable - it was the financial schemes that had to be thrashed out.

The Bill went before the House of Commons Select Committee on the 2nd July 1908. For some reason Malkin refused to attend.  Sir GEORGE WHITE reported from the Committee on Group K of Private Bills; That the parties promoting the Local Government Provisional Order (No. 3) Bill had stated that the evidence of Sydney Malkin, Mayor of Burslem, was essential to their case; and, it having been proved that his attendance could not be procured without the intervention of the House, he had been instructed to move that the said "Sydney Malkin, Mayor of Burslem, do attend the said Committee to-morrow (3rd July), at half-past Eleven of the Clock".

1909-10 Against opposition Malkin pushed through the building of a new (Burslem's third) town hall - it was hoped that this would be the municipal centre of the anticipated federation (because of Burslem's position as 'The Mother Town').
The foundation stone was laid by Alderman Malkin on 14 March 1910, however by the time it was completed in 1911 it was redundant as Stoke had been chosen as the civic centre.
Burslem's 'town hall' became the Queen's Theatre and was known as 'Malkin's Folly'

see the battle for the town hall
 

  Malkin became an alderman of the new county borough of Stoke-on-Trent. He resigned because of what he called Frederick Geen's dictatorship.

Sydney Malkin continued in public service - in 1922 he stood as the National Liberal candidate for the Burslem parliamentary constituency, he was narrowly defeated by Andrew McLaren.
Malkin was a preacher at the Wesleyan Methodist church at Swan Bank, Burslem. He was chairman of the North Staffordshire Cripples Aid Society and chairman of the justices' probation committee.


 

Charles Osmond's house and school buildings in Richmond Terrace, Shelton
Charles Osmond's house and school buildings in Richmond Terrace, Shelton

Sydney Malkin was first educated at Charles Osmond's Academy


Malkin's home 'PENRYN'   - Waterloo Road, Cobridge
Malkin's home 'PENRYN'   - Waterloo Road, Cobridge

   

 


next: Malkin's bid for to be a Parliamentary candidate
previous: Frederick Geen
contents: Index page for Federation