Description:This notice from John Riley, surveyor, calls for a meeting on Monday 20 June, 6pm, at the Legs of Man Inn, to discuss repairs to the road between Burslem and Longport, now known as Newcastle Street.
Roadworks could not be undertaken on today's scale. In fact the quickest way to transport goods from the Potteries was by the Trent and Mersey or Cauldon canals, the closest thing to the M6 or A500 during the 1800s.
In 1803, local government was minimal, so roads were the responsibility of wealthy parishioners and trustees.
The trusts were responsible for maintaining mileposts and toll houses - and the tolls financed much of the roads' upkeep.
At this meeting, Burslem's "principal inhabitants" ultimately decided that the trustees should keep the road in repair.
About this document
This document, annotated by Burslem pottery manufacturer Enoch Wood, is now among the collections at Stoke-on-Trent Museums.