Description:The view up Pall Mall from the Piccadilly corner. Pall Mall as a street dates from at least 1818 when it was known as New Street and this area of town was part of Shelton. Right at the top is Hanley Town Hall and on the left the tall building behind the corner shop is now the Regent Theatre. At the time of the photograph it was the Gaumont (later the Odeon) Cinema.
On the extreme right hand side is a glimpse of the art deco Pearl Assurance building. Next door is the Technical and Art Museum until the City Museum and Art Gallery opened on its present site in Bethesda Street. Originally the building, opened in 1961, housed the Mechanic's Institute and was used as a library for the adult working class. A second storey was added in 1880, which became unsafe and was demolished after the closure of the museum in 1956. The North Staffordshire Natural History Museum ( and the North Staffs Field Club) were in the same building from 1908.
The three storey building next door is the original free Public Library, dating from 1887. After the 1956 alterations to the Mechanic's Institute building, the newly created Horace Barks Reference Library occupied this building as well. The City Library moved to Bethesda Street in 1970 and both the Pall Mall buildings were demolished. Beyond the library, and still standing, is old Conservative Workingmen's Club building, now legal offices.