Peace - 1813 petition from the Enoch Wood scrapbook
Hard Times in the Potteries
By 1813, years of war with France, and later the United States, had pushed Britain's businesses to the brink of bankruptcy.
The pottery manufacturers were no exception, ...
Peace meeting at Hanley Town Hall - a document from the Enoch Wood scrapbook
Hard Times in the Potteries
By 1813, years of war with France, and later the United States, had pushed Britain's businesses to the brink of bankruptcy.
The pottery manufacturers were no exception, ...
People of England - document from the Enoch Wood scrapbook
A restless and ambitious Usurper
Broadsheet outlining the dangers posed to Great Britain by Napoleon Bonaparte and the French army.
Napoleon had fought many successful land wars with the monarchies ...
Petition to John Davenport - An 1831 election document from the Enoch Wood scrapbook
Before 1831, Stoke-on-Trent shared its Member of Parliament with the rest of Staffordshire.
By July 1831, a new Reform Act was promising to transform the face of elections forever.
An MP for the ...
Plain Answers to plain Questions in a dialogue between John Bull and Bonaparte - document from the Enoch Wood scrapbook
Satirical Wartime Propoganda
Fictitious dialogue between John Bull (a well-known name used to personify England) and Napoleon Bonaparte.
It was produced during the Napoleonic Wars shortly after ...
Protest of the Journeymen Potters - from the Enoch Wood scrapbook
This handwritten poem protests at social extremes of wealth, status and poverty in the Potteries at around the time of the Napoleonic Wars.
War
War with France had affected the fortunes of the Potteries ...
Reform! Reform! The Bill will Pass! - A political notice from the Enoch Wood scrapbook
When Josiah Wedgwood II ran for Parliament in the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme, his major selling point was "reform."
Forward-thinking, "reforming" politicians were campaigning for changes to the ...
Song for the North Staffordshire Electors - Broadside ballad from the Enoch Wood scrapbook
At election time in the early 1800s, the colour blue was used to stand for hope, faith in God and sincerity.
It was also becoming more associated with the reforming 'Whig' Liberals of the time.
The ...
Support Mr. Wedgwood! Details of a meeting at Burslem Town Hall, 1831.
When Burslem's most influential citizens wished to gather at the Town Hall to discuss politics, they had to seek the permission of the local High Constable.
Permission granted
Here the Constable ...
The last dying speech and confession of Tom Paine - from the Enoch Wood scrapbook
Is this really the last dying confession of Tom Paine, executed before thousands of spectators at Stoke-on-Trent in 1793?
A controversial figure
Paine was a Republican and supported the French revolution. ...
The Red Flag Anthem. Photographed by William Blake.
Lantern slide showing a page containing the lyrics to the song "The Red Flag" written by J. Connel. The song is a famous socialist anthem and one of many clues suggesting Blake's own ideological beliefs. ...
To the Gentlemen, Clergy and Freeholders of the County Palatine of Chester - Document from the Enoch Wood scrapbook
Victorious election candidate George Wilbraham celebrates his triumph in Cheshire.
He congratulates his opponent Lord Cholmondeley on a hard-fought but unsuccessful campaign, and applauds the "zealous, ...
Vote Walhouse - document from the Enoch Wood scrapbook
During the 1812 election, the two candidates for Staffordshire issued notice after notice in their efforts to win votes.
Whigs and Tories
It is confusing to modern ears to hear the Tory candidate, ...
Vote Wrottesley! An 1812 election notice from the Enoch Wood scrapbook
This notice appeared during the 1812 election campaign, in support of Parliamentary candidate John Wrottesley.
Why vote Wrottesley?
Voters are urged to favour Wrottesley for three reasons:
The ...
War and Peace - document from the Enoch Wood scrapbook
War is Over
Hand-written document giving notice of a dinner for manufacturers in the Burslem area of the Potteries.
The dinner was arranged to celebrate the end of Britain's war with the US in ...
War and Peace - Document from the Enoch Wood scrapbook
Military Association in Hanley Shelton and Stoke
Revolutionary France had declared war with Great Britain in 1793.
Fears of a French invasion had been growing.
Resolved Unanimously
This notice ...
War and Peace - document from the Enoch Wood scrapbook
War is Over
Hand-written document giving notice of a dinner for manufacturers in the Burslem area of the Potteries.
The dinner was arranged to celebrate the end of Britain's war with the US in ...
War and Peace - Document from the Enoch Wood scrapbook
MILITIA
Fear of invasion by Napoleon's French army was growing in Great Britain in 1803.
In times like these men could be called upon by law to serve with the local militia or the general army.
Various ...