Elections - Document from the Enoch Wood scrapbook
312 electors from Stoke-on-Trent here declare that they wish to ask "certain political questions" of their would-be Members of Parliament - and all of them are listed.
A meeting is to take place on ...
Ever Memorable Battle Off Cape Trafalgar : 21 October 1805 - document from the Enoch Wood scrapbook
Celebrating Victory
Illustration and article celebrating British victory over Spain and France at the Battle of Trafalgar.
Published by Robert Laurie and James Whittle on December 12th 1805, the ...
First day of polling in Newcastle-under-Lyme - 1831 election notice from the Enoch Wood scrapbook
After a day of voting in Newcastle-under Lyme's 1831 elections, the standing was as follows:
E. Peel - 309 votes;
W.H. Miller - 204 votes;
J. Wedgwood - 151 votes.
This notice was collected ...
Freedom of Election - Notice from the Enoch Wood scrapbook
Two hundred years ago, elections were far from democratic.
In 1812, a number of Newcastle-under-Lyme's voters were put out of work after voicing their support for Independent candidate Sir John Fenton ...
Grand Musical Tory Concert - Election caricatures from the Enoch Wood scrapbook
This notice sends up an imaginary concert staged by an 'aristocratic' political party of 1812, caricatured here as the 'Tory Humbug.'
At this time, Members of Parliament had to own property worth at ...
Grand Theatrical Olio - Political satire from the Enoch Wood scrapbook
Wit and satire were a common feature of 19th century local politics, and of course, politicians made easy targets.
Lord John Russellass - Transformist?
This notice imagines a fictional 'Grand Theatrical ...
His Majesty's Speech on the Reform Bill - A pamphlet from the Enoch Wood scrapbook
The Reform Bill was a momentous occasion in local and national politics.
A momentous occasion
All over the country, so-called 'rotten boroughs' were abolished. These were rural areas that returned ...
HMS Shannon captures the USS Chesapeake - News of a "glorious victory" from the Enoch Wood scrapbook
Although this notice proclaims a "glorious victory" for Captain Broke of the HMS Shannon, some battles were far from over.
The War of 1812
During 1812-3, Britain and the United States began official ...
Josiah Wedgwood addresses the Burgesses of Newcastle-under-Lyme - from the Enoch Wood scrapbook
Josiah Wedgwood tries to explain his absence when he should have been campaigning for votes to become MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme in 1831:
"As I have lived among you for more than half a century, my ...
Josiah Wedgwood II addresses workers at his Etruria factory - 1831 election poster from the Enoch Wood scrapbook
When Josiah Wedgwood II contested an election in Newcastle, he could count on the support of many of his own employees - even if they could not vote for him in practice.
In order to vote, men had to ...
Meeting to discuss the miner's strike. Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent
On the 25th May 1984 Arthur Scargill made a speech to local miners at the Victoria Hall in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent. As you can see from the photograph the meeting was very well attended and helped to boost ...
Miner's strike demonstration, Central Forest Park, Stoke-on-Trent
May Day 1984 saw a large rally in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent in support of the miner's strike. Margaret Thatcher, who the lady in this photograph has dressed up as, was Prime Minister at the time of the strike ...
No contest - 1812 election notice the Enoch Wood scrapbook
Parliamentary candidate John Wrottesley here informs the electors of Staffordshire that he intends to pull out of the race to represent the county.
He claims that his rival has drawn him into a campaign ...
Nominations for Staffordshire MP - 1812 election document from the Enoch Wood scrapbook
What was at stake?
In this notice, Mr. Keen, the Under-Sheriff of Staffordshire, announces nominations for Staffordshire's next Member of Parliament.
When would nominations take place?
This event ...
Notice to the Burgesses of Newcastle-under-Lyme - 1831 election notice from the Enoch Wood scrapbook
Francis Wedgwood addresses the burgesses of Newcastle-under-Lyme, confirming that his father has accepted their invitation to stand for Parliament in 1831.
Josiah Wedgwood II will arrive the following ...
On the campaign trail at the 1812 elections - a letter from the Enoch Wood scrapbook
In this letter, Thomas Sparrow recommends to Enoch Wood that 21-year old Parliamentary candidate Edward John Walhouse should "go as quickly thro' the County as possible - to do otherwise cannot answer ...
Open letter from E.J. Walhouse to the electors of Staffordshire - 1812 election notice from the Enoch Wood scrapbook
The 1812 election shows that government affairs have not not always been dominated by today's party politics - but they were far from democratic.
"Strictly pure and independent..."
Local issues ...
Packing a Parliament - A pro-reform notice from the Enoch Wood scrapbook
In the early 1830s, new ideas for changing Britain's political system were one of the hottest topics for debate.
Corrupt and Selfish
The authors of this notice direct their venom at "the most shamelessly ...