Stoke-on-Trent, England, United Kingdom
For those of a certain age the title needs little explaining.
Stick with me as I can’t stop what I put in motion.Those who knew me during my days as a wage slave understood that my brain wanders off piste. It’s as though a sight, sound or word, just sparks the voices into life that live between my ears.
Randomly and frequently. This is one of those occasions.
In the world of UE locations get exchanged ( very infrequent in my case if I don’t know the other ), this place Tams for instance was offered up to me and the word alone conjured up lost weekends of my youth lost in the world of Northern Soul. Wigan Casino all nighters ( think The Hacienda for baby boomers), very little alcohol, lots of dancing, and the occasional bit of romance amongst the dust bins.
The Tams, an American soul band great soul music and that was their biggest most well known track.
“There ain’t nothing like shagging”. was another of their popular songs! Nice
Oh yes Urban Exploring
In 1864 John Tams and William Lowe were two pottery companies who came from a partnership "Tams & Lowe" which split up in 1874.
John Tams then formed the company on his own, in 1903 became John Tams & Son and in 1912 John Tams Ltd.
Tams Group Limited was formed in April 2000. It was a management buy in of part of the former John Tams Group PLC, which went into receivership in February 2000.
Tams Group Limited bought the rights to Tams, Royal Grafton and Grafton Living. Marketing these brands and still manufacturing in Longton, Stoke on Trent - in 2002 was the biggest ceramic employer in Longton and one of the biggest mugs manufacturer in Europe.
The company operated from the Crown Works on The Strand in Longton and also had the Blythe, Sutherland and Atlas works in Longton - and a warehouse at the former Monarch flatware site in Fenton. In 2006 the group went into receivership and finally closed.
There isn’t much left of the place now, the bottle kilns and moulding sheds are inaccessible, there is a B &M store built on part of the former site, easy access, not much treasure.
Pass.
So onto Stafford Street, and in to what remains which seems to be the stores area, and an area Where I guess the transfers were applied to various bits of crockery.
Teas, toilets and dinner. The mind boggles at 19thC advertising
From upstairs grey and cloudy skies
Downstairs still as gloomy, not much left at all.
Stern words To the thieves and miscreants they employed. I wonder if anyone did? I mean what if you are colour blind? Or just dim? Take no prisoners.
Obviously wise words from the on site trades union convenor
Just odd bits and pieces. Oh and Harry Hop-a-Long’s missing safety boot
Gladden the workers hearts the funfair has come to town.
The stores were I guess the best bit, sheet after sheet, transfers by the shed load. Lots of well known stuff here. Made a dreary day acceptable. It was heart warming to see the COSHH Regs, being strictly adhered to!
And so, an introduction to quality music, a nice little mooch, right in the middle of town, what more could one ask for?
Don’t ya just love the Hokey Pokey man?
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