Gosford Street

Going back a while ago in this thread and Prof's mention of a Well Pump -

The picture of the pump also answers Prof's questions about the exact location of the Luckman shop.

It's amazing how many of these excellent photos keep coming out. I've got some of that building but this is the 2nd best. The best being a Troughton with the original woodwork.

I think of you Helen whenever I see an undiscovered photo of old wood! (if you know what I mean!

A lot of these very square on photos were taken after the war but they don't seem to be in just one collection. Historic England have a lot but not all. The Herbert have some. There are still a few from New Street that I know must have been taken but haven't yet materialised. Spon Street and Gosford Street should deliver a few more. They're very useful because I can use them to gauge heights. I've really got no excuse not to start building. Keep 'em coming.

#139 Thanks Neil, I remember the pump post and the Luckman's too, in almost part of a square where the footpath widened to the left and Gosford St narrowed towards Far Gosford St.

Prof - posted earlier in the thread

Midland Red, when I die my past life won't need to flash by me, I'm watching it on this forum.

Just to remind people. The first photo MR reposts - the brick building on the left is the New Inn. The road narrows again just before the river. The building there is a factory and it replaced St Georges Hall. The pillar in front is a post box I think. The second photo has the pump post on the left and behind it were buildings that replaced New Inn. Without looking at the maps, it's hard to recognise that at one point the road narrowed twice before the second step in was demolished to widen the area,

Following Helen's and others comments on Gosford Street Baptist Chapel - found this - As the area of Whitefriars Lane went downhill, the large Baptist congregation meeting there acquired land in 1864 on the north side of Gosford Street to build a new chapel. The foundation stone was laid on 8th Sept 1868, and the General Baptist building opened on 4th May 1869. Built of red brick with stone dressings designed by JD Webster of Sheffield, to seat 700. It stood some distance back from the street, approached by an 'ornamented way'. A Sunday service in 1881 attracted 250 attenders. In the bombing of November 1940 the church itself was badly damaged, but the congregation were able to meet in the church hall behind. On the same night St Michael's Baptist in Hay Lane, was also damaged beyond repair, so that congregation united with them. The joint congregation was known as Gosford St Michael's until the land was needed to build the ring road in the 1950s.

Knew people who had attended but never remember seeing it, as of course I was born in 1937 so would be too young then.

As mentioned Prof it closed as a chapel in 1951, was sold in 1953 and was subsequently used as a carpet showroom amongst other things until cleared to build the Ring Road.

I used to sneer at square on photos as being lacking in artistic merit. Now I pounce on them as good representations of buildings. I've mentioned this before but the chapel replaced a medieval building that would have been outstanding in its heyday. Gosford Street must have been quite well off as it had a series of buildings with more than the standard 2 storey style. Prof, to pinpoint the location in your mind, it was between Whitefriars Lane and The Mermaid but on the other side of the road.

Thanks Neil and Helen, I probably did see the carpet sales building but did not ever know the Whitefriars' St Church. Gosford St was on my route home to Stoke.