Wood you believe it?

HISTORIAN MERVYN EDWARDS MEETS JULIA ROBERTS TO HEAR THE COLOURFUL TALES OF THE WOOD FAMILY AND CERAMICS IN BURSLEM

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THE monthly meetings of Burslem History Club have discussed all manner of heritage-related topics from windmills to suffragettes to tallow chandlers, but now and again it is my pleasure as emcee to introduce a speaker who takes the group back to its roots in focusing on an aspect of Burslem’s past.

With this in mind, we welcomed Julia Roberts - no, not THAT one! - a short while ago.

She's of the opinion that everyone should try home grown vegetables, especially Swiss chard, or galloping on a horse with a headwind rushing against their face.

Not that I booked her for lifestyle advice, you understand. I am far more intrigued by her links with the Wood family.

I was hooked on the talk from the outset, as my own mother, Gwyneth Edwards, worked at Wood and Sons in Newport Lane, Middleport in the early 1950s.

She was a cup-handler doing piecework and found the job onerous. She was only 15 and this was her first-ever post.

Now 88-years-old, she recollects: "I would have to carry boards of cups on my shoulder.

"There might be three or three-and-a-half dozen cups on each board. It was heavy going."

Having chatted to Julia several times this year on heritage matters, I am fully apprised of her interest in this stellar name in North Staffordshire ceramic history.

She explains: "My interest in the Wood family of Burslem began a few years ago and really took off during the covid lockdown, when I had more time to reflect and dig deeper into my family history.

"My grandfather was Harry Francis Wood, who worked for and later became Chairman of Wood and Sons during the 20th century.

"I'd always been curious about the business, but it was surprisingly difficult to piece everything together.

"So during lockdown, I set up a Facebook group for Wood's ware collectors and since then I have been on an incredible journey - and perhaps down a few rabbit holes!"