New Bennett plaque unveiled

Family attends grand unveiling

- Thomas Cooper

UNVEILING: Members of The Arnold Bennett Society were joined by relatives of the author, inset, at a rededication of a blue plaque.

(Picture: Pete Stonier)

A NEW blue plaque has been unveiled at the childhood home of Stoke-on-Trent’s most famous literary son.

The memorial to Arnold Bennett at 205 Waterloo Road, Cobridge, replaces a previous version which had become illegible.

It follows a campaign by the Arnold Bennett Society.

Several of Bennett’s family members attended the unveiling.

His grandson Denis Eldin travelled to the Potteries from Paris, while Shirley Stemp, whose grandfather was Bennett's cousin, travelled from County Durham.

Denis, aged 66, said: “It means a lot for me to come back and see where my family lived.

“I'm a big fan of genealogy. Thanks to my cousin Shirley we have a lot of information on the history of our family to enjoy.