A History of Brown Edge, a Staffordshire Moorlands Village
The Lump Of Coal
8 Responses
The Lump of Coal. Richard Sheldon (1839-1928) was probably the longest serving landlord of any of the Brown Edge pubs. He was there from 1862 until 1909 when his son George took over. Not sure how long George was there but he died in 1934. His father-in-law (Basnett) was the licensee of the Rose and Crown at Stanley in the late 1800’s.
My great grandfather George Mountford was born 1838.He was the second child of Joseph and Martha Mountford. Anecdotal wisdom has it that he was born near The Lump of Coal.He married Elizabeth Turner and was a tailor.Their son George was born in November 1870, my grandfather, a tailor in Smallthorne.My grandfather died in 1938.
I don’t know if Peter Turner was able answer your query, and it is unlikely that his home address would be shown on his birth certificate, but my records show that in the 1841 Census he was with his parents and siblings at the Duke Inn, Norton. His father was the licensee in the census returns of 1841 to 1871. I have full details of this branch (which is not mine) commencing with George (1739-1791) at Fernyhough Farm.
I have over 600 Mountford North Staffordshire family details, and if anyone requires information/confirmation feel free to obtain my email address from Peter.
Excerpt from “A likely story”, researching the Mountford family, by George Clifford Mountford, my late cousin. I suggested he name the history “Sermon on the Mountfords” but he wisely passed…
Fred Mountford, my grandfather, was born in 1881 at or near “The Lump of Coal” a public house in those days, but now a private residence at Brown Edge. Census records show that Fred’s brother George and sister Martha had followed their parents into the tailoring trade whilst John had become an earthenware potter, Joseph an ironworker, Harry was a colliery clerk and Thomas was running a business at home making locks.
Fred decided he wanted to be a Millwright. This was the pinnacle of the Steam Age and most mills would have been converted by this time from water or wind power to steam. Later records show him building and repairing machinery at Burgess and Leigh’s pottery which lies between the Trent and Mersey canal and Port St. in Middleport. He became well known and respected as a Millwright within the Potteries and once was sent to Bruges in Belgium to erect a steam engine for use in that city. Presumably that engine had been designed, made and exported by Boultons Engineers of Burslem.
Fred married his wife Bertha Stonier (from Tunstall) and they lived at 73 Forster St. Middleport, a few hundred yards from Burgess and Leigh’s works. They raised seven children. Elizabeth (Betty) 1906, Bertha 1913, Ida 1915 (my mother) Kathleen 1917, Edna May 1919, George Clifford 1907, Frederick 1910.
On the night of Friday 8th January 1943 tragedy visited 73 Forster Street, Middleport (from the Evening Sentinel). A middle-aged couple were fatally gassed and a daughter (Kathleen) was taken to hospital suffering from gas poisoning today as the result of an escape from a fractured main in the street at the front of their house. My mother found discovered the tragedy and raised the alarm, informing the police and medical aid. She was the only other occupant of the house. The houses at the bottom of the (now) Woolrich St. have now been demolished. No other houses were affected by the leakage.
I have more details if you are interested. Please use the subject “Mountford” if you reply to me. I took a photo for my cousin Clifford of the house that I was told was formerly the Lump of Coal. Do you have a contemporary one?
Mountfords
I am sorry i have only just spotted this comment. Many thanks for sending it in. the strange thing is there is only one photo I know of with the lump of coal i will contact you on your email you have provided.
Pete
Fred’s brother George was my grandfather. My family tree gives Fred marrying Bertha Stonier in 1905 then living at 73 Foster Street in 1911 with George Clifford aged 3.
My grandfather George’s son, Gordon Clifford, a builder, was my father.
Hello Frederick, Whilst searcing for a photo of the Lump of Coal i stumbled upon your wonderful story. Wow, I never expected this.. I was born at 38 Forster St Oct 1946 and one of my best friends Freddie R Mountford born at 73 Forster St, 1947. His grand parents history at this property is something I knew nothing about, even though my parents had lived in this Street from 1938. I lost contact with Freddie when we went to different senior schools. Would you give me permission to share your story on the ‘Middlelport Memories’ site as it is run by another of Freddies Forster St. friends. Any information of Freddie who I believe married Kathleen Tew 1971, would be greatly appreciated.
Kind regards. Mick Walsh
My nan Hanna Maria Bate use run the lump of coal brown edge I would love to now if you have any pics of her her granddaughter julieanne Bate now clutton
The Lump of Coal. Richard Sheldon (1839-1928) was probably the longest serving landlord of any of the Brown Edge pubs. He was there from 1862 until 1909 when his son George took over. Not sure how long George was there but he died in 1934. His father-in-law (Basnett) was the licensee of the Rose and Crown at Stanley in the late 1800’s.
Reply
My great grandfather George Mountford was born 1838.He was the second child of Joseph and Martha Mountford. Anecdotal wisdom has it that he was born near The Lump of Coal.He married Elizabeth Turner and was a tailor.Their son George was born in November 1870, my grandfather, a tailor in Smallthorne.My grandfather died in 1938.
I don’t know if Peter Turner was able answer your query, and it is unlikely that his home address would be shown on his birth certificate, but my records show that in the 1841 Census he was with his parents and siblings at the Duke Inn, Norton. His father was the licensee in the census returns of 1841 to 1871. I have full details of this branch (which is not mine) commencing with George (1739-1791) at Fernyhough Farm.
I have over 600 Mountford North Staffordshire family details, and if anyone requires information/confirmation feel free to obtain my email address from Peter.
Excerpt from “A likely story”, researching the Mountford family, by George Clifford Mountford, my late cousin. I suggested he name the history “Sermon on the Mountfords” but he wisely passed…
Fred Mountford, my grandfather, was born in 1881 at or near “The Lump of Coal” a public house in those days, but now a private residence at Brown Edge. Census records show that Fred’s brother George and sister Martha had followed their parents into the tailoring trade whilst John had become an earthenware potter, Joseph an ironworker, Harry was a colliery clerk and Thomas was running a business at home making locks.
Fred decided he wanted to be a Millwright. This was the pinnacle of the Steam Age and most mills would have been converted by this time from water or wind power to steam. Later records show him building and repairing machinery at Burgess and Leigh’s pottery which lies between the Trent and Mersey canal and Port St. in Middleport. He became well known and respected as a Millwright within the Potteries and once was sent to Bruges in Belgium to erect a steam engine for use in that city. Presumably that engine had been designed, made and exported by Boultons Engineers of Burslem.
Fred married his wife Bertha Stonier (from Tunstall) and they lived at 73 Forster St. Middleport, a few hundred yards from Burgess and Leigh’s works. They raised seven children. Elizabeth (Betty) 1906, Bertha 1913, Ida 1915 (my mother) Kathleen 1917, Edna May 1919, George Clifford 1907, Frederick 1910.
On the night of Friday 8th January 1943 tragedy visited 73 Forster Street, Middleport (from the Evening Sentinel). A middle-aged couple were fatally gassed and a daughter (Kathleen) was taken to hospital suffering from gas poisoning today as the result of an escape from a fractured main in the street at the front of their house. My mother found discovered the tragedy and raised the alarm, informing the police and medical aid. She was the only other occupant of the house. The houses at the bottom of the (now) Woolrich St. have now been demolished. No other houses were affected by the leakage.
I have more details if you are interested. Please use the subject “Mountford” if you reply to me. I took a photo for my cousin Clifford of the house that I was told was formerly the Lump of Coal. Do you have a contemporary one?
Mountfords
I am sorry i have only just spotted this comment. Many thanks for sending it in. the strange thing is there is only one photo I know of with the lump of coal i will contact you on your email you have provided.
Pete
Fred’s brother George was my grandfather. My family tree gives Fred marrying Bertha Stonier in 1905 then living at 73 Foster Street in 1911 with George Clifford aged 3.
My grandfather George’s son, Gordon Clifford, a builder, was my father.
Hello Frederick, Whilst searcing for a photo of the Lump of Coal i stumbled upon your wonderful story. Wow, I never expected this.. I was born at 38 Forster St Oct 1946 and one of my best friends Freddie R Mountford born at 73 Forster St, 1947. His grand parents history at this property is something I knew nothing about, even though my parents had lived in this Street from 1938. I lost contact with Freddie when we went to different senior schools. Would you give me permission to share your story on the ‘Middlelport Memories’ site as it is run by another of Freddies Forster St. friends. Any information of Freddie who I believe married Kathleen Tew 1971, would be greatly appreciated.
Kind regards. Mick Walsh
My nan Hanna Maria Bate use run the lump of coal brown edge I would love to now if you have any pics of her her granddaughter julieanne Bate now clutton