Potworks of the Week The first Lewis's was opened in 1856 in Liverpool as a men's and boys' clothing store, in 1864 they included women's clothing and in the 1870s� the store expanded and added further departments. In 1879, Lewis's opened one of the world's first Christmas grottoes it was called �Christmas Fairyland� Further department stores were built in other towns and cities. The Hanley store opening in 1934. The Hanley store was the largest department store in Stoke-on-Trent, built in the Art Deco style it had wooden escalators and lifts for access to the numerous floors. 1963/4 Lewis's built a new store on the opposite side of Lamb Street to the original store. The new store occupied the site of the Bishop and Stonier pottery works. In 1988 the Lewis�s store was integrated into the �45 million Potteries Shopping Centre. Lewis�s chain of stores were taken over by Owen and Owen, the Hanley store closed in September 1998 and then reopened as Debenhams.

Store, Lamb Street, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent advert from 1957 City of Stoke-on-Trent Handbook Lewis's - A Household Word Lewis's advert in the Crewe Chronicle - June 1941 'What a Wonderful Place Lewis's is this Christmas' 'Father Christmas in his Fairy Tale Grotto' 'A Thousand and one Gifts in Lewis's Toy Fair' Lewis�s Christmas window - A Christmas window display full of toys at Lewis�s department store, Hanley. No electronic video games or Playstations, all low-tech toys such as dolls, photo: � The Potteries Museum Alfred Pepper was Santa at Lewis�s in Hanley for many years this photo probably late 1930's Alfred died in 1946 photo: Nigel Pepper (Great Stanton's memories of Christmas in Hanley in 1949: I have many memories from this period there are some memories that seem to jump out at you with irritating regularity and one which I recall was the Christmas of 1949 when I was 4 years old.

Hanley accompanying my Mother doing some last minute shopping and remember walking through Lewis�s Arcade. was cold and dark  but passing by Huntbach�s  the light emanating from the windows shone like a beacon, warm and welcoming. In the distance the remnants of a carol could be heard from theanita curtains ikea review Salvation Army in the Market Square. john lewis made to measure eyelet curtains they were huddled in a circle stamping their feet to get thewhiteheads judy green curtainsUpon resuming with Hark the Herald Angels Sing Ilaura ashley curtains 90x90

clutched my Mother�s hand tightly as we watched them call down Christmas from the cold dark sky. I didn�t know what this scene meant to me then but I think I do�.. Square, Stafford Street, Fountain Square and Lamb Street was an first store was built in 1883 for McIlroy's - itisinglass curtains historyIn 1935 it was purchased by Lewis's who built asun zero curtains lichtenberg new store in the Art Deco style this store lasted until 1964 when Lewis's moved to their new purpose builtkabu curtains department store further along Stafford Street on the site of the previous Bishop & Stonier's pottery works. original old McIlroy's / Lewis's site was cleared and an arcade built with small retail units and

McIlroy�s store set the standard until it was replaced by Lewis�s store "The People Providers," mantle makers, costumiers, house drapers, curtain dealers, quilts, carpets, warehouse men , boot factors, - from a 1907 directory - the same view in Sept 2011 in the distance is the pottery works of Bishop & Stonier's - this is where the second Lewis's Lewis's store, closest to the camera, was built in 1935 on the site of  McIlroy�s Lewis's Art Deco style store on the corner of Lamb Street and Stafford Street, Hanley 'Lewis�s chrome and glass arcade is still remembered with affection' Lewis�s was the first store in the Potteries to use an arcade, a very European Art-Deco innovation popularised in Paris in the first half of the 19th century. were indoor pedestrian shopping alleys that provided comfortable and stylish swish and a safe shopping environment away from the dirt and clutter of the street, away from adverse weather conditions.

Department Store on Stafford Street in 1964 This photo was taken from the junction of Hope Street and New Hall photo of Debenham's store in a shopping arcade on Lewis's old site.. View from Market Square looking At the bottom of Lamb Street (just below the crane jib) can be seen the new Lewis's department store. 1860's store of Huntbatch's can be seen to the centre right. View from Market Square looking towards Lamb Street (on the right) and Fountain Square (on the left). The left of the arcade (the facade of which is complete in the photo) housed "Fire is at the root of all things both visible and invisible" Named by many as "Jack Frost" - the statue for the new Lewis's store was designed by the London sculptor David Wynne. David Wynne spent some time in the Potteries looking for inspiration and he saidit hit me that the sculpture must have something to do with the great fires which dominate the life of the Potteries...."

The statue is made ofIt is 35 feet high and 28 feet wide, it weighs 1.25 Hanley in the mid 1950's - the location of the first Lewis's store - built in 1934 on the site of Mcllroys - originally the site of Bishop & Stoniers pottery works, at the time of this photo the works had been replaced by shops, in 1963/4 Lewis's moved into a new store - St. John's Church - still standing. the building marked in yellow was the indoor market - now demolished and part of the Potteries Shopping Centre. - the blue building was Hunbatch's department store - again demolished and part of the Potteries Shopping Centre. - Bratt and Dyke's store - the building is still standing. blue - Lloyds Bank, built on the site of Hanley's second town hall. the same location in 2011 - the area is dominated by the Potteries Shopping Centre which incorporated Lewis's second store and took over the location of Huntbach's and the indoor market.