THE FABULOUS 50S!
Launch of £2.5m heritage project
PEOPLE can now experience what it was like living in the 1950s following the multi-million pound regeneration of a row of terraced houses.
The newly-renovated properties on Harper Street, next to Middleport Pottery, have been transformed as part of a £2.5 million heritage project which aims to recreate what domestic life was like 70 years ago.
Furniture and accessories from the past are on display inside the former homes, including the old Lodge Keeper’s House, telling the stories of individuals who used to live on the street.
Now, following a launch event, members of the public can visit Harper Street as part of Middleport Pottery’s existing heritage trail.
Stephen Musgrave, chair of Re-form Heritage – which owns Middleport Pottery – said: “For the Re-form team this is the culmination of many years of hope, ambition and hard work and it’s a proud moment for them to see their vision come to reality.
“We have come through an extraordinarily challenging two years with covid and without the support, professionalism, patience, understanding and partnership shown by our supporters we would not be here today.
“This is going to be a tremendous lasting legacy to everybody who has helped to make this happen.”
As part of the Harper Street project, six new retail units have been built at the site ready for new businesses to move in and a community centre, run by Middleport Matters, has also been opened alongside a collections store and research space for the Burleigh archive.
The National Heritage Lottery Fund invested more than
£1.5 million into the scheme, which received other financial contributions from Historic England, the Architectural Heritage Fund and Stoke-on-trent City Council.
Izzy Mohammed, from the
National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “When I saw the application come in for this project about three or four years ago, it struck me that we have the opportunity and a real reason to preserve this row of houses and make this area a real focal point.
“It’s a wonderful project and it looks amazing. Harper Street now serves as a wonderful point of entry to the site.
“Well done to everybody for all the work that has gone into it.”
Stoke-on-trent City Council leader Abi Brown added: “We’ve had a very recent focus in Stokeon-trent on new things that are coming forward but ‘old’ is also incredibly prominent in our city.
“That combination of new and old reflects who we are and who we want to be as a place. We are proud of our ceramic heritage and much more confident now about how it’s going to shape our future.”
Visitors to Middleport Pottery can access Harper Street now. The scheme is included in the price of a heritage trail ticket which costs £6 for adults and £5 for children, students, senior citizens and carers.