New Page 1

The best place to start finding out more about local history is Talke Library that has a whole section on local history opposite the door and another reference section near the desk.

Very useful and user friendly are G Bell’s Talke in European Architectural Heritage year 1975 by the 2^nd Talke Girl Guide Company, and ‘History of Talke 1892’: and other jottings and notes written by Mr E Warrilow’ a short introduction to the general history.

For more pictures you must have a look at Roger Simmons Talke, Kidsgrove and Mow Cop picture postcards, available at Talke, Kidsgrove and Newcastle Library, Newcastle Museum Archive and Keele University Local History section.

Talke also has

A photocopy of ‘Parrot’s Audley,’ a walk around historic Talke,

Rev R Weaver’s, humorous ‘Talke Tales,’ anecdotes form our near and distant past,

Goodbye old pick ‘a compelling true story of the life of a coal miner facing daily the hazards of the fiery pits of Staffordshire in the nineteenth century’ by Ann Goddard.

If you are tracing family history or want more information on specific areas there are

‘Monumental inscriptions at the Church of St. Martin, Talke o' th' Hill, Staffordshire,’

‘Talke About: St. Martins Parish Church’

‘Never to return: A record of those commemorated on the war memorials of Audley, Talke, Scot Hay and Butt Lane’ and the ‘Index to the Staffordshire Advertiser for the parish of Audley’

For more in-depth research try

The County Council’s Kidsgrove and Talke,

Talke 1981 Census,

Kidsgrove and Talke: directories and maps

and the library’s pack of Local History resources.

Talke Library also has many other interesting books including Phillip Leese’s Butt Lane: A very Local History and several histories of Newcastle and the Potteries

Further afield

If some of these books are unavailable, most are also kept in Kidsgrove and Newcastle Library local history sections.

However, nothing beat’s White’s Gazetteer of Staffordshire, as it not only includes a complete census of Talke in 1831, 1851 and beyond, it includes a broad introduction to the village. Extracts are available in Libraries, but the full work is kept at Newcastle Archives, where many other original documents such as details of old churches and charities are kept. It also includes books on subjects such as Chesterton’s Roman History. Please ring for an appointment, but the museum volunteers are happy to do your research for you over the phone. Many of the historic photographs of Talke and neighbouring villages have been reproduced on this web page with the kind permission of Newcastle Borough Museum archives.

Keele Local History library is also open 9-5 weekdays, with access to the archives by appointment. Photocopiers are available at both for a small charge.