IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Furnace Road, STOKE-ON-TRENT, ST3 4QT

This was the vicarage at Normacot from the 1940's until 1975. Very little has changed since this photo was taken in 1972. There is now more vegetation and there are new street lights and modern aerials. Access is also now blocked by bollards here at the bottom of Ludwall Road closest to the camera.

This third vicarage at Normacot was completed in April 1975. It was demolished about 2006 to make way for a retirement complex on the whole site named Alhambra Court.

Demolished soon after this photograph in about 1972, this was formerly the Furnace Inn before becoming the original vicarage when the church of the Holy Evangelists was built on adjacent land in 1847. Since the 1940's this building was used for various parish activities including cubs and scouts, also a youth club and whist drives. In 1972 a Scout and Guide hall was opened on this site to complement the existing church hall. A new vicarage (to replace the 2nd one across the road which was sold) was also built on this site in 1974-75. The S & G HQ, church hall and new vicarage have all since been demolished and the whole site has been sold and redeveloped. Flats and bungalows for the elderly now occupy this site.

Demolished in 1972 not long after the photo was taken, this was originally the Furnace Inn and later became the vicarage when the church of the Holy Evangelists was built on adjacent land in 1847. See other photos for more details, also for later buildings on this site all since demolished too. Currently (2012) this site is occupied by bungalows and flats for the elderly.

The hall's exterior being repainted by parish volunteers in 1976. This 1940s church hall was demolished during 2006 to make way for the present retirement complex named Alhambra Court.

Built during 1975 or 1976. Demolished about 2006 to make way for the Alhambra Court retirement complex.

Built on the site of the former Furnace Inn (and first vicarage) as recently as 1975, next to the church of The Holy Evangelists', this building too is now surplus to the requirements of 21st century Britain and has been demolished along with the church hall and the scout & guide hall. Only the church and graveyard remain on the site. Charles Darwin and Richard Dawkins may be getting through to many people in 21st century Britain.

Account from a 1851 gazetteer: "Normacot church, a beautiful structure in the style which prevailed in the 13th century, was erected by the Duke of Sutherland, in 1847. The curacy is annexed to Blurton, and the incumbent is the Rev Canon Hutchinson, MA."