TIMELINE
The 17th century building on Lower Street has become iconic in the local town due to its years as Maxims nightclub, which enjoyed its heyday in the 1980s. The building therefore forms part of living memory for generations of people in the town.
Yet there is much more to the site than its most recent use.
Browse our timeline below to see how the history of the building charts important periods in the town’s past.
Thomas Pape, the historian, records that the property was sold by Elizabeth Bagnall for £34
1st January 1655
Samuel Bell buys the house for £156
1st January 1724
He set up a potworks, the first and only one in Newcastle-under-Lyme and in 1729 took out a patent for ‘agate ware’. He died in 1744.
The house is let to William Steers, a potter
1st August 1744
It is said that he made the first porcelain in the country, but was unsuccessful in his application for a patent.
The building is let to Joseph Wilson, the last potter recorded to occupy it
1st January 1748
Ralph Gallimore bellowsmaker bought the ‘messuage’
1st January 1752
(a dwelling house with outbuildings and land). This is the first indication of the extensions to the rear of the house.
Alfred Brown, a currier, is recorded as the owner in the census which took place that year
1st January 1851
A directory records William Abbott, beer seller and twine and rope maker, as the building’s occupier
1st January 1867
Another directory entry for William Abbott describes the site as The Roper’s Arms and is the first indication of its name as a public house
1st January 1872
A census records publican Benjamin Copeland as resident here
1st January 1881
Reference to John Gallimore’s steam joinery works to the rear of the public house is recorded
1st January 1885
John is a builder of Municipal Hall.
The public house changes its name from The Roper’s Arms to the Old Pomona
1st January 1890
A census records William Owen as innkeeper of Old Pomona public house
1st January 1891
Benjamin Copeland is recorded as licensee in the census
1st January 1901
Directory listings from 1904 and 1912 list Charles Bennett as beer retailer at the Old Pomona Inn
1st January 1904
c. 1940s/early 50s The building is known as St Martin’s Hall and serves as a social centre for the Catholic community of Holy Trinity Parish. The D’Arcy family are pictured here outside the hall in 1950
1st January 1940
1950s The hall is still owned by Holy Trinity Parish and is used as an annexe to St Mary’s RC school and later St Patrick’s Secondary Modern School. In 1956, there were 3 classrooms and a playground. Lessons were held here until 1966 when the new Blessed Thomas Maxfield School opened
1st January 1950
Pictured: Paddy Markham who attended school here in 1956
Well found under floor of the Old Pomona Inn
1st January 1967
Old Pomona becomes known as The Placemate under new ownership
1st January 1968
The Placemate opens and becomes an iconic clubbing venue in the town
1st January 1969
Excavations to uncover Pot Ovens and pottery carried out at the rear of the ‘Placemate’
1st January 1969
Excavations took place from 1969 – 1971 The ‘Placemate’ was owned by the same people who ran ‘The Place’ nightclub in Hanley.
A pottery kiln base is unearthed on the site
1st January 1971
This is now located in the grounds of Brampton Museum, where it is undergoing restoration.
The building is listed with grade II status
1st January 1972
14th April Grand Opening Night at Sammi Belles Bistrotheque following a major refurbishment of The Placemate the previous year
1st January 1976
Sammi Belles rebrands as Maxims Wine Bar & Nightclub and maintains its popularity over the next two decades
1st January 1980
Maxims closes and gradually falls into disrepair
1st January 2006
Belong partners with specialist healthcare developer, Prime plc, and is successful in securing Heritage Lottery Enterprise Funding for the restoration of the building
1st July 2015
Belong Newcastle-under-Lyme opens, incorporating the Belong Heritage Gallery
1st March 2018
With a recreation of the Old Pomona Inn, Samuel Bell’s Tea Room and a reminiscence lounge with exhibitions charting the working history of Newcastle and supported by loan items from
Historical images reproduced courtesy of The Brampton Museum and Art Gallery, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council
If you have any feedback on our timeline, or are able to add further details regarding the building’s past use, please do not hesitate to get in touch, using the contact details below.