Old Stoke Mosaic by Tom Edwards of We are Culla
Stoke Town HSHAZ Wow Commission 3, located at 27-29 Glebe Street, ST4 1HL
Stoke Town Mosaic - by Tom Edwards of We are Culla
Old Stoke Mosaic created by Tom Edwards of We are Culla, celebrates different historical Stoke Town Stories and references many familiar aspects such as the ceramic giants of Minton’s and Spode, but it also contains some that are less well known.
Here are a couple of stories which feature in the mural (see full list of the featured imagery below)
Did you know that Sir Oliver Lodge, born in Penkhull in 1851 was not only the first man to transmit a wireless radio message, but he also invented the electric spark plug? There is a street named Spark Terrace and a residential building fittingly called ‘Oliver Lodge’ nearby.
Arnold Machin who was born in Oak Hill in 1911 (then later lived at the Villas) was an artist and sculptor who, in the 1960’s, created the iconic image of queen Elizabeth II used on decimal coinage and postage stamps to this day. Probably one of the most reproduced images of all time!
The Wheatsheaf pub (now Weatherspoons on Church St) was once considered one of the best live music venues in the Midlands. With bands such as Oasis and Radiohead being regular visitors. Many people spoke of the importance of the venue to their youth and their memories of growing up in the town.
As part of the design process Tom ran workshops at Stoke Minster as part of the Hi Stoke Festival (pictured).
Have you spotted the other 3 WOW commissions around the town?
Find out more by visiting the main project page by clicking the button below
Each commission was curated by B arts and funded by Historic England and Stoke-On-Trent City Council as part of the Stoke Town High Stoke Heritage Action Zone Programme (the artworks were designed and installed between November 2022 and March 2024)
