Ford Green Hall

Ford Green Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, 1980

We had the privilege of living at the Hall in the 1980s

Ford Green Hall is an exceptional example of a 17th century timber-framed farm house. It was built in 1624 for Hugh Ford, a local yeoman farmer who owned 36 acres of land. The Ford family remained at the Hall for nearly 200 years.

In the 19th century, after the Ford family left, the status of the house declined and it was divided into 3 and later 4 cottages.

Recognising its importance, the property was purchased by Stoke-on-Trent City Council in 1946 and, following restoration, opened as a museum with a resident administrator in 1952.

Ford Green Hall opening day 1952
Civic Dignitaries with Horace Barks Lord Mayor
Photo: Courtesy Ford Green Hall

We had the privilege of living at the Hall from 1983 to 1987 when Pam was employed as its Resident Curator by Stoke-on-Trent City Council. We had to leave the Hall following very heavy and continuous rain which caused the disastrous flood of 23rd August 1987. Flood water rose almost to the top of what is now entrance door. Much of the ground floor and many of our possessions were ruined. But our pet cat, Toots, clung on and survived.

We were the last people, in all of its 363 years, to live at the Hall.

The Hall is now run by a charitable organisation led by volunteers and members of the local community, the profits are used to run and improve the museum.

http://fordgreenhall.org.uk/
Ford Green Hall, Ford Green Road, Smallthorne, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 1NG

Life in the mid 1980s at Ford Green Hall

Moving in. Living room.
Photo: Terry Woolliscroft Collection Date: Nov 1983

Work required in the kitchen
Photo: Terry Woolliscroft Collection Date: Nov 1983

Pam. Resident Curator

Evening Sentinel 20 Jan 1984
Image courtesy of The Evening Sentinel

Our living room 1983
Now the cafe

Bangers and Brass 1984

Restoration in June 1986

The Flood of 23rd August 1987

During the Sunday morning prolonged heavy rain hit parts of North Staffordshire. The torrential rain over Ford Green Hall caused local water levels to rise and a disastrous flood swamped the hall. The flood water defences (an electric submersible pump in an underground sump) was, as we now know, totally incapable of defending the Hall.

The flood at Ford Green Hall, Smallthorne, Stoke-on-Trent
Photo: Terry Woolliscroft Collection Date: 23 Aug 1987

Toots clung on and survived

Statistics:
On Monday 24th August 1987 the local Fire and Rescue Service pumped 1600 gallons of water per minute out of the Hall and immediate surroundings, for about 8 hours. That's over half a million gallons. About the same amount required to fill an Olympic swimming pool.