Name: Film Show: William Blake
Start: 2026-05-10T14:00:00+01:00
Location: Brampton Park, ST5 0QP Newcastle under Lyme, United Kingdom

A special archive film show by Ray Johnson about photographer William Blake.
Tickets
£5 general admission
About William Blake
William Blake was born in Pittsburgh, USA, on 25 July 1874. His mother, Elizabeth Blood, was from Newcastle-under Lyme - and had travelled from England to New York in 1871 to marry Frederick Blake, a locomotive engineer who seems to have been working in one of the businesses of the industrialist Andrew Carnegie. Frederick died suddenly in 1875, prompting Elizabeth to return to England with William and his sister Lily. They settled in Formby, Lancashire where William grew up and became apprenticed to a local stationer and photographer.
In 1900, Elizabeth came back to The Potteries. She had grown up in Newcastle-under-Lyme and still had relatives here. William opened a stationer’s shop at 98 Stafford Street (now the Strand) in Longton. The area was surrounded by potbanks and marl pits, which became regular features in his photographs. When the Postcard Craze started in 1902 he was able to produce many memorable images of the local area to sell in his own shop. His images were also popular with postcard publishers.

William Blake married Rosa Kathleen Peake in 1923. They had known each other for many years as they were cousins. After their marriage, they first lived in Lower Belgrave Road, Longton, in the same house as William’s mother and sister. Not having any children, it is not clear what happened to any personal photographs. Ironically, there are no photos positively identified as William Blake, so we cannot be certain what he looked like. The couple later moved into their own modest house in Cobden Street in Dresden, where they lived until William Blake died in 1957, and Kathleen Blake in 1962.

Photograph
This William Blake photograph - “The Coal Scramblers” - is a large print owned by Ray Johnson and found in an antiques shop in St.Ives Cornwall. It shows Wharf Street, Longton - now Bridgewood Street - and the bridge in the picture still looks the same.
Getting to the museum and access
Find details about how to get to the museum, where to park and the support we can offer to make your visit accessible and enjoyable.
We know that times are tough financially right now. If you would like to attend but cannot afford the ticket price please contact us at [email protected] or on 01782 619705 and we can arrange some free tickets.