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| Norman Bott's Hairdressers & Shop c1920s |
In the 1911 census Norman is not in the Potteries but living with Charles William Woollam and his wife Lydia Ann Woollam (née Burslem) and their 3 children - Charles William [junior], John Henery (sic) and Lilian Rosemary in Southend-on-Sea, Essex.
Woollam is described as a hairdresser working from his home address in Clarence Road. Norman Bott is 14 and described as 'servant' but was is also described as a hairdresser, presumably something like an apprentice
Interestingly, from the 1911 census, it shows all the Woollam family, except the youngest child, were born in Longton. Perhaps the Woollam family and the Bott family knew each other and there was an opportunity for Norman to train with Woollam as a hairdresser even though it meant leaving his home for Essex at a young age.
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| Dad's notes on map showing the location of Norman's shop |
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| Shop location, corner of Anchor Rd & Anchor Terrace (detail) |
Norman went on to have his own shop as a Hairdresser in Longton. In the photo of Norman at his shop door you can see he is also described as licensed to sell tobacco and is selling children's toys and more. I wish I could read all those notices more clearly!
The shop was on the corner of Anchor Terrace and Anchor Road - all this area of Longton has now been completely rebuilt and no evidence of his corner shop remains.
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| Norman's shop ready for demolition, 'slum clearance' early 1960s |
Before he set up his own business though, there were tough times ahead, as World War I loomed...
During World War I, on 14 March 1917, Norman was captured in Bucquoy and taken prisoner. The record below shows he was first at Aus Cambrai then Limburg.
After the war, in 1919, Norman married the rather beautiful Edith Moran in Stoke-on-Trent.
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| Edith & Norman, Douglas, Isle of Man, no date |
In the 1911 census she is 1 of 12 children and her family live in Longton. Her father was a Coal Hewer (i.e. coal miner). Six children are under 12. All the others are in work in the pottery industry including mum. Edith is 14 and is a 'Potters Enameller'.
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| Edith & Norman, Blackpool, after 1919 |
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| On reverse of above photo |
The photo taken in Blackpool is sometime after their wedding as Norman's wedding ring can be seen. The other photo of the couple is perhaps a little earlier. Considering his awful World War I experiences he is still smiling but has a cane - for fashionable effect or because of injury?
In the 1939 Register Norman Bott is described as living in Cheadle, Staffordshire not far from Longton where he was born and worked. He is recorded as working as a Gents Hairdresser (still in Longton?) and acting as an ARP Warden. He is living with his wife Edith and his son, also Norman.
