The junction of Red Lion Square and Merrial Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme

Description:Taken in 1895 this photograph shows the shops that lined the junction between Red Lion Square and Merrial Street in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The shop to the left of the photograph is Pearson's clothing. A large display of hats, shirts and ties can be seen in the shop window. Next door to Pearson's is Skerretts, a jewellers. To the right of the picture is the Globe Commercial Hotel. The little that is visible of the hotel frontage in this photograph appears run down and although the hotel had been a popular coaching inn for years a change was needed. In 1898 a substantial building project was undertaken by Samuel Wilton to replace the crumbling coaching inn with an ornate red brick hotel. The Hotel was finally demolished in 1967. Buildings on this site were replaced by York Place.