Description:An early view of Airdale Road in Stone, looking north east from the Longton Road end. At the time this phiotograph was taken the road was a cul-de-sac which ended just beyond the houses pictured. Airdale Road was first laid out around 1900, but was not extended to its current form until the mid 1920s. On the left are ‘Highbury’ and ‘Airdale Lodge’, on the right is ‘Sonoma’, all built after 1902-1903.
At the time of the 1911 Census ‘Sonoma’ was the home of James Lewis and his wife Jane. He was head brewer at Joule’s brewery. It was built in 1906 and has since been renamed 'Greylock'. ‘Airdale Lodge’ was owned by John Waugh Harris, electrical porcelain manufacturer, where he lived with his wife, three children and three servants. ‘Highbury’ was owned by Albert Philip Miller, architect and surveyor with a practice in Hanley, who probably designed the house.
Published by A.W. Tilley, newsagent and stationers, 7 Radford Street, Stone. Postmarked in Stone, May 1912 and sent by J.L. from ‘Sonoma’ to the Misses Howson at an address in Newcastle-under-Lyme. J.L. was probably Jane Lewis and the Misses Howson were probably Mary Taylor Howson and Annie Howson who were to live in a neighbouring house, 'Elmwood', yet to be built when this photograph was taken.