A Wolstanton children’s game-song, collected circa the early 1890s by Miss Alice Annie Keary, folklore-collector of Stoke-on-Trent, and published in The Traditional Games of England.
Possibly related to pick-pockets coming through a crowd, then a common occurrence. Incidentally, she grew up at “The Hollies”, Trent Vale and she later gives her location as very nearby Oakhill (aka Oak Hill, on the edge of Trent Vale). This is not to be confused with the Oakhill just beyond the south-east edge of Stoke, which online map services will misleadingly take you to if you search for “Oakhill”.
A parish newsletter, placed online, mentions than an old lady remembered that “The Hollies” was demolished but was located quite near to where the Tesco store is today…
“Revd Pat Dunn has been a resident in Trent Vale since 1948 and shared her memories of growing up in a village … As we watch building on a plot of land near to Tesco, Pat told me that the large house recently demolished, was called ‘The Hollies’.”
I grew up in Trent Vale (1960-1985). Oakhill is a different place, albeit very close, but not in Trent Vale. I always saw Oakhill as starting around about where the Oak Tree pub is and going down London Road towards the West End pub, where Boothen begins.
Thanks for the additional information. Yes, my suspicion is that she grew up at “The Hollies”, apparently in Trent Vale, and then – when grown up – she ‘moved out a bit’ to a separate home at nearby Oakhill.
Just remembered a road called Hollybank Crescent, off London Road, old Victorian houses. I wonder if The Hollies was there? It didn’t actually lead to anywhere, so although I covered almost every inch of the area on my bike or on foot over the years, don’t recall venturing down there much.
Yes, I looked over the old O.S. maps and spotted a few ‘holly’ places toward Boothen way, but no actual “The Hollies”.
Alice Keary was the daughter of William Keary, the first mayor of Stoke-on-Trent. On the 1881 census, William Keary was living at Holly Bank house, Oakhill. My great grandmother, Elizabeth Shaw was employed as a parlour maid in the household on this date. I don’t think the house is still in existence, but its location can be seen on current maps as ‘Hollybank Crescent’. The house was above the present buildings, and there is the remnants of the old drive are still to be seen. The house is clearly noted on Victorian on maps. I trust this information is of help.
Many thanks for the more precise address, Magdalene. I will take a look at ‘Holly Bank house’ and ‘Hollybank Crescent’.
The Hollies and Hollybank House are one and the same place. It was originally The Hollies. It stood behind the houses in Hollybank Crescent in Oakhill and was accessed via a long winding drive. It became a children’s home after it ceased to be a private house. I hope it is still there, but I’m not sure.
Thankyou Victoria. I did find it confusing when I first started looking for this house during my family history research. I thought it had been demolished, not least because I have not been able to find any photographs of the property. Odd given its relevance to the history of Stoke on Trent and the prominence of the family. It would be good if it is still standing.