Newcastle-under-Lyme

Belong Heritage Gallery

The Belong Heritage Gallery forms part of the village centre that is open to the public. It builds on Belong’s expertise as a provider of services for people with dementia and the building’s colourful past to create a local facility that links the past and the present and becomes known as a beacon of excellence in supporting people with dementia.

The gallery also houses the Experience Day service, which enables older people to access activities in a structured and supported way (a type of day care). Its facilities provide the venue for a range of heritage activities that are open to people in the local community. Our Experience Days usually run from 10am to 4pm. To find out more contact us here.

Rich heritage

The Belong Heritage Gallery dates back to the 17th century and was first recorded as the home of Elizabeth Gaskell, which she sold in 1655 for £34. It went on to become the town’s first and only pottery in the 18th century, first under Samuel Bell then William Steers and latterly Joseph Wilson.

It went on to become a coaching inn in the 18th century, and underwent a range of uses in the 19th century, as a community hall, a school annexe and finally a clubbing venue, first known as the Placemate, then Sammi Belles before being relaunched as Maxims Wine Bar and Nightclub.