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June 28, 2019

Moseley Old Hall, Staffordshire

The nice thing about being on holiday not too far from home, is you have time to visit other places on the way home. My plan was the NT property at Wightwick Manor, but when we got there the car park was packed. We continued driving, thinking we’d continue home, perhaps stopping somewhere en route. En route we saw a brown NT sign to Moseley Old Hall, so followed it. We were very glad we did! A nice welcome – https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/moseley-old-hall Loo and tea room to start with. The Hall was fascinating, garden gorgeous, 2nd Hand bookshop, and I...
Categories Staffordshire Comments: 0
December 4, 2018

Alstonefield, Staffordshire – St Peter

This year our MA course has more mature students, and one of them, Carrie, was handing out flyers for “A Visual and audio exhibition to Commemorate the Centenary of the end of WW1” in Alstonefield – their local history group got some lottery money. I spent the morning of  Saturday 10 November fighting with all the talks needed for tomorrow, and it was later than I had hoped before I got away. Alstonefield is just across the border into Staffordshire (and Lichfield Diocese) – SK133553 – and it would have been a gorgeous drive if the sun had been...
Categories Staffordshire/World War 1 Comments: 0
September 21, 2018

Wall, Staffordshire – St John

I had been to Kidderminster on Monday 20 August to talk trams with an expert. On the way home I stopped at the village of Wall in Staffordshire and picked up a walk leaflet in their car park. The Romans constructed a marching camp here during AD 47-8, and soon a fort was built to defend the highway – this is the Watling Street, London to Chester. There would soon be a posting station, with an official hotel and fresh horses – one is mentioned as being here in the C3 Antonine Itinerary. A thriving settlement, the Vicus, grew...
Categories 1,000 mile walking/Roman Britain/Staffordshire Comments: 0
July 30, 2018

Apedale Light Railway, Staffordshire – Tracks to the Trenches 3

Sunday 15 July was a Sunday off! Julie went shopping with Sue and Ella, I chased trains with Jeremy and Alex. I apologise we are so predictable. The Apedale Light Railway – website – is based in Newcastle-under-Lyme, grid reference SJ 823484. They are next to the Country Park, and the Apedale Heritage Centre looks worth a visit too – website. The system is run by the Moseley Railway Trust – website. This is the third ‘Tracks to the Trenches’ gala, and it was superb. I know a little about the role of railways on the Western Front, and...
Categories Railway History/Staffordshire/World War 1 Comments: 4
September 5, 2017

Lichfield, Staffordshire – Cathedral church of St Chad, the East end

Here we are in grey Lichfield (grey because of the weather). Having done the Nave and the Transepts (see the last blog), it is time to move east. The bust by the entrance to the Chapter House is of Bishop Woods, bishop during WW2, by Jacob Epstein. They often have a copy of the St Chad Gospels, an Anglo-Saxon treasure, on display – but the electronic version is probably safer to look at. There is a pdf about it here. I also need to “do” the Staffordshire Horde – website. The Chapter House was built in the 1240s. It...
Categories Personal/Staffordshire Comments: 0
September 4, 2017

Lichfield, Staffordshire – Cathedral church of St Chad, Nave and Transepts

Lichfield Cathedral is located at SK 116097, dedicated to St Chad, website here. You can read the whole of the Victoria County history here, but sadly a 360 degree panorama shot by the BBC here no longer seems to be available. Julie and I first visited when we were young and in love. I went on a Precentors’ Conference visit when I was at Bury, and we have been back once since. Today was a chance to have a proper look round. Outside was a bit grey, so we need to go back and walk round properly. Having entered...
Categories Staffordshire/World War 1 Comments: 0
August 30, 2017

Yoxall, Staffordshire – St Peter

St Peter’s church, Yoxall, in on the busy main road – SK 142190. They have a website, but don’t seem to have a Vicar at the moment. We parked in the pub car park – lovely flowers, we must go back for a meal – website. The church was open, with some friendly people. Nice “Discovering Yoxall” leaflet from the parish council, with a walk around the village. Bright sun for the photos, and a welcoming notice! Traditionally the church is Saxon, but there is no evidence for this, and no mention in the Doomsday Book. The capital and...
Categories Staffordshire/World War 1 Comments: 0
August 28, 2017

King’s Bromley, Staffordshire – All Saints

Thursday 3 August was my 55th birthday. We drove to Lichfield, which is a town we enjoy, with a nice coffee shop by the car park. We did some shopping. We had a good explore of the Cathedral – I’ll blog that separately (it’ll be a while, it’s a big job) – and lunched in their café. We drove home via the back road, the A515, and called at King’s Bromley and Yoxall. All Saints church, King’s Bromley SK 123170 is in the Diocese of Lichfield. I can’t find a website and I don’t have a Staffordshire Pevsner (must add...
Categories Staffordshire/World War 1 Comments: 0
March 4, 2017

Claymills Victorian Pumping Station

After we went to Repton we continued on to Burton on Trent – I think it is fair to say that Repton and Burton are miles apart! Leaving the town the I spotted a sign telling us that Claymills Victorian Pumping Station would be in steam the following Sunday (26 February). Here is their website. It is on the north side of the town at SK 263258, so just a short run down the A38 from home, then left over the railway, and easy parking. It is a Victorian sewerage pumping station – Julie was so excited. There was a lot of Burton sewerage to...
Categories Staffordshire Comments: 0
December 15, 2016

Rocester, Staffordshire – St Michael

We stopped at Rocester on return from Uttoxeter on Friday 25 November. Yes, I know that’s three weeks ago – “must be your busy time Vicar”. The village has a website with a history page and various suggested walks. We are just over the border into Staffordshire and St Michael’s church is in the Diocese of Lichfield – SK111393. There was a Bronze Age settlement here, There was a Roman fort here – I think the Roman gallery is in the Potteries Museum in Hanley – website – which looks well worth a visit. In Domesday the village was...
Categories Staffordshire/World War 1 Comments: 6