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43-610: Beaconside is an area of Stafford , England. It is home to the Ministry of Defence's Stafford site , which was formerly a Royal Air Force base. Staffordshire University 's Stafford campus was also located in the area until its closure in 2014. Beaconside shares its name with a major road in the area, which forms part of the A513 road . This Staffordshire location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Stafford Stafford ( / ˈ s t æ f ər d / )

86-545: A business in 1767 that became the largest shoe company in Stafford, selling worldwide. He had several government contracts through the town's Member of Parliament (MP), the playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan . The shoe industry gradually died out in the late 20th century, with Lotus Shoes the last manufacturer. Its factory in Sandon Road was demolished in 2001 and replaced by housing. A locomotive firm, WG Bagnall ,

129-494: A defensive burh , it became the county town of Staffordshire soon after. Stafford became an important market town in the Middle Ages, and later grew into an important industrial town due to the proliferation of shoemaking, engineering and electrical industries. Prehistoric finds suggest scattered settlements in the area, whilst 2.5 miles (4.0 km) south-west of the town lies an Iron Age hill fort at Berry Ring . There

172-483: A fixed studio broadcasting from Stafford, to Stafford. Like most of the British Isles , Stafford has a maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters. The nearest Met Office weather station is at Penkridge , about 5 miles to the south. Stafford has a history of shoemaking as far back as 1476, when it was a cottage industry, but a manufacturing process was introduced in the 1700s. William Horton founded

215-563: A landmark for drivers, as it is visible from the M6 motorway . The oldest building now in Stafford is St Chad's Church , dating back to the 12th century. The main part of the church is richly decorated. Carvings in its archways and on its pillars may have been made by a group of stonemasons from the Middle East who came to England during the Crusades. Much of the stonework was covered up in

258-454: A major industrial activity has been heavy electrical engineering , particularly power station transformers . The works have been successively owned by Siemens Brothers , English Electric , GEC and GEC Alsthom . Alstom T&D was sold in 2004 to Areva . At the end of 2009, Areva T&D was split between former owners Alstom and Schneider Electric . At the end of 2015, the works were acquired by General Electric consolidating Stafford as

301-471: A prisoner in 1399, by troops loyal to Henry Bolingbroke (the future Henry IV ). In 1521, Stafford was described as 'a proper and fair town', although it went into decline during the Tudor period , and in 1540, many of the houses were described as being in a state of disrepair. Elizabeth I visited Stafford in 1575, at this time the town was still in a state of decay. The Ancient High House , believed to be

344-523: A settlement near the river crossing in 913, when Æthelflæd , Lady of Mercia founded a burh (fortified settlement) at Stafford; one of many founded across Mercia as part of her campaign against the Danes ( Vikings ). A mint was founded at Stafford by King Æthelstan (924-39) which continued in operation until the reign of Henry II (1154–89). Stafford also provided an industrial area for centralised production of Roman-style pottery (Stafford Ware), which

387-577: A three-gabled structure with high-pitched roofs. Stafford Gatehouse Theatre is the town's main entertainment and cultural venue. Its Met Studio is a dedicated to stand-up comedy and alternative live music. There is an art gallery in the Shire Hall. Staffordshire County Showground, just outside the town, holds many national and local events. The annual Shakespeare Festival at Stafford Castle has attracted many notable people, including Frank Sidebottom and Ann Widdecombe . Victoria Park, opened in 1908,

430-530: A transmitter based on top of the County Education building. In commercial radio, Stafford is covered by Greatest Hits Radio programming from London, Manchester or Birmingham for most of the day), broadcasting on 96.1 FM from a transmitter at Pye Green BT Tower , near Hednesford. Stafford can also receive the West Midlands regionals, like Heart West Midlands and Smooth West Midlands , and

473-413: Is a 13-acre (53 ha) Edwardian riverside park with a play park, bowling green, bird cages and greenhouses. It has a children's play area, a sand-and-water-jet area replacing an open-air paddling pool, and a bmx/skateboard area. Stafford also has a 9-hole golf course near the town centre. Recent developments on Riverside allowed for an expansion of the town, notably with a new Odeon cinema to replace

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516-559: Is a Grade II listed manor house (now apartments), originally built about 1810 as Forebridge Hall, known after 1880 as Green Hall. It was previously used as a girls' school and as council offices. The Shugborough Hall country estate is 4 miles (6.4 km) out of town. It once belonged to the Earls of Lichfield and is now owned by the National Trust . The 19th-century Sandon Hall is 5 miles (8.0 km) north-east of Stafford. It

559-498: Is a market town and the county town of Staffordshire , England. It is located about 15 miles (24 km) south of Stoke-on-Trent , 15 miles (24 km) north of Wolverhampton , and 24 miles (39 km) northwest of Birmingham . The town had a population of 71,673 in 2021 , and is the main settlement within the larger Borough of Stafford , which had a population of 136,837 in 2021. Stafford has Anglo-Saxon roots, being founded in 913, when Æthelflæd , Lady of Mercia founded

602-601: Is also evidence of Roman activity in the area, with finds around Clark and Eastgate Street. However it is thought that the Romans reclaimed the marsh for agriculture rather than settlement. Stafford means " ford " by a staithe (landing place). The original settlement was on a near island, on a gravelly lowland bounded by loop of the River Sow to the south and west (a tributary of the River Trent ). The eastern boundary

645-535: Is at the very north of the Hits Radio Black Country & Shropshire coverage area. BFBS Gurkha Radio broadcasts locally on 1278 kHz medium wave from Beacon Barracks . The town's first community licensed station, Stafford FM , launches in 2015 after a number of restricted service FM licences. The station rebranded in April 2024 to Vibe 1, and remains the only commercial radio station with

688-571: Is set in 400 acres (1.6 km ) of parkland, as the seat of the Earl of Harrowby . Weston Hall stands 5 miles (8.0 km) east of Stafford, in the Trent valley with a large park and was once part of the Chartley estate. It is thought that the main part of the hall was built about 1550 as a small dower house, but the architectural evidence suggests it is Jacobean . Weston Hall was extended in 1660 into

731-559: The Popish Plot , in which Titus Oates whipped up anti-Catholic feeling with claims of a plot to have the king killed. Lord Stafford was among those accused; he was unfortunate to be the first to be tried and was beheaded in 1680. The charge was false and on 4 June 1685, the bill of attainder against him was reversed. The town was represented in Parliament from 1780 by the playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan . During that period,

774-725: The Stafford Rural District , the Stone Rural District and the Stone Urban District . The Elizabethan Ancient High House in the town centre is the largest timber-framed town house in England. It is now a museum with temporary exhibitions. Stafford Castle was built by the Normans on the nearby hilltop to the west in about 1090, replacing the post-Conquest fort in the town. It

817-442: The locomotive manufacturer W. G. Bagnall opened a large works in the town in 1875. In the early 1900s electrical engineering became a major activity, when Siemens Brothers , opened a large factory in the town, producing such items as electrical motors, generators and transformers . The electrical industry has been under the ownership of several companies since, including English Electric and GEC . The Friars' Walk drill hall

860-420: The 1280s there were various trades such as tanning , glove making and shoe making being practised in the town. A guild of shoemakers was founded in 1476. Medieval Stafford was served by two churches; St Chad's , which is the oldest building in Stafford, dating from the mid- 12th century , and St Mary's which dates from the early- 13th century . King Richard II was paraded through the town's streets as

903-458: The 17th and 18th centuries and the church took on a neo-classical style. In the early 19th-century restoration , work was carried out on the church and the Norman decoration rediscovered. The church hosts "Timewalk", a computer-generated display that relates the journey of history and mystery within the walls of the church. St Mary's, the collegiate church formerly linked to St Bertelin's chapel,

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946-452: The Centre of Excellence for HVDC, AC Substations and Converter Transformers. Each transformer weighs several hundred tons and a road train is used for transport. In the 1968 Hixon rail crash , one such road train was struck by an express train on a level crossing . Robert de Tonei He was the son of Roger I of Tosny and the brother of Raoul II of Tosny . He seems to have been

989-523: The Parliamentarians finally won control in 1643. A few months later an order was given for the demolition of the castle. However, Stafford's famous son Izaak Walton , author of The Compleat Angler , was a staunch Royalist. In 1658 Stafford elected John Bradshaw , who had been judge at the trial of King Charles I , to represent the town in Parliament. During the reign of Charles II , William Howard, 1st Viscount Stafford became implicated in

1032-627: The ageing one at the end of the high street. Stafford Film Theatre is based at the Gatehouse Theatre and shows independent and alternative films. There is a tenpin bowling alley at Greyfriars Place. The new Stafford Leisure Centre opened in 2008 on Lammascote Road. Night life consists of smaller bar and club venues such as Casa, the Grapes, the Picture House , neighbouring night clubs Couture and Poptastic, Hogarths, and rock gigs at

1075-402: The first rail connection to London. The Trent Valley Railway to Rugby and then direct to London, was opened in 1847. Two more lines, both now closed then followed, from Stafford to Shrewsbury in 1849, and to Uttoxeter in 1867. Stafford became a major junction, which helped to attract other industries. In the late 19th century, Stafford's economy began to diversify into engineering, when

1118-505: The followers of William the Conqueror , who granted Robert de Tonei (later known as Robert de Stafford) the manor of Bradley and one third of the king's rents in Stafford. The estate became the seat of the powerful Stafford family . Stafford Castle , was first built by Robert de Stafford on a nearby hilltop to the west around 1070. It was first made of wood and later rebuilt in stone around 1348. It has been rebuilt since. Stafford

1161-540: The former, which shows the importance he assigned to his holdings in England over the ones in Normandy. He founded Stone Priory in Staffordshire, which became the burial place of many of his family. The analysis of both his subtenants and his patronage point out to a strategy much less concentrated in Normandy than his brother Raoul II , and almost solely centered in England. He died c.  1082 and

1204-532: The largest timber-framed town house in England, was built in 1595 by John Dorrington; it was extensively restored during 1976-86. When James I visited Stafford in 1617, he was said to be so impressed by the Shire Hall and other buildings that he called it "Little London". During the English Civil War , Stafford was initially held by the Royalists ; King Charles I visited Stafford shortly after

1247-511: The live music venue Redrum. Most of these are in walking distance of each other. There is a big student patronage, with coaches bringing them from Stoke-on-Trent , Cannock , and Wolverhampton . A new shopping centre was completed in 2017, housing major stores and a number of restaurants, The guildhall shopping centre no longer is open Stafford is covered by the Express and Star and Staffordshire Newsletter , neither of which have offices in

1290-725: The outbreak of the war in September 1642, staying for three days at the Ancient High House . The town resisted two assaults by the Parliamentarians in February 1643, but was later taken by them in May 1643, when a force led by Sir William Brereton captured the town by stealth. Stafford then became the seat of the parliamentary county committee. Stafford Castle was defended by a garrison led by Lady Isabel Stafford, but

1333-499: The sheriff of Staffordshire. He was a big landholder in England, and there is no evidence of him inheriting land in Normandy. His property concentrated in Staffordshire and Warwickshire . An analysis of his holdings also shows a strong presence of non-Norman subtenants, with a significant presence of English and Breton ones. Moreover, he patronized many religious institutions, among them Evesham and Conches, prioritizing

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1376-469: The time of the Domesday Book of 1086. Its borough status was confirmed in 1206, when King John issued a charter. Stafford was reconstituted as a municipal borough in 1835. The borough boundaries were expanded in 1876, 1917 and 1934. The modern Borough of Stafford covers a much larger area then the town itself, and was created in 1974, when the old municipal borough of Stafford was merged with

1419-400: The town's mechanised shoe industry was founded, the best-known factory owner being William Horton. The shoemaking industry flourished over the next century, and became Stafford's staple trade, at its height in the 1880s, there were 39 manufacturers in the town. The industry went into steady decline from thereon, and by 1958 there was just one manufacturer, Lotus remaining. The last shoe factory

1462-482: The town. Stafford is covered by BBC West Midlands and ITV Central , both broadcasting from Birmingham to the wider West Midlands region. Stafford is mainly served by the Sutton Coldfield transmitting station , just north of Birmingham, but some residents get a better picture from The Wrekin transmitting station , near Telford . In terms of BBC Local Radio, Stafford is covered by BBC Radio Stoke , with

1505-465: Was a walled town by 1086. The town walls were probably wooden originally, but later rebuilt in stone. There were four gates on the roads into the town from the north, south, east and west. By around 1670 the walls were in ruin, and their remnants were gradually demolished. Stafford became an important market town during the Middle Ages , which had a particular focus of trading cloth and wool. By

1548-551: Was built in 1798 as a court house and office of the Mayor and Clerk of Stafford. The Shire Hall used to be the town's court house, and is a Grade II listed building . In recent times, the building was used as an art gallery and library, before a new facility was built within the new council buildings, The Market Square has recently gone under a £2 million redevelopment which was completed in November 2023. Green Hall on Lichfield Road

1591-478: Was completed in 1913, just in time for the First World War . The M6 motorway was opened to the west of Stafford in 1962. In 2013 Stafford celebrated its 1,100th anniversary year with a number of history-based exhibitions, while local historian Nick Thomas and writer Roger Butters were set to produce the two-volume A Compleat [ sic ] History of Stafford . Stafford was already an ancient borough by

1634-613: Was demolished in 1998. In 1814, Stafford was linked to the canal network by the River Sow Navigation ; a short navigation which linked Stafford to the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal . The navigation fell into disuse in the 1930s. The railways arrived in Stafford in 1837 when the Grand Junction Railway was opened, linking the Liverpool and Manchester Railway to Birmingham , which provided

1677-424: Was first made of wood, and later rebuilt of stone. It has been rebuilt twice since, and the ruins of the 19th-century Gothic revival castle crowning the earthworks incorporate much of the original stonework. The castle has a visitor centre with audio-visual displays and hands-on items. There is also a recreated medieval herb garden. Shakespeare productions take place in the castle grounds each summer. The castle forms

1720-415: Was formed by Sandyford brook, with a marshy area to the north. Despite many drains being constructed in the 19th century, the area is still prone to flooding. Stafford has been identified as the island of Bethney, or Bethnei where St Bertelin is said to have founded a hermitage about AD 700, before moving to a more remote area. Others then settled in the area and named it Stafford. There may have been

1763-510: Was rebuilt in the early 13th century on a cruciform plan, with an aisled nave and chancel typical of the period. It has an impressive octagonal tower, once topped by a tall steeple, which can be picked out in Gough's plan shown above. The church was effectively two churches in one, divided by a screen, with the parish using the nave and the collegiate canons the chancel. St Mary's was restored in 1842 by Giles Gilbert Scott . The Shire Hall

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1806-764: Was set up in 1875 to manufacture steam engines for the London, Midland & Scottish Railway and the Great Western Railway . Between 1875 and 1962, the Castle Engine Works in Castle Town produced 1,869 locomotives, including steam, diesel and electric. It was taken over in 1961 by English Electric , which also bought the Stafford-based engine manufacturer WH Dorman & Company . This had merged with Bagnall's by then. Since 1901,

1849-704: Was supplied to a chain of West Midlands burhs . The county of Staffordshire was formed at about this time, with Stafford as its county town . Stafford lay within the Pirehill hundred . In 1069, a rebellion by Eadric the Wild against the Norman conquest culminated in the Battle of Stafford. Two years later another rebellion, led by Edwin, Earl of Mercia , ended in Edwin's assassination and distribution of his lands among

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