Trentham Gardens and Estate

The City of Stoke on Trent is located in the English county of Staffordshire, and is commonly known as the Potteries having earned the title of the World Capital of Ceramics. Home to many attractions from the beautiful Trentham Gardens and Monkey Forest to an array of museums including the Gladstone Pottery Museum and Wedgwood Visitors Centre and Museum, the City’s Cultural Quarter provides a great selection of restaurants and cafes and is also where both The Regent and Victoria Hall Theatres are located.

Historic Stoke on Trent
With a motto of Via Unita Fortior – United Strength is Stronger, Stoke on Trent is comprised of 6 towns and gained City Status in 1925.  It is globally recognised for its pottery industry and numerous companies were founded within Stoke including Wedgwood, Royal Doulton, Minton, and Spode all of which are recognised as offering quality ceramic designs of the highest standard. Many famous ceramic designers have been based in Stoke on Trent including Clarice Cliff who was born in Tunstall and Charlotte Rhead who lived and studied in Fenton. Wade Ceramics, Emma Bridgewater and Moorcroft also form part of the Staffordshire potteries, truly a centre of excellence for the ceramics industry.  Ceramics were developed further after the building of the Trent and Mersey Canal with imported materials then used to produce bone china and creamware designs.

Coal and Steel were also highly important industries for the area, with Stoke’s mining and steel production playing a significant role during the industrial revolution.  Such was the level of output that many industry records were achieved by Stoke including the record for the first mine in Europe to produce 2.5million tonnes of coal awarded to Trentham Superpit which finally closed in 1994.   Shelton Steel Works was one of a number of plants which extensively helped the war effort through its production.  Due to its location the area remains very attractive to businesses and is home to many well known brands including Michelin, bet360 and Phones4U

Both Port Vale and Stoke City football clubs are based in Stoke on Trent, with the area known for its sport opening a Hall of Fame in 2011.  The birthplace of famous footballers Stanley Matthews and Roy Sproson, as well as Mark Bright and Garth Crooks, other well-known sportsmen to hail from the area include darts legends Phil Taylor and Ted Hankey.

Popular Culture
Stoke on Trent is a historic and cultural city and as such has also been a focus in popular culture.

Films & TV
Anna of the Five Towns (1995) starred Peter Davidson, Lynsey Beauchamp and Anne Blackman and was adapted from the novels of Arnold Bennett, set in Stoke and surrounding towns.

The Card (1952) was a film comedy which starred Alex Guinness and Petula Clark.  The screenplay written by Eric Ambler was based on the novel of the same name again by Arnold Bennett.  Filming of the rags to riches tale took place in Stoke.

Soulboy (2010) was directed by Shimmy Marcus and features Joe McCain and his journey to fit into the northern soul scene, with the entire film shot in Stoke on Trent.

Books
The Garden of Forking Paths (1941), this novel by Jorge Luis Borges follows Spy Doctor Yu Tsun during World War I, with part of the story set in Fenton, Stoke on Trent.

Anna of the Five Towns (1901) by Arnold Bennett is one of a number of works by the author to be set in the Potteries.  In his novels Bennett changed the names of towns within the conurbation of Stoke renaming the towns Knype (Stoke), Bursley (Burlem) Turnhill (Tunstall) Hanbridge (Hanley) and Longshaw (Longton), and with Fenton relatively new at the time Bennett did not include reference to the town in his tales.

Wedgewood Butterflies (1999) is set in the Potteries, with Peter Corbishley’s thriller featuring ceramics researcher Eric Rattlestone and the secret location of the Wedgewood engravings.

Social Media
Additional information on Stoke on Trent can be found on its official website Visit Stoke as well as its Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts.

Famous Faces
Robbie Williams of Take That fame was born in Stoke on Trent on 13 February 1974, Williams has also enjoyed a hugely successful solo career selling over 77 million records globally, and receiving countless awards including 17 BRITS and features in the UK Music Hall of Fame.

Stanley Matthews one of the greatest English footballers was born in Stoke on Trent, and played for Stoke City for 23 years in total.  Born on the 1st February 1915, Matthews remains the only player ever to be knighted whilst still playing, remaining in top level football into his 50’s.

Josiah Wedgwood was born in Stoke on Trent on 12 July 1730 and famously founded Wedgwood in 1759, later to become Waterford Wedgwood following its merger with Waterford Crystal.

Landmarks

Gladstone Pottery Museum

Gladstone Pottery Museum
The distinctive Gladstone Pottery Museum is located in Longton and takes visitors on a journey back to Victorian times as it is the last complete pottery factory in the country of this era. Its collections represent the significance of Stoke’s pottery history with original workshops and the bottle kilns also on the site.  The Museum also provides visitors with a chance to produce their own pottery during their visit.

Ford Green Hall
Dating back to the 17th Century, Ford Green Hall is a museum set within an amazing example of a timber framed farmhouse and period garden.  Collections housed within the Hall include ceramics, furniture and textiles, with family tickets on sale for just £6.50.

Trentham Estate
Simply stunning, the Trentham Estate features the beautiful Trentham Gardens, including the Italians Gardens the design of Tom Stuart-Smith alongside the Trentham Lake. Also part of the 60 acre estate is the Trentham Monkey Forest, with a chance for the family to get up close with the 140 monkeys that live in the forest with a 3/4mile trail to follow and learn more about the fascinating creatures.

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Aerial View of Lichfield

The historic city of Lichfield can be found in the County of Staffordshire, situated to the North of Birmingham, and dates back to 669 following the arrival of Chad of Mercia.  With many places of interest to visit, this charming city offers a wealth of fine architectural delights, with areas such as the Market Square and Cathedral Close the location of many. With attractions including the stunning Cathedral, Erasmus Darwin’s House and Samuel Johnson’s Birthplace Museum, Lichfield also offers plenty of open spaces to explore, with Beacon Park hosting a range of events throughout the year.   With excellent shopping facilities set in beautiful surroundings, Lichfield makes an enjoyable and relaxing city break for all.

Historic Lichfield
The origins of Lichfield can be traced back as early as Neolithic times, with evidence of settlements in the area also confirming the existence of a military fortress close by dating back to 50AD.  Following the arrival of Chad of Mercia, an Anglo-Saxon churchman who would later become Bishop of the Mercian and Lindsey People, land donated by Wulfhere, the Christian King of Mercia, was used to build a monastery, and would become the official See of the Bishop in 669.  Following the death of St Chad, in 700 a Cathedral was first built on the present site, which had become a place of pilgrimage.

The Danes would invade in the 9th Century, and as a result the Bishop’s See would be relocated to Chester and then Coventry until the See was returned to Lichfield in 1148. Throughout its history, Lichfield has remained an important ecclesiastical site, and it was during the time of Bishop Roger de Clinton, that Lichfield would take its present form.  With the establishment of its various streets, as well as protecting the town through the building of a bank and ditch, the Bishop arranged for the fortification of the Cathedral area, a move which would prove vital in saving Cathedral during the 1291 fire of Lichfield, which had a devastating effect on the town.

Due to its location, Lichfield proved a popular location for coaches to stop, conveniently situated between London and Chester.  This led to the growth of the town in the 1600’s, and this popularity would continue through to the 1800’s, until the time of the industrial revolution which would see the development of railways and the subsequent decline of coaches for transportation purposes.  Lichfield would also be noted for the many famous individuals who were born or lived within the area including the likes of Erasmus Darwin and Samuel Johnson.  Lichfield became a key military site, with the establishment of a British Army infantry regiment in 1705, which would later become the 1st Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment.

The National Memorial Arboretum is located just outside Lichfield, and is a place of remembrance operated by the Royal British Legion.  The Arboretum was the work of David Childs and was created to provide a living tribute to those who have served their country, with over 50,000 trees and 250 memorials.  Dedicated to military service men and women, in addition to marking significant events such as the Berlin Airlift Monument and the Burma Railway, the beautiful gardens feature many sculptures, and offer a unique opportunity for quiet reflection and celebration of those that have lost their lives.

Popular Culture
Lichfield is a historic and cultural city, and has also been a focus in popular culture.

Films & TV
Cuckoo (2010) – the BBC Three Comedy drama starring Greg Davies, Andy Samberg and Helen Baxendale is set in Lichfield, and focusses on Rachel returning from her gap year together with her new husband “Cuckoo”, who proves to be an American Hippy, much to the concern and frustration of her parents.

Books
Lichfield Stories (2013) is a collection of tales by Neil Coley which are set at various times in Lichfield’s history, and features fictional characters involved in real events which took place in the city.

Social Media
Additional information on Lichfield can be found on its official website Visit Lichfield as well as its Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Famous Faces
Samuel Johnson (Dr Johnson) was born in Lichfield on 18th September 1709.  The famous writer, poet and literary critic is recognised for the significant contributions he made to English literature during his lifetime.  1755 saw the release of Johnson’s A Dictionary of the English Language, 150 years prior to the publication of the Oxford English Dictionary.

Erasmus Darwin – born in Nottingham in 1731, Erasmus Darwin moved to Lichfield in 1757 where he worked as a physician.  Recognised as an inventor, philosopher and poet, Darwin was also noted for his work in the field of natural history, and was Charles Darwin’s Grandfather. The house where he lived in Lichfield is now a museum where visitors can learn more about the great works of this man.

Anna Seward – was a poet and the daughter of Thomas Seward, a senior member of the clergy at Lichfield.  Seward was a friend of many of the members of the Lunar Society, including Erasmus Darwin who encouraged her to write.  Seward’s works included poems such as To Remembrance, Ode to the Sun, Louisa, a poetic novel, as well as Memoirs of the Life of Dr. Darwin.  A plaque can be found at Lichfield Cathedral celebrating her work and connection to Lichfield.

Landmarks  

Lichfield Cathedral

Lichfield Cathedral
The magnificent Lichfield Cathedral dates back to the 1100’s and was constructed using local sandstone. Recognised as the only example of a three spired cathedral constructed in England during medieval times, the Cathedral features gothic styling throughout its architectural design.  One of Lichfield’s most noted landmarks, the cathedral welcomes thousands of visitors each year, and its Chapter House is home to such treasures as the Lichfield Angel, St Chad Gospels and a Pectoral Cross Replica.

Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum
Located in Breadmarket Street, the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum is a Grade I listed building, overlooking the Market Square in Lichfield.  With Johnson having lived in the building for 27 years, today the Museum provides visitors with a chance to explore its collections and displays, including reconstructed rooms and learn more about the remarkable life of Samuel Johnson, and his many achievements. Admission is free to the historic attraction, with the museum open all year round.

Lichfield Heritage Centre
St Mary’s Church in the Market Square is the location for the Lichfield Heritage Centre, which was opened in 1981 following the conversion of the church into a building used to serve its community. The museum can be found on the second floor and provides the opportunity to learn about the history of Lichfield through memorabilia and photographs, as well as the treasury exhibition which includes goblets and chalices all of which are of local importance.  A small fee is charged at the heritage centre, with an opportunity to visit the Spire viewing platform also on offer.

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