Place:


Stafford  Staffordshire

 

In 1887, John Bartholomew's Gazetteer of the British Isles described Stafford like this:

Stafford, parl. and mun. bor., par. and township, and county town of Staffordshire, on river Sow, 27 miles NW. of Birmingham and 134 NW. of London by rail - par. (Stafford Saints Mary and Chad), 8441 ac., pop. 17,032; township, 3653 ac., pop. 14,399; bor. (comprising Stafford township, part of Hopton and Coton township, Stafford par., and part of Castle Church par.), 1012ac., pop. ...


19,977; 3 Banks, 2 newspapers. Market-day, Saturday. Stafford grew up around a Saxon stronghold, which was replaced after the Conquest by a Norman castle. Fragments of the old walls still remain. The town is pleasantly situated, and is in general well built. Among the principal objects of interest are the two old churches of St Mary and St Chad, both recently restored; Edward's VI.'s grammar school; the "William Salt" library; the county and town buildings, &c. Stafford is an important rail-way centre. Its chief industrial establishments are breweries, tanneries, and several extensive factories for the mfr. of boots and shoes. Izaak Walton (1593-1683), the angler, was a native. Stafford gives the title of marquis to the Gowers, and of baron to the Jeninghams. It returns 1 member to Parliament; it returned 2 members from Edward I. until 1885, when its parliamentary limits were extended.

Stafford through time

Click here for graphs and data of how Stafford has changed over two centuries. For statistics for historical units named after Stafford go to Units and Statistics.

How to reference this page:

GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Stafford in Staffordshire | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time.

URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/634

Date accessed: 28th March 2024


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