Staffordshire
Explore hidden histories, historic photos, and things you never knew about Staffordshire from the collections and archives of Historic England.
Discover your local listed buildings and places
Introducing some of Staffordshire's most historic sites, included in the National Heritage List for England. Some of these captions have been summarised by AI. Click through for the official List entry.
Essex Bridge, Great Haywood
Colwich
The Essex Bridge, dating to at least the 17th century, is one of the longest surviving packhorse bridges in England, featuring significant medieval and post-medieval fabric.
Weston Park
Blymhill and Weston-under-Lizard
A landscape park and gardens laid out in part by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown from 1765, and with landscaping, planting and structures by James Paine and John Webb, all under the direction of...
Moated site and fishpond at Moat Farm
Gayton
The Moat Farm site in Gayton is a well-preserved example of a medieval moated site and fishpond, reflecting seigneurial status rather than military defense.
Chatterley Whitfield Colliery
Stoke-on-Trent
The monument includes the standing, buried and earthwork remains of what is effectively the southern half of a mid-C19 to late-C20 colliery.
Shugborough
Berkswich
Shugborough is a mid to late 18th-century landscape park featuring Chinese and Greek Revival architecture. Developed by Thomas Anson, it includes notable monuments and historical structures.
Himley Hall
Himley
Himley Hall and its landscape park were developed from the medieval period, extensively redesigned in the 19th century, and are notable for associations with Lancelot Brown.
St Mary's Abbey and boundary walls
Colwich
A mid-C18 house, altered in the late 1820s/early 1830s and then from 1835 onwards for use as a priory and an abbey from 1928 onwards. Read the official list entry to find out more.
High Bridge (Bridge No.39) Shropshire Union Canal Main Line
Norbury
A canal bridge, erected in 1832-3 on the Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal, now the Shropshire Union Canal Main Line. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Stafford Castle and associated medieval settlement
Stafford
Stafford Castle is a prime example of a motte and bailey castle with historical significance from the 11th to 17th centuries, featuring Gothic Revival architecture.
St Dominic's Convent and Priory School and boundary walls
Stone
A convent and priory school of 1852-3 and 1856-8 by Charles Hansom and Joseph Hansom, extended 1861-3 by Gilbert Blount, for Mother Margaret Hallahan.
Sandon Park
Sandon and Burston
Sandon Park features a hilltop Jacobean-style house built in 1852 with extensive gardens designed by renowned figures like William Emes and W.A. Nesfield.
Tamworth Castle
Tamworth
Tamworth Castle, the earthwork and buried remains of a late-C11 motte and bailey castle, the standing remains of a late-C12 shell keep castle, later altered and extended as an aristocratic...
Site of Rocester Abbey and part of Roman town
Rocester
The site includes the buried Roman fort and settlement and the medieval Rocester Abbey, showcasing historical continuity and archaeological importance at St Michael’s Church.
Betley Old Hall
Betley
Betley Old Hall, a Grade II* listed mid-15th-century farmhouse, features timber framing, decorative elements from the early 17th century, and historic panelling and inscriptions.
Rifle Range Target Wall at Burton Meadows
Burton
Former rifle range target wall, built circa 1914. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Essex Bridge
Colwich
Essex Bridge, a 16th-century stone bridge with 14 spans, is notable for its original design, featuring rounded arches and 4-foot-wide passages.
Patshull Hall
Boningale
Patshull Hall, renovated over centuries, features gardens by William Burn and grounds influenced by Capability Brown, with historical ties to the Astley and Pigot families.
Multivallate hillfort at Berth Hill
Maer
Berth Hill features a well-preserved multivallate hillfort from the Iron Age, showcasing complex earthworks and rare archaeological significance, along with 19th-century ornamental garden...
Longton Central Methodist Hall
Stoke-on-Trent
Methodist Central Hall, a 1933 adaption of an 1842 chapel. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Chillington
Brewood and Coven
Chillington, landscaped by Lancelot Brown around 1760, is a historically significant park near Wolverhampton.
Remains of Trentham Hall: The Grand Entrance and conserva…
Swynnerton
The remains of the grand entrance and the conservatory at Trentham Hall, designed by the architect Sir Charles Barry in the Italianate style, and built between 1833 and 1842 by James...
Roman camps at Greensforge
Kinver
The Roman camps and forts at Greensforge showcase important archaeological evidence of military strategy, with well-preserved sites representing temporary and permanent bases from the Roman...
Hartshill Cemetery (Also Known As Stoke Cemetery)
Stoke-on-Trent
A late-C19 municipal cemetery laid out to the design of Edward Milner & Son, with buildings by Charles Lynam. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Alton Towers
Denstone
Alton Towers, an early 19th-century valley garden, transformed by Charles Talbot. It's renowned for its varied structures and public accessibility since 1839, becoming a major attraction.
Trentham Gardens
Swynnerton
A landscaped park with C16 origins, that includes remaining elements of the work in the mid-C18 by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown and the mid-C19 Italianate pleasure grounds by Sir Charles...
Spode Pottery: Buildings Around North West Courtyard, Inc…
Stoke-on-Trent
The buildings stand in the north-western corner of the Spode factory site.
Chartley Castle, Chartley Old Hall and associated water c…
Stowe-by-Chartley
Chartley Castle is a rare example of a high-status site continuously occupied since the 11th century, showcasing medieval and post-medieval adaptations.
Sutherland Monument, Trentham Gardens
Swynnerton
Monument to the 1st Duke of Sutherland, installed at Trentham Gardens in 1836.
Biddulph Grange
Biddulph
James and Maria Bateman transformed Biddulph Grange into exotic gardens featuring diverse themes like China and Egypt, embodying 19th-century interests in horticulture and design.
Red Lion
Rugeley
House, early C17, converted to a pub in the C19. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Longton Town Hall and Market
Stoke-on-Trent
Town hall, 1844, extended in 1863 and a market hall added to the rear; alterations in 1913, and in the late C20 and C21. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Enville
Enville
Enville is renowned for its extensive gardens and historical development, involving figures like William Shenstone.
Remains of Trentham Hall: orangery, sculpture gallery and…
Swynnerton
Orangery, sculpture gallery and clock tower, designed in the Italianate style by Sir Charles Barry and built between 1838 and 1849.
Keele Hall
Keele
Keele Hall, a historic country house, is set in an extensive landscape park featuring gardens designed by Gilpin and Nesfield, with infrastructure dating back to the 18th century.
Wychnor deserted medieval village, moated site, moated en…
Wychnor
The Wychnor site, deserted in medieval times, retains significant archaeological remains, including moated areas and fishponds, offering insight into medieval settlement patterns.
Lichfield War Memorial, Garden Walls, Balustrades and Gat…
Lichfield
First World War civic memorial within a memorial garden laid out in 1920, incorporating garden gate piers, gate, C18 garden walls, and C19 balustrades. Architect Charles Bateman.
St Gregory's Roman Catholic Church and Presbytery
Stoke-on-Trent
Roman Catholic Church, 1968-1970, by Frederick King for Wood, Goldstraw and Yorath. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Church of St James
Norton Canes
Parish church of 1832 by Trubshaw & Johnson, rebuilt after a fire in 1888 by Osborn & Reading. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Staffordshire through time
This timeline shows the first period of use for buildings and places on the National Heritage List for England, just one of the details recorded for every list entry. Click around to see how Staffordshire changes over time.
Prehistoric Before AD 43
Prehistory covers a million years of human occupation before the Roman invasion and the introduction of writing. Primarily hunter-gatherers of several human species including Neanderthals, the peoples moved across Europe, hunting animals, exchanging ideas and developing complex culture and belief systems including burial rites and astronomical understanding, as at Stonehenge for example.
Roman AD 43 to AD 410
Britain was invaded by four legions of the Roman army in AD 43, who relatively rapidly conquered England from landing points in Kent. Parts of Wales and Scotland soon followed.
Roman culture brought urbanism, monumental buildings, wide-ranging religious beliefs, writing, and strong social hierarchy. The Roman administrative system was withdrawn in AD 410.
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Prehistoric Before AD 43
Prehistory covers a million years of human occupation before the Roman invasion and the introduction of writing. Primarily hunter-gatherers of several human species including Neanderthals, the peoples moved across Europe, hunting animals, exchanging ideas and developing complex culture and belief systems including burial rites and astronomical understanding, as at Stonehenge for example.
Roman AD 43 to AD 410
Britain was invaded by four legions of the Roman army in AD 43, who relatively rapidly conquered England from landing points in Kent. Parts of Wales and Scotland soon followed.
Roman culture brought urbanism, monumental buildings, wide-ranging religious beliefs, writing, and strong social hierarchy. The Roman administrative system was withdrawn in AD 410.
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Aerial photos of Staffordshire
Aerial photography helps reveal secrets of England's changing landscapes that are impossible to see from the ground.
Stourton
Stourton Castle, Stourton, 1949
Stourton
Stourton Castle, Stourton, 1949
Leek
The War Memorial and environs, Leek, 1930
Leek
Ashbourne Road and the town, Leek, 1934
Stoke-On-Trent
High Street and the area around the Old Town Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, 1937
Stoke-On-Trent
The W.T. Copeland & Sons Ltd Spode Works and environs, Stoke-on-Trent, 1952
Swythamley Hall
Swythamley Hall and grounds, Swythamley Hall, 1939
Swythamley Hall
Swythamley Hall and grounds, Swythamley Hall, 1939
Stoke-On-Trent
The Campbell Tile Works, Crescent Potteries and environs, Stoke-on-Trent, 1927
Stoke-On-Trent
London Road and the Campbell Tile Works, Stoke-on-Trent, 1952
Staffordshire in the Historic England Archive
The Historic England Archive cares for over 15 million images, dating from the 1850s to the present day. Discover stunning images of Staffordshire's past.
Eileen ‘Dusty’ Deste Collection
Burton Upon Trent, East Staffordshire, Staffordshire
Date created: 1965 - 1968
The upper section and goat shaped 'sail' on the cowl of Goat Maltings at Yeomans, Cherry & Curtis Ltd., Clarence Street Brewery
Eric de Mare
Burton Upon Trent, East Staffordshire, Staffordshire
Date created: 1945 - 1980
Exterior elevation of LMS Railway Bonded Stores and Grain Warehouse in Burton upon Trent.
John Gay Collection: Modern Architects
Hanley, City Of Stoke-On-Trent, City Of Stoke-On-Trent
Date created: Apr 1982
Photograph of an architects scale model of the proposed market forecourt at the Hanley centre in the Market Square, Stoke on Trent
John Gay Collection: Rural Life
Lichfield, Staffordshire
Date created: 1950 - 1953
Portrait of an elderly man wearing a flat cap, in attendance at an auction of the Wall Herd of pedigree Large White pigs
John Gay Collection: Counties
Lichfield, Staffordshire
Date created: 1958
View on a misty day from the causeway bridge on Bird Street towards the three spires of Lichfield Cathedral in the distance
John Laing Collection
Leyfields, Tamworth, Tamworth, Staffordshire
Date created: 16 May 1962
A family with four children standing outside their new home on the Leyfields housing estate, on the day the keys were handed over by Mayor E. Collins
London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company
East Staffordshire, Staffordshire
Date created: 1661
A photograph of a mid-17th century engraving of Burton Abbey, with an achievement of arms and latin text above the image
Alfred Newton and Sons
Lichfield, Staffordshire
Date created: 1896 - 1920
EXTERIOR SHOWING WEST FRONT
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
East Staffordshire, Staffordshire
Date created: 1900 - 1915
GENERAL VIEW IN THE CHERRY ORCHARD
Margaret Tomlinson Collection
Chillington Park, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire
Date created: 1957 - 1959
A view from the north of the Palladian facade of White House, showing the farmhouse and outer wings linked by low Tuscan colonnades
Walter Scott
Lichfield, Staffordshire
Date created: 1930 - 1945
A general view looking down Market Street showing parked cars, Lichfield
Eileen ‘Dusty’ Deste Collection
Burton Upon Trent, East Staffordshire, Staffordshire
Date created: 1965 - 1968
The upper section and goat shaped 'sail' on the cowl of Goat Maltings at Yeomans, Cherry & Curtis Ltd., Clarence Street Brewery
Stories about heritage in your local area
Historic England publishes news, blogs, research, videos, and podcasts celebrating England's rich heritage. Discover the stories we have about Staffordshire.
A History of Stoke-on-Trent in 8 Places
Mentions Middleport Pottery (Burgess and Leigh), Former Wedgwood Institute (Public Library), Chatterley Whitfield Colliery
Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire played a key role in the pottery industry for over 300 years, gaining its affectionate nickname 'The Potteries'.
Burton upon Trent: The Beer Capital of England
Mentions Water Tower About 100 Metres to Rear of Offices of Bass's Brewery
Discover the history of Burton upon Trent, Derbyshire, where Bass Brewery and Allsopp were the biggest breweries in the 19th century.
What Was the Capital of England Before London?
Mentions Tamworth Castle
London is England’s capital city now, but when was it founded? And what was the capital of England before London?
10 Places with Coal Mining History
Mentions Chatterley Whitfield Colliery
Evidence of England’s coal mining heritage can still be found nationwide.
5 Art Nouveau Buildings in England
Mentions Horse and Jockey
Explore some of England’s beautiful Art Nouveau buildings featuring flowing lines and floral designs.
The Art of Bell Ringing: The Bells of Brierley Hill
Mentions Church of St Michael
Bell ringing has returned to Brierley Hill in the West Midlands after locals purchased special equipment that allows them to practice in silence.
Women Architects Who Helped Shape England
Mentions Weston Hall and Service Wings to North and East, Church of St Andrew
Women have always influenced domestic design but it wasn’t until 1898 that the first female architect was admitted to the Royal Institute of British...
8 of England’s Most Beautiful Cathedrals to Visit
Mentions Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Chad
From Norman to Modernist, there are many different architectural styles on show in England’s cathedrals.
12 of the Oldest Tea Rooms in England
Mentions Whitmore Hall Lodge
Tea rooms first appeared in England in the 18th century, and the first tea room, Twinings, has stood in the same spot for over 300 years.
Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians
Mentions Saxon defences
Explore the life and work of Aethelflaed, 'Lady of the Mercians'; an Anglo-Saxon ruler who built forts and towns and led armies against the Vikings.
5 Bingo Halls That Used to be Cinemas
Mentions Top Rank Club
The passing of the 1960 Gaming Act allowed Bingo to come to the rescue of some of the finest pre- and post-war buildings in England.
8 Things to Know About the Black Country
Mentions Holbeche House, Lime working remains in Dudley, Moseley Old Hall and Attached Garden Walls, Gatepiers and Gate
The Black Country in the West Midlands is roughly made up of towns of Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton.
Grant Funding For Great Yarmouth Winter Gardens
Mentions Staffordshire
Historic England has awarded a £500,000 grant towards the restoration of the Grade II* listed Winter Gardens in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
Introduction to Issue 26
Mentions Staffordshire
This issue explores aspects of industrial heritage, Palaeolithic landscapes, and the relationship between intertidal heritage and biodiversity.
Funding for Young People to Explore and Celebrate Their Local History
Mentions Staffordshire
Historic England has announced new funding for 21 creative youth-led place-marking projects across England.
Update on Staffordshire Hoard Research
Mentions Staffordshire
Update of progress of research into the stunning Anglo-Saxon Staffordshire Hoard.
Praise for Restoration of Former Sanderson Wallpaper Factory
Mentions Staffordshire
Historic England has praised the restoration of Voysey House in Chiswick, as Sanderson returns to their former wallpaper factory building.
The English Railway Station
Mentions Staffordshire
The first-ever national survey of these iconic structures has been published by Historic England.
The Origins and Use of Medieval Glazing in England
Mentions Staffordshire
Researching window glass from England’s medieval abbeys.
Heritage at Risk in the Midlands Revealed
Mentions Chetwynd Bridge, Holbeche House, Longton Central Methodist Hall
41 sites have been saved and 32 sites added to the Heritage at Risk Register 2023 in the Midlands.
Understanding the Staffordshire Hoard
Mentions Staffordshire
How 10 years of research has revealed new insights into the nation’s largest Anglo-Saxon treasure.
Introduction to Issue 22
Mentions Staffordshire
John Cattell National Head of Research at Historic England introduces this issue featuring highlights of commissioned and partnership research.
Emigrant Ship en Route From London to New Zealand With Exceptionally Rare Ceramics on Board Now Protected
Mentions Staffordshire
The 'Josephine Willis' shipwreck and its cargo will add to our knowledge of England’s export pottery industry in the 19th century.
The Historic England Research Reports Database: Introducing an Important Resource for Researchers
Mentions Staffordshire
An Introduction to the Historic England Research Reports database resource, which contains thousands of reports from decades of research.
Staffordshire's social history through photos
Over 10,000 images from the Historic England Archive have been specially selected and re-captioned for teachers, students, and anyone who wants to learn more about their local area.
Wooton Lodge, Ramshorn, Staffordshire
Period: Stuart (1603 - 1713)
This was built in the early 17th century with later alterations and additions. It was built for Sir Richard Fleetwood, the 3rd Baronet of Calwich.
Wooton Lodge, Ramshorn, Staffordshire
White Hart, Stone Cross, Penkridge, Staffordshire
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
The White Hart viewed from Stone Cross. There is a pony and trap outside. It was originally a house and dates from the early 17th century.
White Hart, Stone Cross, Penkridge, Staffordshire
Wetley Abbey, Cellarhead Road, Cheddleton, Staffordshire
Period: Georgian (1714 - 1836)
This is a late 1820s home. The house has been built in a Tudor/Gothic style. Despite the name, the building has no religious connection.
Wetley Abbey, Cellarhead Road, Cheddleton, Staffordshire
Weston Park, Blymhill, Staffordshire
Period: Stuart (1603 - 1713)
The present house was built in the 1650s by Elizabeth Mytton who married Thomas Wilbraham.
Weston Park, Blymhill, Staffordshire
Wedgwood Memorial Institute, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
A detail of the frieze on the facade of the Wedgwood Memorial Institute on Queen Street.
Wedgwood Memorial Institute, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
Wedgwood Institute, Queen Street, Burslem, Stoke On Trent
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
A photographic copy of an architect's drawing for the Wedgwood Institute showing an elevation of the facade of the building.
Wedgwood Institute, Queen Street, Burslem, Stoke On Trent
Weavers' cottages, Ashbourne Road, Leek, Staffordshire
Period: 1950s (1950 - 1959)
Silk weavers' cottages in Ashbourne Road seen from the junction with Moorhouse Street.
Weavers' cottages, Ashbourne Road, Leek, Staffordshire
War memorial in centre of Square, Albert Square, Stoke on Trent
Period: World War One (1914 - 1919)
This is a First World War Memorial in the centre of Albert Square. It was built in 1919, almost immediately after the war.
War memorial in centre of Square, Albert Square, Stoke on Trent
Visit grant-aided places near you
These places and buildings have been helped by Historic England's financial grants. Find historic places in your neighbourhood that you never knew existed! Please note that opening times may vary.
Ford Green Hall, Ford Green Road
A timber-framed 17th-century farmhouse with access to all rooms, furnished with a collection of textiles, ceramics, and furniture.
Middleport Pottery, Port Street, Burslem, Stoke on Trent
Middleport Pottery Works, a Grade II* listed site from 1888-9, features a large Burgundy bottle oven, operational as part of a working factory.
Discover more
Ready for more local heritage? Take a look at these other places nearby
Stoke-on-Trent
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Stafford
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East Staffordshire
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