Canal Route Planner
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Visitors to Stone can park their cars in the car park (pay and display) in Crown Street.
Driving into the one-way system from the Stafford Road end, turn left into the car park. After parking your car leave the car park and turn right. Follow the footpath as if going out of the town. This brings you to the canal lock and The Star Inn; the present inn was licensed in 1819, but was there some 200 years before.
The Canal in Stone
Stone lies on the Trent and Mersey Canal. Josiah Wedgwood saw the importance of communication for transporting materials to Stoke-on-Trent and finished goods out of the area. He met with Thomas Bentley and Erasmus Darwin in the Crown Hotel in Stone in 1766, and commissioned James Brindley as the surveyor. Originally called the Grand Trunk, the canal reached Stone in 1771. It was opened officially in 1777, when cannon fire celebrations collapsed a bridge and lock. The canal was built at a cost of £296,600 and included five tunnels, one of these was over two miles long at Harecastle north of Stoke, and 70 locks. The canal rises over 39 feet from the Star lock through to Meaford. The Trent and Mersey Canal Co had offices at Stone just down from the Star Inn
From the Star Inn cross the road, from the bridge look down the canal and see the converted warehouses on the left, the arches on the ground floor.
Walk towards the town 20 yards and see The Swan Inn on your right, a former warehouse, now serving their own ales to original Joules recipes.
Continue past Taurean Estates and turn right into Abbey Street, this was once the King's Highway through Stone. Follow this street up to the main road. See the Mansion House on the opposite side of the road and St Michael and St Wulfad's to its left.
Cross the road and go into St. Michael and St Wulfad's grounds. Along right hand side find memorial to Fourdrinnier's wife, further along on right find Granville family plot. To the right of the church see the St Vincent mausoleum. From St Michael and St Wulfad's go down the path towards the town and see the tomb of Crompton and wife in Tudor costume.
St.Michael and St Wulfad's Church
Prior to dissolution in 1536 this was part of the Augustinian Priory of St.Mary and St.Wulfad that became the parish church. The church was designed by William Robinson in the Gothic style and built by Charles Trubshaw, consecrated in 1758. In the graveyard is the Jervis Mausoleum with the remains of Admiral Sir John Jervis of Meaford Hall. Adjoining the churchyard is the private burial ground of the family of Earl Granville of Stonepark. The tomb of Willaim Crompton and his wife can be seen in the churchyard in splendid 18th century costume, the legs broken when one of the chancel pillars fell in the church of St Mary and St Wulfad later replaced by St Michael and St Wulfad's.
Stone Priory
Little remains of the Priory itself, though St Michael and St Wulfad's Church occupies some of the Priory site. It was King Wulfere of Mercia who first built a chapel on the site at the behest of his wife and in memory of his two sons circa 670AD. By the 12th Century the Priory was an endowment of Kenilworth Priory, however with the patronage of Robert de Stafford the Priory became independent. The Priory acquired much land around Stone and fish ponds by the Mill (now Mill Hotel) provided fish for the Friday meals. The canons at the Priory were required to give free hospitality to visitors and nobles sent by the King, which was a drain on the Priory, together with the travellers who would call, the Priory being alongside the King's Highway (now Abbey Street). In the 13th Century the Stone Priory was the biggest in Staffordshire, but this then also made it a target for pillaging and taxes. In the 15th century the priory declined and in the 1530's it was decided to close it, many of the alabaster monuments being removed to Austin Priory at Stafford by Lord Stafford. The buildings and site were sold, the Church remained as the parish church, but today there are hardly any visible remains of this once great Priory.
From St Michael and St Wulfad's go down the path towards the town and see the tomb of Crompton and his wife, life size statues on their tomb in Tudor costume.
Go down to the main road and turn right (now looking up the pedestrianised main street).
At the bottom of the High Street on the right see a sign on the gable of the Foundation Restaurant for Bent's (former brewers).
Cross the road and go into the High Street. Along on your left see Cumberland House
The Duke of Cumberland stayed here when English forces camped to the north of the town awaiting the Jacobites under Bonnie Prince Charlie. A torch-snuffer is still fixed to the right of the door where young boys who lit up the streets extinguished their torches.
Continue up the High Street to the Crown Hotel on your left.
In 1575 the Hotel, originally the Crown Inn, was the property of Lord Granville, Lord of the Manor of Stone. Loacted on the King's Highway from London to Holyhead, Manchester and the North. it was the third most important post house of the 17th century, up to 40 coaches called there each day. The Mail Coach to London leaving daily at 7.30am and to Liverpool at 3.30pm. There was stabling for horses and secure post rooms for mail waiting for the next coach, it also had its own brewhouse. From 1575 to 1828 the Hotel served as the jail, and from 1818 to the 20th century it was the Excise Office and Court House. The Hotel was rebuilt in 1779 after a fire the previous year which caused extensive damage, the present design being that of Henry Holland who also designed Brighton Pavillion. The Hotel was also used for religious purposes, the first Catholic Mass being said there in 1842.
Go past the Crown Hotel into the market square, set back see the former Indoor Market
Now housing the town library, the indoor market was built in 1868 on the site of the old Butter Market.
Moving up the High Street, on your left, situated just to the right of the archway to Somerfield and the arcade see the office entrance to Joule's Brewery
John Joule's established his brewery in Stone in 1758, sending ales as far as Australia and America. Joule's warehousing alongside the canal is still visible.
Continue up the High Street and see the barriers depicting the founding of Stone.
Beyond see the Stone War Memorial standing in Granville Square dedicated to the 126 from the area who fell in the Great War 1914-1918, plaques were added later in memory of those who fell in the Second World War. It shows a bronze figure designed by Albert Toft and built at a cost of £1,000 and was unveiled in 1921 by the Earl of Dartmouth, Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire.
Granville Square
Previously known as Pump Square due to the water pump located there, the Square was renamed in 1903 after Earl Granville of Stone Park, Foreign Secretary under Gladstone. To commemorate the Coronation of Edward VII a London plane tree (still standing) and other shrubs were planted in the centre of the Square.
Continue to the right of Granville Square and past the pedestrian crossing, on your right see Christchurch.
In 1840 a new parish of Christchurch was formed to serve the northern part of the town as well as villages like Oulton and Meaford.
Further along the road and beyond Christchurch, see the spire of St John's
The church stands on the site, given by Thomas Bostock, of an earlier building which was mostly destroyed by fire in 1886. Mr Vernon donated a clock to the church which required the tower to be raised by six feet, taking the spire up to a height of 80 feet. The original chapel was in North Street, but became structurally unsound.
From St John's, cross the road and turn down by Langtrey's into Old Road on see Stonefield Park on your left.
Originally the land was part of the Wakes Field, where traditionally the parish feast would take place to celebrate St.Michael's and All Angel's Day (Michaelmas day 29th September), amusements, stalls, bull baiting, bear baiting and cock fighting would be part of the entertainment. More recently Snape's travelling circus would set up on the Park, and in the summer band concerts would take place. Stone U.D.C. bought this land from Joule's Brewery for £1,000 and the Park was opened in 1928 by Sir Ernest Johnson. Tennis star Joan Fry was invited to open the tennis courts but rain curtailed her exhition match.
If you wish, walk a further quarter mile to The Plot (the Plot itself can be muddy, but the area is fairly flat and even)
In 1745 the Duke of Cumberland encamped his English forces to the north of the town on an area known as the Mottley Pits on the threat of the Jacobite Scots coming through Stone. He had his men build embankments (still visible) on which to stand his cannons, at once increasing the cannon's range and creating a more defensive position. The Plot has been used for centuries and commonland and the strips can still be seen where Anglo-Saxon cultivated the land.
From Stonefield Park, backtrack to the main road, turn right over the bridge and head towards the town. Turn right into Northesk Street, see Christchurch School on your right the School which was rebuilt on its present site (remaining mostly unaltered outside) in 1887.
Cross Northesk Street and continue along, turn right into Dominic Road, walk down and see
St.Dominic's Convent and St Anne's Chapel
The buildings comprise the church, convent and Priory School Around 1842 Mr James Beech built a small chapel, now standing in the grounds of St Dominic's, dedicated to St.Anne which was opened and blessed by Father Dominc Barber 1844. After the death of Father Barberi, Mr beech donated the chapel together with one and half acres of land to Mother Margaret Hallahan of Trentham, on which to build a cloistered convent. The nuns came to Stone serving the sick and needy, and then setting up a school, in St.Anne's chapel to begin with and originally just for girls.
Turn left (towards the town) and cross the road, follow the road to the right and see St.Dominic's Church
The Bishop of Birmingham, Dr Ullathorne laid the foundation stone for the church in 1853 and the church was consecrated in 1863. The High Altar is beautifully carved stone depicting the Death of St.Dominic and the Assumption of Our Lady. In the south aisle tere is a reredos depicting the martyrs of Stone, Wulfad and Rufin, slain by their father, King Wulfad for their conversion to christianity. The body of Bishop Ullathorne lies in the transcept with a life-size effigy; the body of Mother Halahjan lies in the Choir.
For the High Street, from St Dominic's Church cross the road, turn left to the top of the road and turn right, leading into Granville Square.
For a canal walk, from St Dominic's Church turn right, go to the bottom of the road, see the former Joules factory opposite with the companys distinctive sign in the eaves, turn right and continue fifty yards, crossing the road, go over the bridge and turn left, leading you towards the boat yard and canal. Continue along the tow path, see Joule's warehouses opposite, and the wharf. At the bridge see the Victorian workhouse on your right. Continue along the tow path bringing you to The Star Inn.
For a pleasant country walk, drive two miles to the Downsbanks. From the car park turn left (one way only) and switch to right hand lane. Follow the one way system round to the right and switch to left hand lane, turn left immediately after the Crown and Anchor Inn (into Granville Square). Continue straight on (beware "give way" by St Dominic's). Follow this road out of Stone for approximately 2 miles.
The Downsbanks
This local beauty spot covers around 160 acres and is currently owned by the National Trust. In the late 18th century a farm was built and at one time hops were grown for Joule's brewery. There is still evidence of the old farm buildings and many old field hedges are still in place. Joule's Brewery bought the land in 1946 to preserve it and donated it to the National Trust in 1950.
Do you have any additions (or corrections) to this article? If so, please email articles@into-stone.co.uk
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