Cannock Chase

Cannock Chase is an open expanse of countryside in Staffordshire. It is used for a number of leisure activities such as horse riding, cycling and walking. With open heathland and woodland it is an area of outstanding natural beauty and a busy tourist attraction in the summer months.  There are several visitor centres and the recommended walks are signposted by colour coded signs giving a choice of easy, moderate and hard walks.

Mining used to take place around the Chase and there are several war memorials and a German and Commonwealth war cemetery.

For more photographs of Cannock Chase and the Museum click here or view on You Tube

Burton-on-Trent

Burton-on-Trent is famous for its beer. It was once known as the brewing capital of the UK. There are still breweries here today and one of the main visitor attractions is the Coors Visitor Centre and Museum of Brewing. Burton is also the home of Marmite the food made from brewers yeast that you either love or hate. Walking around the town you can see in the buildings the legacy that brewing has given the town of Burton-on-Trent, a town which gets its name from the River Trent that passes through it.

Historically a religious centre in medieval times the town was also the site of two famous battles in 1322 when Edward III defeated the Earl of Lancaster and in 1643 when the town was captured by Royalists in the English Civil War. The town is also mentioned in the Domesday book when Burton Abbey was one of the most important religious centre in Staffordshire. 

 

Burton today has some good shopping facilities, a choice of excellent hotels and some fine restaurants and pubs. Just 24 miles to the north of Birmingham it has its own realways station and easy access to the main highways.

For more photographs of Burton on Trent click here or view on You Tube

Shugborough Estate

Shugborough Estate is situated in Great Haywood just 4 miles from Stafford. It used to be owned by the Bishops of Lichfield but after the Dissolution of the Monasteries it was purchased by the Anson family and remained with them until it was gifted to the National Trust in 1960.

Today visitors can walk through the 900 acres of parkland and riverside gardens and see the magnificent mansion house with its working servants quarters and farm. For families with young children there is also a train ride, play park and restauratn and tea room facilities as well as a gift shop and craft workshops.

For more photographs of the Shugborough Estate click here or view on You Tube

Shrewsbury

Shrewsbury in Shropshire lies on the River Severn and is just 9 miles from the Welsh border. It is a popular place for tourists and is an old medieval town with a wealth of fine architecture and picturesque city landscapes.

The wool trade provided the wealth for the town which was founded in around 900. Little has changed in the town over the centuries since its prime and it has certainly resisted the temptation of modernisation. With a population of around 72,000 it is often referred to as the 'Gateway to Wales' and many of its visitors will certainly be stopping on route to or from Wales.

The town has many pleasant side streets with good shopping facilities and some magnificent old pubs. At the centre of the town there is a large riverside park which is extremely popular during the summer months.

Each year Shrewsbury is the venue for the Annual Flower Show in mid August. This two day event attracts thousands of visitors and at the end of both days there is a spectacular firework display.

For more photographs of Shrewsbury click here or view on You Tube

 

Sunnycroft

Victorian villa and one of the few remaining gentleman's houses of the Victorian age. Intact with much of the original furnishings and trappings of the period. Interesting grounds and outhouses.

For more photographs of Sunnycroft click here

Sunnycroft,  200 Holyhead Road, Wellington, TF1 2DR. Tel:01952 242884