Stafford, Staffordshire

Old house

Hi, I was born in Stafford and emigrated to Australia in 1975 and I have not revisited England since. Me and my older sister remember vividly exploring 2 old houses (Im unsure of how old they were) which were demolished in the early to mid 1970s. One was a white brick what seemed like a mansion to us at the time... [more]

Castle Tavern, Doxey Road

I was born in Doxey, about one mile from Stafford town centre. My forebears lived in and around what was then called Castletown, that is the area on the left of Doxey Road. My maternal grandmother Alice Parsons was the keeper, with her husband Harry, of the Castle Tavern which has a prominent position on the corner of Castle Street. They... [more]

Learning to Swim

I remember visiting the Brine Baths from our Junior School - there was a small pool (quite chilly) where we were all taught to swim. We then graduated to the large pool, where we still used to go from the High School.
My brother learnt to swim when he was thrown in at the deep end of the... [more]

Brine Baths

I remember as a child and teenager going to the Brine Baths with my brother and friends, what a wonderful building it was, swimming was never the same after the new baths were built, another fine old building was lost.

Swimming Saturdays

I received a half-crown (2/6d) pocket money per week. This enabled me to travel from Gnosall by train every Saturday (8d return), pay for entrance to the brine swimming baths for the afternoon, (wonderful memories) and have enough for either a cup of hot chocolate, or use of the dryer for my (long) hair, afterwards. The hot chocolate usually won!

Happy memories

I was born in Foregate Street, the home of my grandparents, in 1951. I left Stafford in 1953 and returned in 1960 to live in the north end of the town. I well remember playing on the 'Witches hat' with my friends, paddling in the childrens pool, I spent some very happy times in Victoria Park. Mum used to take us... [more]

The Music Library - Pride of Stafford!

The music library was in Friars Terrace until 1994, when it moved to the top floor of the library at the Green, which had been the Art Gallery before that moved to the Shire Hall.

By 1994 the LP collection was little used - it had been the biggest in any library in the UK. By 1994 we had the... [more]

Public Disaster!!!!

This photograph is taken from the Lichfield Road.  Veering off to the right in the distance is Greengate Street, and to the left, round the far corner of the library, the Newport Road. I used the library often. It had an annexe a little further up and 'off' the Newport road, past the Odeon Cinema, containing the library's music collection.  I... [more]

Staffordshire Photographic Memories

The first castle on this site is thought to have been built by Robert de Stafford during the 1070s. The timber keep was replaced by one built of stone, and about 1350 the fortress underwent extensive rebuilding. During the Civil War the castle was ably defended by the Dowager Lady Stafford, but after it had fallen, it was slighted. In the... [more]

English Castles

The first castle on this site is thought to have been built by Robert de Stafford during the 1070s. The timber keep was replaced by one built of stone, and about 1350 the fortress underwent extensive rebuilding. During the Civil War the castle was ably defended by the Dowager Lady Stafford, but after it had fallen it was ordered to be... [more]

Staffordshire Pocket Album

The first castle on this site is thought to have been built by Robert de Stafford during the 1070s.The timber keep was replaced by one built of stone, and about 1350 the fortress underwent extensive rebuilding. During the Civil War the castle was ably defended by the Dowager Lady Stafford, but after it had fallen, it was slighted. In the early 19th century rebuilding began, but... [more]