Wheaton Aston, Staffordshire

Urbanites Invade

Hi Guys and Gals,

We moved to 19, Long Street in about 1967. Being townies from the new estate I suppose we were resented by the original villagers. Being a kid, I don't remember feeling this. We lived opposite the "Fletchers" on Long Street and they sort of took us townies to heart. I think that what a lot of the original villagers didn't realise was that this influx of  "rich" people to their village was in reality an influx of working people who had done ok, a bit like them, but with more hassle. A little rough around the edges, but nothing a good village education couldn't sort out!

Having signed up to run the Wheaton Aston 10K a couple of years ago I was shocked and dismayed to find my village had grown yet again! How dare these urbanites invade my fond memories? Just goes to show "time and tide wait for no man". Get over it and enjoy what you have now, try and preserve it but, things move on and have a habit of changing your perspective!
Love, light and peace, P

The Forge

I lived at the Forge, Long Street, Wheaton Aston, between 1955 to 1959 when I moved to Wolverhampton. I would be very interested if anybody has any pictures of the Forge. The house stood opposite Whiteways the butchers and next to the car park for the Coach and Horses pub. There was a slaughter house down Frog Lane then. The side of the house was right onto the road and the blacksmiths was attached to the house. All the tools and bellows were still there then. The  forge was demolished and three detached bungalows are on the site now. There was a cobblers down Frog Lane by the church, sometimes the cobbler, an old gentleman, would open the bottom of the stable type door and you could see his wooden leg! (can someone else remember this? or am I getting mixed up.)

carnival

I lived and went school in wheaton aston, and once a year the village carnival was held. It had several floats that were themed and there was a MAYPOLE dance on the village green. It was also the home of the village bus stop. The building on the right of the picture was the primitive methodist chapel, (The PRIMS) I was a member for some years

fishing

During the school holidays the canal and it's towpath became a playground for many of the village children. Several of us caught the fishing bug and used the canal many times throughout the holiday. We always looked out for a barge called the MENDIP. The bargee was a gentleman called Charlie Atkins. His route was from the CADBURY factory at Knighton to Bournville in Birmingham. This was the origin of his nickname (Chocolate Charlie). We always asked him for a bit of chocolate but it was the raw chocolate crumb before it had been milled and was all but uneatable. If he was in a good mood we were alowed a ride up the canal for about 2 bridges then it was Get off home to your mother. Can you see that happening today?

Canals and Waterways

The Shropshire Union canal was owned by a railway, the LMS, and was formed in 1864. It runs between Wolverhampton and Ellesmere Port. It passes through delightful countryside, and maintains a level for twenty miles until it reaches Wheaton Aston. The lock keeper’s cottage (left) is now a private house, and the large building behind has gone.

50 Classics - Canals

The Shropshire Union Canal was owned by a railway, the LMS, and was formed in 1864. It runs between Wolverhampton and Ellesmere Port. It passes through delightful countryside, and maintains a level for twenty miles until it reaches Wheaton Aston. The lock keeper’s cottage (left of photograph) is now a private house, and the large building behind has gone.

Stafford - A History & Celebration

At the foot of the castle lay a village. Established at the time of the castle’s construction and finally abandoned early in the 15th century, it is believed to have been the lost Domesday village of Montville, or ‘Mount Village.’ Only about 1% of the earthworks have so far been investigated and there are undoubtedly further archaeological discoveries to be made. It is to be hoped that the necessary resources will be found. In the Middle Ages admission to the walled town was controlled by gates, known logically, if unimaginatively, as the North, South, East and West Gates. Only the East Gate has retained its original name. In the Broad Eye area to the west, the loop of the river and Doxey marshes probably made hostile access difficult, and the ‘gate’ seems to have been little more than a gap in the walls. The North Gate eventually housed the town gaol and became known as the Gaol Gate. The archaic spelling of ‘gaol’, incidentally, has been known to confuse outsiders. There can be few Staffordians who have not at some time been asked the way to ‘Goalgate Street,’ or ‘Goal Road.’ The South Gate formed the main entrance to the town, and was called the Green Gate after the Green Bridge crossing the river at this point. (Courtesy of Friends of Stafford Castle) An artist’s impression of Stafford Castle in Norman times, on display at the Castle Visitor Centre. The small courtyard nearest the castle is the inner bailey, the larger one in mid-picture the outer bailey. The castle village of Montville lies in the foreground.