Staffordshire Past Track

Staffordshire Past Track The Staffordshire Past Track website features over 50,000 resources relating to the history of Staffordshire. www.staffspasttrack.org.uk

On Staffordshire Past Track you can explore photographs, images, film clips, maps and audio clips using a range of easy to use search tools. You can also visit a range of on-line exhibitons on aspects of Staffordshire's history. Managed by Staffordshire County Council's Archives & Heritage Service.

A Heron catching a fish in 2020 on the River Sow in Victoria Park, Stafford, during an early winter's morning. The £2.5...
17/04/2026

A Heron catching a fish in 2020 on the River Sow in Victoria Park, Stafford, during an early winter's morning.

The £2.5 million project for the restoration of Victoria Park received funding through the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The work included restoring historical features such as the Bandstand and Mottram Shelter, as well as building a new aviary and a new catering facility. The work was completed in the autumn of 2020.

Stafford-born Izaak Walton — legendary angler and author of The Complete Angler (1653) — spent his downtime fishing and ...
10/04/2026

Stafford-born Izaak Walton — legendary angler and author of The Complete Angler (1653) — spent his downtime fishing and writing at this very Shallowford cottage.

He bought the cottage and Halfhead Farm in 1655, later leaving it to the people of Stafford to help support local charities.

After a stray spark from a steam train set the thatched roof alight in 1927, the cottage was retiled. In 1990, Stafford Borough Council, who had become trustees of the cottage in 1956, rethatched and restored it as a typical seventeenth century cottage

A line-out during a charity rugby union match between Shugborough Babes and Stafford Rugby XV held at Stafford Rugby Clu...
03/04/2026

A line-out during a charity rugby union match between Shugborough Babes and Stafford Rugby XV held at Stafford Rugby Club, Newport Road, Stafford on 16 September 1973.

This was a charity fundraising event organised by Mr Merlin Maddock.

Photographer: David Birt, Handsacre, Armitage, Staffordshire

Canal ware artist and sign writer Martin 'Bunny' Bunford of Shebdon, near High Offley pictured painting a Buckby can as ...
27/03/2026

Canal ware artist and sign writer Martin 'Bunny' Bunford of Shebdon, near High Offley pictured painting a Buckby can as his dog looks on, July 1969

Photographer: Lionel Holland of the Staffordshire Newsletter

Alleyne’s Grammar School Football Team, Stone (c. 1949–1950)A fantastic team photograph from around 1949–1950 showing th...
24/03/2026

Alleyne’s Grammar School Football Team, Stone (c. 1949–1950)

A fantastic team photograph from around 1949–1950 showing the Alleyne’s Grammar School football team.

Standing, left to right: Mr Scott (Art teacher and coach), Geoff Richardson, Peter Bourne, Eddie Varney, Nigel Ball, John Lloyd, Eddie Derbyshire, and John White (Head Boy and linesman).

Front row: Denis Roberts, John Bell, Stan Birch, Stan Gerrard, and Johnny Turner.

Do you recognise any of the names — or perhaps even spot a family member? We’d love to hear your memories of school football in Stone. ⚽

Photo source: Mrs Kathleen Lloyd.

Aircrew and Fighter Plane, Hixon Airfield (1943–1945)This photograph shows a Curtiss Tomahawk of 1686 Bomber Defence Tra...
20/03/2026

Aircrew and Fighter Plane, Hixon Airfield (1943–1945)

This photograph shows a Curtiss Tomahawk of 1686 Bomber Defence Training Flight at Hixon Airfield. The unit’s role was to simulate enemy fighters, helping to train bomber crews in how to defend their aircraft. The flight was formed in July 1943 and disbanded in August 1944.

The aircraft carries the distinctive sharkmouth emblem, famously used by 112 Squadron in North Africa and the American Volunteer Group (“Flying Tigers”) in China. Its appearance on a UK-based aircraft is far less well known.

Hixon Military Airbase was built during the Second World War. After the war, it was used for storing surplus RAF vehicles. Today, the site is an industrial estate.

Image courtesy of Hixon Local History Society / Staffordshire Museum Service.

Alleyne’s Grammar School, Stone – 1909This postcard view shows Alleyne’s Grammar School in 1909. The card was franked in...
17/03/2026

Alleyne’s Grammar School, Stone – 1909

This postcard view shows Alleyne’s Grammar School in 1909. The card was franked in Stone on 29 December 1909 and sent to an address in Willenhall.

The school was founded in 1558 by Rev. Thomas Alleyne, with the Masters and Fellows of Trinity College, Cambridge appointed as trustees. The first school building stood near St. Michael’s Church and was used until 1843, when there were 38 pupils enrolled, including boarders.

A new building, Cambridge House on Station Road, was then erected with an endowment of £15 per annum. In 1889 the school moved again, to new premises at Oulton Cross on land gifted by Lady Forester of Meaford Hall. It was officially opened by Lord Granville on 17 June 1889, and a new block was added in 1908.

In 1924, the Staffordshire Education Committee took responsibility for the school’s maintenance. Girls were first admitted in September 1944, and in 2013 the school became Alleyne’s Academy.

Do you have family connections to Alleyne’s — or memories of your own school days there?

Milford Hall Cricket Club v Wolverhampton Wanderers FC – August 1989This photograph, taken by the Staffordshire Newslett...
13/03/2026

Milford Hall Cricket Club v Wolverhampton Wanderers FC – August 1989

This photograph, taken by the Staffordshire Newsletter, captures the annual challenge cricket match between Milford Hall Cricket Club and Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club in August 1989.

Pictured from left to right are:
Andy Edwards (Milford Hall CC captain), Ian Collingham (Milford Hall CC), Gary Bellamy (Wolves captain), Nicky Clarke (Wolves), and Keith Pearson (Wolves secretary and Milford Hall CC member). In front of the stumps is Wolves goalkeeper Vince Bartram.

Milford Hall C.C. was founded in 1930, succeeding Walton Cricket Club, who previously played on a ground on Oldcroft Road in Walton-on-the-Hill. The Milford Hall ground was established in the parkland surrounding the Hall.

Do you remember this annual fixture — or were you there that day? 🏏

Bass Museum Shires and Dray, Bass, Burton-on-Trent, 1993 - 1995Team of two Bass shire horses driven by Barry Coffen pull...
10/03/2026

Bass Museum Shires and Dray, Bass, Burton-on-Trent, 1993 - 1995

Team of two Bass shire horses driven by Barry Coffen pulling the Bass Worthington horse-drawn bus. Bass Shire Horse Team 'bus' and the Joiners' Shop can be seen in the background.

Source: Circle Photography/National Brewery Centre, Burton upon Trent

The Folly at Mow CopThis postcard view shows the famous folly at Mow Cop, published by the Doncaster Rotophoto Co. Ltd.T...
06/03/2026

The Folly at Mow Cop

This postcard view shows the famous folly at Mow Cop, published by the Doncaster Rotophoto Co. Ltd.

The ruined castle was designed by Randle Wilbraham so that it could be seen from his home at Rode Hall. Standing nearly 1,100 feet above sea level on the border of Cheshire and Staffordshire, it’s a striking landmark.

The turret originally had two floors and was furnished as a summer house. Mow Cop was given to the National Trust in 1937.

Reproduced by kind permission of the Staffordshire Newsletter, who retain copyright.

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ST180WL

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