Eccleshall

Eccleshall is situated in the Sow Valley which is widely understood to be one of the most beautiful parts of the Staffordshire countryside. Thanks to the regions central location it is easy to reach from both the West Midlands and the North of England yet in many ways remains unspoilt and rural, full of charm and intriguing sights and sounds. The town of Eccleshall itself is situation seven miles north west of Stafford and six miles west of Stone. The Domesday Book describes Eccleshall in 1086 as being home to no more than a hundred inhabitants and archaeological evidence such as the stone at the base of the tower situated at the site of the current day Parish Church of Holy Trinity indicate that the church was in existence at around this time and the base of a 10th century cross still stands outside of the church today.

Eccleshall is a major site of historical interest with many parts of the churches that have been dated to around 1180 and many other structures springing up during the 13th century, with further additions during the 15th century. Eccleshall played a major role in the War of the Roses; the local castle was used as a staging ground for the Lancastrian Queen Margaret of Anjou and her army before and after the defeat at the battle of Blore Heath in 1459. Eccleshall was also a prominent market town in the region and in 1153 it was first granted a license to hold a weekly market. Documentation from 1298 records about 500 people living in Eccleshall so it is easy to see how quickly the settlement grew thanks to the increased trade provided by the market.

Eccleshall castle played a pivotal role in the Civil War, in 1643 the castle was attacked by Sir William Brereton and his Parliamentary army. Their guns damaged the ramparts and walls but the castle remained firm, and recent excavations have discovered a treasure trove of 16th and 17th century pottery and glass that it is believed was dumped as the castle was sieged. Today Eccleshall is a small country town set in beautiful scenery that is enjoyed by both locals and tourists on a regular basis. Recently Eccleshall has become home to a biofuel power station that is fuelled by Elephant Grass delivered from Cornwall.