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Stafford
Stafford is the major county town of Staffordshire and lies to the northerly reaches of the West Midlands between Wolverhampton and Stoke-on-Trent. The name Stafford comes from a description of a "ford" by a "staithe" (or landing place). It proved to be of great strategic value throughout the centuries as it was the only place where an army could cross the River Trent, and it is understood that the settlement evolved from a small collection of houses on an island in the middle of the marshes of the River Sow, a small tributary that runs off the Trent. Parts of this marshland still exist around Stafford, particularly to the northwestern areas of the town. Stafford has a rich heritage and can be dated back to 913 when it was fortified by Ethelfeda, Lady and Mercia and became the capital of Mercia itself.
The queen ruled from this seat of power for five years after her husband and father died and had a major role in the formation of what we now know as Staffordshire. Queen Ethelfeda along with help from her brother, Edward, played a major role in Chrtianising the Pagan Norse raiders who had settled on the east coast of England, launching many of her conquests from Stafford. When the Normans arrived in 1066 they began construction of Stafford Castle atop a nearby hill, this was completed in 1070 and was largely a wood structure that was later rebuilt in stone. Unfortunately now in modern Stafford only the 19th century re-built version of the ruins can be seen, however the majestic earthworks originally constructed by the Normans still remain.
In 1206 King John granted royal charter to Stafford, an event celebrated in 2006 when Queen Elizabeth II visited Stafford to join in the 800th anniversary of this historic occasion. Interestingly Stafford made a name for itself in the shoe making industry, unfortunately in 2001 the last historic shoe factory on Sandon Road was closed and demolished to be replaced by housing. The oldest structure in the town is St Chad's church, and Victoria Park is another "must visit" destination. This was opened in 1908 and is 13 acres of stunning riverside scenery with open air paddling pools, play areas, greenhouses and bird cages. Stafford is also home to the largest timber framed town house in England, the Elizabethan Ancient High House sits on Greengate Street and is now a museum.
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