DISTANCES BY ROADS FROM THIS STATION TO THE FOLLOWING PLACES:—
Places W. ofStation. | Places E. ofStation. | ||
Bradley | 3¾ miles. | Dunstan | 2¼ miles. |
Church Eaton | 5¼ — | Acton Trussel | 2¾ — |
| Bednall | 3½ — | |
| Cannock | 5 — | |
| Rugeley | 8 — | |
| Armitage | 10½ — | |
| Malvesyn Ridware | 11 — | |
| Longdon | 11½ — | |
Penkridge is supposed by Camden to have been the Roman Pennocrucium; its modern name seems derivable from the river Penk, on which it stands.
The town, from its low situation, is liable to frequent inundations. It has no market-day, but two great cattle fairs are held here, on April 30, and first Monday in September. The Church was made collegiate by King John. Penkridge contains about 3,000 inhabitants. Quitting Penkridge, the villages of Thickerscote and Silkmoor appear in the distance; and shortly after leaving Acton Trussel to the E., and Levedale on the W., Dunstan Church, appears above the bank of the railway, on the E. The next object of interest is Stafford Castle, the tower of which is seen just before arriving at
STAFFORD STATION.
Distance to Birmingham, 29¼—Liverpool and Manchester, 68¼ miles.
DISTANCES BY ROADS FROM THIS STATION TO THE FOLLOWING PLACES:—
Places W. ofStation. | Places E. ofStation. | ||
Castlechurch | 1 mile. | Baswick or Berkswick | 1½ mile. |
Coppenhall | 2½ miles. | Marston | 3¼ miles. |
Houghton | 4 — | Tixall | 4 — |
Gnosnal | 7 — | Ingestre | 4 — |
Newport | 12 — | Weston | 4½ — |
| Sandon | 5 — | |
| Gayton | 5½ — | |
| Stowe | 6¾ — | |
| Colwich | 6¾ — | |
| Milwich | 7 — | |
| Fradswell | 7½ — | |
| Hilderston | 8 — | |
| Rugeley | 9 — | |
| Gratwich | 11 — | |
| Abbots Bromley | 11 — | |
| Uttoxeter | 14 — | |
| Lichfield | 17 — | |
Stafford is a borough and market town; contains 8,512 inhabitants. This place, which is of great antiquity, was anciently called Stadeford, from the Saxon Stade, signifying a place on a river, and the trajectus, or ford, across the river Sow, on which it is pleasantly situated, about six miles from its confluence with the Trent.
The entrance from the London road, is by a neat bridge over the river, near which was one of the ancient gates. The houses are in general well-built, and many of them are handsome and modern erections; the streets well paved, and the environs of the town abound with elegant mansions and villas. Assemblies are held in a suite of rooms in the Town Hall, and races take place annually in May. The chief branch of manufacture is that of shoes, and the tanning of leather is carried on to a considerable extent. Stafford is also renowned for its ale, in common with the surrounding neighbourhood. The market is held on Saturday, and fairs on April 5, May 14, June 25, October 3, and December 5.