- Izaak Walton watches on -
Saturday 23rd March 2019 starts with me jumping aboard the 10:15 Manchester train at Wolverhampton. The journey time to Stafford takes just over ten minutes (no time at all) so I'm soon reacquainting myself with Victoria Park just opposite the railway station. It's customary here for me to say hello to WG Grace's statue near the bowling green so by way of variety this time I meet Izaak Walton gazing out upon the River Sow, the renowned author of 'The Compleat Angler' having been born in Stafford circa 1593.
- Queensville Stores -
Navigating my way through the town centre and past the Forebridge Lock-up (a preserved stone cell historically used to detain miscreant drunks), I join the A34 Lichfield Road towards Queensville. The photos are flowing thanks to St Leonard's Primary - a Victorian schoolhouse enlivened by springtime blossom - followed by the Spittal Brook Inn, positioned immediately beside the railway at Queensville Bridge. I also add in the Queensville Stores before crossing the River Penk at Radford Bank with the Stonehouse carvery for company.
- Wildwood Nature Reserve -
My first 'W' target is the Wildwood estate as situated on the south-eastern fringes of Stafford. Chepstow Drive reveals some relatively modern housing and offers a glimpse of the local nature reserve arranged around an open pool. Wildwood Drive then guides me towards the estate centre where amenities include a Co-op supermarket, a Mormon church and the Wildwood pub (part of the Sizzling chain), whereas the little post office can be found just across the way on Cannock Road.
- A Walton Welcome -
Continuing via Bridle Road (which becomes a pebbly track halfway along), I emerge onto Mendip Avenue and thence Selworthy Drive with Walton High School proving impossible to miss. The school is one of the principal features of Walton on the Hill, a sizeable settlement that forms part of the parish of Berkswich (as indeed do Wildwood, Weeping Cross and Baswich). The A513 passes through heading for Milford and Shugborough Hall but I aim for Weeping Cross hoping to track down a Bodmin Avenue watering hole.
- Baswich Library -
The establishment in question is 'bod' although I hesitate to refer to it as a pub as it's really more of a bistro bar, opened in a disused shopfront by the Titanic Brewery - incidentally the Co-op opposite was built on the site of the area's previous boozer (the Lynton Arms) so local pub provision has practically gone full circle. A nice pint of Steerage slakes my thirst amid the lunchtime diners and coffee drinkers; the toilets meanwhile are signified by footwear - brown brogues for the gents and high heels for the ladies. Feeling refreshed, I pitch into photos of nearby St Anne's Catholic Church and Baswich Library as positioned either side of Lynton Avenue.
- Baswick Bridge -
I could investigate Baswich more widely (for example by finding Holy Trinity Church) but I'm keen to sample an unexplored section of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal. I thereby pick up the towpath at Radford Bridge and proceed northwards, encountering Meadow Bridge and Baswick Bridge in quick succession. The canal is accompanied by both the Sow and the Penk as the rivers form a confluence near St Thomas Bridge (Baswich Lane), although there used to be a lock and junction here with the former Stafford Branch Canal. The current wider waterscape can best be surveyed from Two Waters Way for views across the flood plain complete with grazing cattle.
- The Morris Man -
After a brief flirtation with Tixall Road, I venture into the Kingston Hill estate courtesy of Birkdale Drive. Kingston Pool Covert is another intriguing example of open space before I reach Alliss Close for the Morris Man, a Desi-type place that seems to specialise in Nepalese and Indian cuisine - Mr D9 would no doubt get excited by the building's box boozer appearance! The A518 Weston Road will be my route back into Stafford so I top up the photo count with shots of the County Hospital and St John the Baptist church.
- A Metropolitan morsel -
A tad closer to the town centre, Weston Road supplies further targets in the form of the Prince of Wales and the Metropolitan Bar. The latter of those can claim turnpike associations on the fork with Tixall Road and was previously known as the Gate; the 1930s roadhouse feel here is enough to tempt me inside for a decent drop of Doom Bar. My final approach into Stafford then takes me conveniently past the Shrewsbury Arms, scene of a closing Plum Pig accompanied by crusty pork pie liberally slathered with mustard - yum on both counts! All things told I've covered a good few miles and taken dozens upon dozens of pictures so it's a happy WME that catches the 16:40 train home - cheers!
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