Stoke on Trent Landmarks and Monuments
(Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, England, UK)
There are some important landmarks dotted around Staffordshire, many of which either stand within Stoke on Trent, or very close by. The Elizabethan Ford Green Hall at Smallthorne is one such building and this magnificent farmhouse dates back to 1624, when it was built using a traditional timber-frame structure.
Longton Town Hall is another eye-catching historical landmark in Stoke on Trent, as is the more modern Britannia Stadium, a huge football stadium where important local and regional soccer matches are played. Nearby, the Shugborough Estate is quite breathtaking and features splendid ornamental gardens, while in Congleton, Cheshire, the Little Moreton Hall can be reached in just over 20 minutes and is well worth the short journey.
Shugborough Hall and Estate
Address: Milford / Shugborough, Stafford, Staffordshire, ST17 0XB, England, UK
Tel: +44 01889 881388
The Shugborough Estate lies next to Stafford, to one side of Cannock Chase, and approximately 40 km / 25 miles to the south of Stoke on Trent, where it is one of the most important and magnificent landmarks in the whole of Staffordshire. This neoclassical mansion is especially regal in its appearance and is set within a staggering 365 hectares / 900 acres of rolling parkland. The ancestral residence of Lord Lichfield, Shugborough Hall dates from 1693 and is now owned by the National Trust and maintained by Staffordshire County Council. Various impressive monuments grace the surrounding grounds and include the Doric Temple, the Triumphal Arch and the Chinese House. Also onsite is a working farm, period servant's quarters, a walled kitchen garden, a gift shop, a tea room and a land train.
Open hours: March to October, daily - 11:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children, families (two adults and up to three children) and seniors, children five years old and under are free
Ford Green Hall
Address: Ford Green Road, Smallthorne, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, ST6 1NG, England, UK
Tel: +44 01782 233195
Now managed by the city council, Ford Green Hall is located within the Smallthorne area of Stoke on Trent, on the northerly side of the city, just off Hanley Road and close to the A53 (Leek New Road). Much of its original farmland has been sold over the years, although the remaining period gardens have become a particular feature of the house, including formal landscaping and even a dovecote from the 18th century. The hall now functions as a museum-type attraction, with period furnishings, various events and an exceptional collection of ceramics, textiles and antiques.
Open hours: Sunday to Thursday - 13:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children, families and seniors, children five years old and under are free, small additional charge for some craft activities
Britannia Stadium
Address: Stanley Matthews Way, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST4 4EG, England, UK
A major football stadium on the southern side of the city, the Britannia Stadium serves as the home ground of the Stoke City Football Club and was built in 1997 on the former site of the Hern Heath colliery, at the cost of around £15 million. Capable of accommodating just under 30,000 spectators, the Britannia has seen some exciting games in years gone by, with a record attendance in 2002, during the FA Cup third-round tie with Everton.
Open hours: hours vary according to match
Admission: charge, discounts for children and seniors
Longton Town Hall
Address: Times Square, Longton, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, ST3 1BZ, England, UK
Tel: +44 01782 314364
Constructed in the middle of the 19th century, Longton Town Hall was built at the junction of both Commerce Street and Market Street. This important brick landmark was converted into a courthouse in 1856, at which time the exterior architecture was somewhat altered and the ground arches actually filled in. During the 1980s, the future of Longton Town Hall was rather uncertain and at one point demolition really did look like the expected outcome. However, after much local protesting, the building was saved and preserved for future generations to admire and now operates as a trendy arts-house cinema venue.
Open hours: hours vary
Admission: charge
Little Moreton Hall
Address: Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 4SD, England, UK
Tel: +44 01260 272018
Widely regarded as the most splendid black-and-white timber construction house in
England, visitors to the 16th-century Little Moreton Hall will immediately appreciate this accolade, as soon as they set eyes upon this unique Grade-I listed landmark. Little Moreton Hall stands some 16 km / 10 miles to the north of Stoke on Trent, on the south-westerly outskirts of Congleton and off the A34, and is now protected as an important Scheduled Monument. The charm of this building is simply its quirky nature, irregularity, gabled windows and patterned facade. In the 19th century, the hall fell into a state of disrepair, with the roof beginning to cave in noticeably. Considerable restoration work was carried out from the late 19th century, up until 1938, when ownership of the house was transferred to the National Trust, who continued its upkeep and also restored its overgrown Tudor knot gardens. Many visitors describe the house as something out of a fairytale, as if it had been built from gingerbread.
Open hours: late February to mid-March, November and December, Saturday and Sunday - 11:00 to 16:00; mid-March to October, Wednesday to Sunday - 11:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children, families and groups, free for members of the National Trust, joint tickets with the
Biddulph Grange Gardens are available