Local History

Blink and you'll miss it, but the small village of Stowe-by-Chartley has a long and colourful history.

BBC Radio Stoke's look at your local history starts here in the heart of the village, at St John the Baptist Church.

Local History Correspondent Katie Martin spoke to Stowe-by-Chartley resident Jenny Brown.

The tomb of Sir Walter Devereux, Stowe

It's here that you'll find the alabaster tomb of Sir Walter Deverux and his two wives. Sir Walter's grandson Robert, the 2nd Earl of Essex, was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I.

It was after visiting her friend Robert, that Elizabeth I decided Chartley Hall would be a suitable place for her cousin Mary Queen of Scots. 

It was here that the plot by her Catholic supporters to free her went terribly wrong.

Nick Robins found out more when he spoke to local historian Jim Foley.

Opposite the church is the Cock Inn pub, in 1945 Albert Marston went to live there with his Auntie Hilda.

He shared his memories of his time working at the pub with Katie Martin. 

Stowe-by-Chartley was also a stop on the Stafford to Uttoxeter railway line; nicknamed the Clog and Knocker, it played a major part in the transportation of salt from Weston, that went as far a field as Nigeria!

Katie Martin spoke to local author and locomotive enthusiast Phil Jones to find out more. 

To see more photos of Stowe-by-Chartley click on the link to the gallery at the top right of this page.