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Stafford: Canal Side Stroll in Stone

Difficulty Easy Access

Walking time 30 minutes

Length 1.8km / 1.1mi

Route developer: Kevin Royal

Route checker: Geoff Loadwick

Start location The Frank Jordan Centre, Licheld Street, Stone
Route Summary This is a short circular walk in the ancient town of Stone. The walk passes through the main shopping centre where you can view some of the many historic buildings, before heading back along the Trent & Mersey Canal which was completed in 1771.
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Getting there

The Frank Jordan Centre has a car park. There is plenty of car parking space available elsewhere in Stone.

Stone is also served by local buses 1,2 and 3 which are at the time of writing run by DG Coach and Bennetts Travel Cranberry.

Bus routes X1, 101, 249, 250 and 490 operate from Stoke to Stafford via Stone.

 

Description

[1] From the main entrance of the Frank Jordan Centre in Lichfield Street, taking great care, cross the busy road and turn left. Carefully cross the end of Church Street and continue to the main road. Use the pedestrian-controlled traffic lights to safely cross into High Street.  Most traffic has been prohibited in High Street between 10.00am and 4.00pm. Continue along High Street until you reach the next main road. Use the pedestrian-controlled traffic lights on the left side of High Street to safely cross into Station Road.

[2] Pass the Crown & Anchor public house on your left hand side and then carefully cross to the pavement on the other side of Station Road.  Continue along Station Road beyond Margaret Street, which comes in from the left, to reach the pedestrian crossing. Use the crossing to safely cross to the other side of this busy road. Turn left and take the first turning on the right into Margaret Street.  When Margaret Street ends turn right and stay on the right hand side footpath until you meet a canal bridge.

[3] Cross over the bridge and turn right onto the towpath. On the towpath turn right again. You will notice a tunnel that goes under the bridge. At the entrance to the tunnel there is an old wooden roller that was used to ease the passage of a tow-rope in the days when horses were used on the tow-paths. Taking care as the path slopes downhill and is cobbled in this location, pass through the tunnel beside the lock. Continue until you reach the next lock. To avoid a steep slope downhill, pass through the gateway on the right, turn left and walk along the pavement a few metres to a small car park where you can re-join the tow path.  Otherwise, carefully pass under the bridge. Continue along the towpath to the Star public house. Continue past the public house and follow the towpath through the tunnel alongside the canal lock taking care as the path in this location slopes downhill and is cobbled. After 50 metres, there is a path to the right, which goes back on itself up a slight incline back to the main road. Take this path and at the road turn right.

[4] Stay on this side of the main road, cross the canal, take great care crossing Abbey Street and take the next turn on the right into Lichfield Street. This will take you back to The Frank Jordan Centre.

POI information

A. Former Stone Brewery site, now Coop Supermarket

B. The Trent & Mersey Canal has played a vital role in the development of the town. In 1766 Josiah Wedgwood and engineer James Brindley signed the document that established the Trent & Mersey Canal Company

The canal opened in1771 and provided a quick, safe and cheap method of bringing large amounts of raw materials to the Potteries and also transporting china products to various destinations.

Although the canal is no longer used for transportation of cargo, over 10,000 narrow boats pass through Stone every year.

www.stonestaffordshire.co.uk

C. The Star public house is in the Guinness Book of Records as being the public house with the most different floor levels.

Notes No details available.
Acknowledgements No details available.
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