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Scheduled monuments in Staffordshire facts for kids

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Staffordshire, a county in England, is home to many amazing historical places called scheduled monuments. These are special archaeological sites or old buildings that are really important to the country's history. They are protected by law so they can be preserved for everyone to learn from and enjoy.

Discover Staffordshire's Ancient Wonders

What are Scheduled Monuments?

A scheduled monument is like a super important historical treasure. It could be an old castle, an ancient burial mound, or even the remains of a Roman camp. These sites are so important that the government gives them special protection. This means no one can change them without permission.

English Heritage is the group that helps find and list these special places. They work with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to make sure these sites are safe. There are about 20,000 scheduled monuments across the United Kingdom! Sometimes, one entry on the list can even include more than one site.

A scheduled monument can also be a listed building. However, English Heritage often thinks that being a listed building offers even better protection for old buildings. If a monument is no longer considered important enough, it can be removed from the list.

Types of Ancient Sites in Staffordshire

Staffordshire has over 250 scheduled monuments! These include many different kinds of historical sites. You can find ancient burial mounds called barrows, old Roman camps, strong castles, and medieval moated sites (places surrounded by water for defense). Let's explore some cool examples!

Castles and Forts

Staffordshire has some fantastic castles and hillforts that tell stories of knights and ancient battles.

  • Alton Castle is a grand castle located in Alton. It has a long history and is a great example of medieval architecture.
  • Chartley Castle in Stowe-by-Chartley is another important castle. It also includes old water systems and garden remains.
  • Eccleshall Castle is found in Eccleshall. It's a historic site that once played a role in local power.
  • Heighley Castle in Madeley is a fascinating ruin. It shows us what castles looked like long ago.
  • Stafford Castle is a well-known landmark in Stafford. It's a great place to imagine life in the past.
  • Tamworth Castle is in Tamworth. This castle has stood for centuries and seen many historical events.
  • Tutbury Castle in Tutbury is another impressive castle. It has a rich history and offers great views.

Besides castles, there are also ancient hillforts. These were large, protected settlements built on hills.

  • Berry Ring hillfort in Bradley is an example of an ancient fort.
  • Castle Ring in Cannock Chase is a large hillfort. It was also used as a medieval hunting lodge.
  • Kinver Edge Hillfort in Kinver is another important hillfort. It was a strong, single-walled fort.
  • There are also multivallate (multi-walled) hillforts like the one at Berth Hill in Maer and Bury Bank in Stone Rural.

Ancient Burial Mounds (Barrows)

Many scheduled monuments in Staffordshire are barrows. These are ancient burial mounds where people were buried long, long ago. They come in different shapes, like bowl barrows (shaped like an upside-down bowl) and long barrows.

  • The Auctioneer's Mound in Loggerheads is a bowl barrow.
  • There are many bowl barrows found across the Staffordshire Moorlands, like Blake Low bowl barrow and Brund Low bowl barrow.
  • Longlow is a famous long barrow in Wetton.

Moated Sites

Moated sites are old homes or settlements that were surrounded by a ditch filled with water. This was a way to protect the people living there.

  • Alley's Lane moated site in Church Eaton is an example.
  • Bagot's Bromley moated manorial enclosure is another interesting site.
  • Norbury Manor in Norbury is a moated site that also has eight fishponds.
  • Sandon Old Hall moated site in Sandon is another important example.
  • The site of Old Madeley Manor in Madeley includes a moated site, a 16th-century house, gardens, and a watermill.

Roman and Industrial Sites

Staffordshire also has remains from the Roman period and early industrial times.

  • The Roman site of Letocetum in Wall, Lichfield, was an important Roman settlement.
  • There are also Roman camps near Swindon iron works and in Kinvaston.
  • Chatterley Whitfield Colliery in Stoke-on-Trent is a scheduled monument related to mining. It shows the county's industrial past.
  • Consall Lime Kilns and the Copper mines on Ecton Hill are other examples of industrial heritage.

Crosses and Other Structures

Many ancient crosses are also protected. These often mark important places or were used for religious purposes.

  • Abbots Bromley market cross is a historic cross.
  • Anglo-Scandinavian crosses are found in places like Chebsey, Alstonefield, and Ilam.
  • The Butter Cross in Bradnop is another example of a historic cross.
  • Essex Bridge in Great Haywood is a beautiful old bridge.
  • Brindley's Mill in Leek is a historic mill.

Staffordshire's scheduled monuments offer a fascinating look into the past, from prehistoric times to the medieval period and beyond. They are important reminders of the people and events that shaped the county.

Images for kids

  • The Butter Cross, Abbots Bromley - geograph.org.uk - 123390

    Abbots Bromley market cross

  • Alton Castle (3558100574)

    Alton Castle

  • Base of Cross Shaft, Alstonefield

    Anglo-Scandinavian cross fragment, St Peter's churchyard

  • Saxon Cross (2), Ilam Churchyard

    Anglo-Scandinavian cross, Church of the Holy Cross

  • Saxon Cross, Ilam Churchyard

    Anglo-Scandinavian cross, Church of the Holy Cross

  • Cross, St Edward's Church. Leek

    Anglo-Scandinavian cross, St Edward's Church

  • Medieval cross, Rolleston (geograph 3862527)

    Anglo-Scandinavian cross, St Mary's churchyard

  • Earthwork at Bagot's Bromley - geograph.org.uk - 1136678

    Bagot's Bromley moated manorial enclosure

  • Boscobel House

    Boscobel House

  • Awbridge Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 370859

    Bridge, towpath and lock on Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal at Awbridge

  • Brindleys Corn Mill, Leek, July 2019

    Brindley's Mill

  • Wenceslas Hollar - Burton church (State 2)

    Burton upon Trent Abbey

  • Cross East of Stile House Farmhouse

    Butter Cross, Bradnop

  • Forton Aqueduct - geograph.org.uk - 98665

    Canal aqueduct

  • Castle Ring - geograph.org.uk - 3108

    Castle Ring

  • Chartley Castle-1

    Chartley Castle

  • Chatterley Whitfield Colliery 2014

    Chatterley Whitfield Colliery

  • Churchyard Cross, St Edward's Church, Cheddleton

    Churchyard cross, St Edward's churchyard

  • Consall Lime Kilns 02

    Consall Lime Kilns

  • Ecton Hill

    Copper mines on Ecton Hill

  • Creswell chapel

    Creswell Chapel

  • Cross in Rocester churchyard (geograph 5558333)

    Cross in Rocester churchyard

  • CroxdenAbbey

    Croxden Abbey

  • Towards Devil's Ring and Finger - geograph.org.uk - 1176247

    Devil's Ring and Finger

  • Dieulacres - Église 1

    Dieu-la-Cres Abbey (remains)

  • Dove Bridge, Staffordshire

    Dove Bridge

  • EccleshallCastle

    Eccleshall Castle

  • Ellastone Bridge over the River Dove

    Ellastone Bridge

  • Essex Bridge Great Haywood - geograph.org.uk - 175573

    Essex Bridge, Great Haywood

  • Moated site, Garshall Green - geograph.org.uk - 1148684

    Garshall moated site

  • Bridge No 109, Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal , Great Haywood - geograph.org.uk - 1179718

    Great Haywood canal bridge No 109

  • Whipping post, Great Gate - geograph.org.uk - 230651

    Greatgate Whipping Post

  • Hales, Roman Villa - geograph.org.uk - 469877

    Hales Roman Villa

  • Part of Heighley Castle

    Heighley Castle

  • Toposcope inside iron age hill fort, Kinver Edge - geograph.org.uk - 112885

    Kinver Edge Hillfort

  • Littywood Manor - geograph.org.uk - 470254

    Littywood moated site

  • Market Cross (2), Leek

    Market Cross

  • Norbury Manor Farm Staffordshire 2013 Geograph 3436278

    Norbury Manor

  • Pillaton Old Hall

    Pillaton Old Hall

  • Ranton abbey

    Ranton Priory

  • Moated site, Sandon Park - geograph.org.uk - 1159971

    Sandon Old Hall moated site

  • Shenstone Park Farm - geograph.org.uk - 323484

    Shenstone Park moated site

  • Shepherd's Cross, Biddulph

    Shepherd's Cross

  • Old Madeley Manor - geograph.org.uk - 409386

    Site of Old Madeley Manor

  • St Bertram's Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 1105936

    St Bertram's Bridge, Ilam

  • Stafford Castle 2

    Stafford Castle

  • Tamworth Castle - geograph.org.uk - 343714

    Tamworth Castle

  • Crosses in Checkley churchyard 1

    Three Anglo-Scandinavian crosses in St Mary's and All Saints' churchyard

  • Throwley Old Hall (geograph 2392675)

    Throwley Old Hall

  • Tutbury Castle - geograph.org.uk - 76951

    Tutbury Castle

  • Wall Roman Site

    Roman site of Letocetum

  • Field with earthworks, Wychnor - geograph.org.uk - 1584579

    Wychnor deserted medieval village

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