Uttoxeter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Uttoxeter |
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 St Mary's Church |
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 Uttoxeter
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| Population | 14,014 (2021) |
| OS grid reference | SK0933 |
| Civil parish |
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| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | UTTOXETER |
| Postcode district | ST14 |
| Dialling code | 01889 |
| Police | Staffordshire |
| Fire | Staffordshire |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| EU Parliament | West Midlands |
| UK Parliament |
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Uttoxeter (say "yoo-TOK-sit-er") is a lively market town in Staffordshire, England. It's close to the border of Derbyshire. This town is known for its markets and its interesting past.
Uttoxeter is about 14 miles (23 km) from Burton upon Trent and Stafford. It's also about 16 miles (26 km) from Stoke-on-Trent and 20 miles (32 km) from Derby. In 2021, about 14,014 people lived here. Famous writers like Samuel Johnson and Mary Howitt have connections to the town.
Contents
History of Uttoxeter
Uttoxeter's name has been spelled many ways over time! It first appeared in a very old book called the Domesday Book in 1086 as "Wotocheshede." Its name likely comes from an old Anglo-Saxon phrase meaning "Wuttuc's home on the heath."
Some historians think people lived here even before the Romans. Tools from the Bronze Age have been found in the town. These tools are now on display in a museum in Stoke-on-Trent. It's possible that the Romans were active here too. This is because of the town's good location near the River Dove. Also, there were large Roman forts nearby at Rocester.
Uttoxeter was the site of the last major surrender by the Royalist army during the English Civil War. This happened on August 25, 1648.
One of the most famous stories from Uttoxeter involves Samuel Johnson. His father used to sell books at the Uttoxeter market. Young Samuel once refused to help him. Years later, Johnson stood in the rain without a hat as a way to say sorry for not helping his father. A monument called the Johnson Memorial in the Market Place remembers this event.
Mary Howitt, a Quaker writer, grew up in Uttoxeter. She wrote the famous poem "The Spider and the Fly." The town and its nature inspired many of her poems and books. A road in the town, Howitt Crescent, is named after her. Her old house, Howitt Place, is still standing today.
A local architect named Thomas Fradgley designed many buildings in Uttoxeter. These include the Uttoxeter Town Hall and the Johnson Memorial. He also helped design parts of Alton Towers.
For many years, a large brewery called Bunting's was in the town centre. It closed in 1929. Later, the brewery buildings were taken down to make way for shops and a car park. The old clock from the brewery was saved. It is now above the entrance to a coffee shop in the Carters Square Shopping Centre.
In 2008, Uttoxeter celebrated a big birthday. It was 700 years since the town received its special market charter in 1308. This charter allows the town to hold markets on Saturdays, Wednesdays, and other special days.
How Uttoxeter is Governed
Uttoxeter has three levels of local government. These are:
- Uttoxeter Town Council (for the town itself)
- East Staffordshire Borough Council (for the wider area)
- Staffordshire County Council (for the whole county)
The Town Council works from the Uttoxeter Town Hall on the High Street.
Uttoxeter used to be an "urban district" with its own council. This changed in 1974. The town then became part of the new East Staffordshire district. A new group, the Uttoxeter Town Council, was created to look after the town's local needs.
Economy and Jobs
In 1945, Joseph Cyril Bamford started his company, J C Bamford Excavators Limited, in Uttoxeter. Today, it's known as JCB. This company, based nearby in Rocester, is one of the world's biggest makers of construction equipment. JCB's first machine was a tipping trailer built in a garage in Uttoxeter. The Bamford family had another large company in the town, Bamfords, which made farm machinery.
Other companies in Uttoxeter include Elkes Biscuits, which makes the famous malted milk biscuit. Glennans Crisps, known for vegetable crisps, is also based here.
The Uttoxeter Racecourse is very important for the town's economy. It hosts the Midlands Grand National horse race and brings many visitors. Being close to the Alton Towers Resort, St. George's Park, and the Peak District National Park also helps tourism.
Farming is still a big part of the local economy. Uttoxeter is in an area known for dairy farming. The town used to be a major trading place for butter and cheese. A new cattle market was planned after the old one closed in 2004. However, the land was later used for new shops and a medical centre.
Recent Town Changes
Uttoxeter town centre had a big makeover in 2006–2007. The Market Place and other main streets got new stone paths and street furniture.
A shopping area called Dovefields Retail Park started to be built in 1998. It now has a large supermarket and other shops. In 2005, an entertainment centre opened with a bowling alley, cinema, and fitness centre.
The old JCB site in the town centre was taken down in 2009. A new Waitrose store opened there in 2016, and an Aldi store opened in 2022. There are also plans for new homes, a park, and business units on this site.
In 2019, the Uttoxeter Brewing Company started making beer in the town centre. This was the first time beer had been brewed commercially in Uttoxeter since 1929.
Transport in Uttoxeter
Uttoxeter has its own railway station. Trains run hourly between Crewe and Newark Castle.
The town's bus station offers services to nearby towns like Cheadle, Burton upon Trent, Stoke on Trent, and Derby. There's also a special bus service to Alton Towers during the summer.
The main A50 road, which connects Stoke-on-Trent and Derby, runs through the town.
Uttoxeter used to have a canal called the Uttoxeter Canal. Most of it has disappeared now. The nearest airport is East Midlands, about 29 miles (47 km) away.
Public Services
- Police: Policing is handled by Staffordshire Police from their station in Balance Street.
- Fire Service: The Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service provides fire and rescue services. Uttoxeter Fire Station is in Cheadle Road.
- Hospitals: Uttoxeter does not have its own hospital. People go to nearby hospitals in Burton upon Trent, Stafford, Stoke-on-Trent, or Derby. There are also Rapid Response Paramedics and volunteer first responders in the town.
- Water: South Staffordshire Water provides drinking water, and Severn Trent manages waste water.
Places to Visit
St Mary's Catholic Church in Balance Street was designed by Augustus Welby Pugin. He also worked on Alton Towers and the Houses of Parliament. A few miles away are the old ruins of Croxden Abbey, which was founded in 1176.
The Museum of Uttoxeter Life is in Carter Street. It's run by volunteers and shows local history. It also has a small gift shop and a cafe.
The town's Market Place has the main war memorial, the Millennium Monument, and the Dr Johnson Memorial. Markets are held here weekly on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. There's also a special Makers' Market once a month.
Smallwood Manor, just outside town, was built in 1886. It used to be a school and is now a healthcare centre. The National Trust's Museum of Childhood is at nearby Sudbury Hall.
Bramshall Road Park is the town's main recreation area. It has tennis courts, a skate park, a basketball court, a football pitch, and play areas for children. It also has pretty flowers and a nature reserve.
Alton Towers Resort, a popular theme park, is about 10 miles (16 km) from Uttoxeter. The Peak District National Park is also about 20 miles (32 km) away.
An old Anglo-Saxon box called the Uttoxeter Casket was found near the town. It is now in a museum in Ohio, USA.
Media and News
Television
Uttoxeter gets its TV signals from BBC West Midlands and ITV Central. You can also sometimes get BBC East Midlands.
Radio
Local radio stations include BBC Radio Derby, Greatest Hits Radio Midlands, and Capital Midlands.
Newspapers
Uttoxeter has local newspapers like the Uttoxeter Advertiser (online only) and the Uttoxeter Echo. There's also a community magazine called the Shire Standard.
Culture and Events
The Uttoxeter Civic Society works to protect the town's history and heritage.
Each year, the Uttoxeter Lions group organises fun events. These include a beer festival in June, "Lark in the Park" in August, and a Bonfire and Fireworks Night in November. They also hold a Christmas fair called "Cracker Night."
The Uttoxeter Choral Society, a singing group, was started in 1881. It is one of the oldest in the United Kingdom.
Uttoxeter is also home to the Acoustic Festival of Britain, a music festival.
Uttoxeter on TV
Uttoxeter was featured in funny sketches by comedians Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie in their TV show A Bit of Fry and Laurie. They joked about business people from Uttoxeter having big plans for a sports centre. The humour came from the fact that Uttoxeter is usually a quiet town.
The town also appeared in the TV show Countryfile. Its cattle market was shown in 2005, just before it closed.
Oldfields Hall Middle School was used as a filming location for the movie A Room for Romeo Brass. This film was made by two people from Uttoxeter, Shane Meadows and Paul Fraser.
Uttoxeter Racecourse has been used in the popular soap opera Coronation Street.
Religion
St Mary the Virgin Church
The most well-known church in Uttoxeter is St Mary the Virgin Church (Church of England). The building you see today is mostly from 1877, but its tower and some other parts are much older, from the 14th century.
St Mary's Catholic Church
The Roman Catholic church in town is St Mary's. It was built in 1838 and designed by Augustus Pugin.
Other Churches
Uttoxeter also has a Methodist church (built in 1812), a United Reformed church, a Pentecostal Church, a Free Church, and a Kingdom Hall for Jehovah's Witnesses.
Quaker Meeting House
The Uttoxeter Meeting House for Quakers was built in 1706. It closed for a while but reopened in 1922 and has been used ever since.
Education
Uttoxeter has a three-part school system:
- First schools: For younger children.
- Middle schools: There are three middle schools: Oldfields Hall, Windsor Park, and Ryecroft (in Rocester).
- High school: Thomas Alleyne's is the main high school. It has over 1,100 students and great sports facilities like a swimming pool and football pitches. It's the only high school in Staffordshire with a school farm! It also has a sixth form for older students.
Before this system, the town had different schools, including a grammar school.
The closest universities are the University of Derby and Staffordshire University.
Sport
Uttoxeter is the hometown of Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer Adam Peaty. He holds world records for the 50m and 100m breaststroke. In 2015, he opened the redeveloped Uttoxeter Leisure Centre, which now has the Adam Peaty swimming pool.
Uttoxeter Cricket Club started in 1907. They moved to a new ground in 2019.
Uttoxeter Racecourse is famous for horse racing. It hosts the yearly Midlands Grand National.
Uttoxeter Rugby Club was formed in 1982. It was the first rugby team in a town that was traditionally more focused on association football.
Uttoxeter Town F.C. is the local football club. They have been successful in local leagues. Rocester F.C. plays in the nearby village of Rocester.
Uttoxeter Juniors Football Club provides football for children in the area since 1964.
The Manor golf course is a short walk from the town.
Uttoxeter Leisure Centre has a swimming pool, gym, and sports hall.
Uttoxeter Rifle Club is a shooting club based nearby in Denstone.
Notable People from Uttoxeter
Many interesting people have connections to Uttoxeter:
- Thomas Alleyne (around 1488–1558) was a priest who founded schools, including Thomas Alleyne's High School in Uttoxeter.
- Thomas Allen (1542–1632), a mathematician and astrologer, was born here.
- Robert Bakewell (1682–1752), an artist and metal worker, was born in the town.
- Admiral Lord Gardner (1742–1809), a naval officer, was born at the manor house.
- Joseph Cyril Bamford (1916–2001), who founded JCB, was born in Uttoxeter.
- Peter Vaughan (1923–2016), a TV and film actor, lived in the town.
- Anthony Bamford (born 1945), a billionaire and son of Joseph Cyril Bamford, was born here.
- Shane Meadows (born 1972), a writer and film director known for This Is England, grew up in Uttoxeter.
- Aaron Jeffcoate (born 1993), an actor known for Casualty, grew up and lives in Uttoxeter.
Sports People
- Vincent Blore (1908–1997), a football goalkeeper, played for many clubs.
- Bartley Gorman (1944–2002), a bare-knuckle boxer, lived in the town for many years.
- Gary Croft (born 1974), a footballer, grew up here.
- Jason Beardsley (born 1989), a footballer for Notts County F.C..
- Adam Peaty (born 1994), an Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer.
See also
In Spanish: Uttoxeter para niños
