DID YOU KNOW? A gravestone in the churchyard of St Edwards at Leek suggests that the deceased died at the ripe old age of 438! The ashes of Hanley-born Sir Stanley Matthews are buried beneath the centre circle at Stoke’s Britannia Stadium. The sun sets twice in Leek each summer solstice. Sarah Westwood from Lichfield was the last woman to be executed at Stafford Gaol, in 1844. THE LITTLE BOOK OF STAFFORDSHIRE is a compendium of fascinating information about the county, past and present. Contained within is a plethora of entertaining facts about Staffordshire’s famous and occasionally infamous men and women, its towns and countryside, history, natural history, literary, artistic and sporting achievements, customs ancient and modern, transport, battles and ghostly appearances. A reliable reference book and a quirky guide, this can be dipped into time and time again to reveal something new about the people, the heritage, the secrets and the enduring fascination of the county. A remarkably engaging little book, this is essential reading for visitors and locals alike.

On 5 July 2009 a metal-detectorist started to unearth gold objects in a Staffordshire field. Thus began the discovery of the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon treasure ever found. Consisting of over 1600 items including fittings from the hilts of swords, fragments from helmets, Christian crosses and magnificent pieces of garnet work the Staffordshire Hoard has begun to rewrite history. This new and extended edition of the successful title by Kevin Leahy and Roger Bland delves deeper into the story behind the hoard, using the latest research to fill previous gaps in knowledge and turn some of the original ideas about the discovery on their head. Complete with new photography of the cleaned and conserved objects, showing off the stunning and intricate decoration, this book provides a fascinating account of the history and the discovery of this remarkable hoard.

Over 1150 images display ceramic wares produced at the Cauldon Pottery Works of Staffordshire, England, by Brown-Westhead, Moore & Company. Included are table and tea sets decorated in blue and white, flow blue, and multiple colored transfer prints; majolica centerpieces, jardineres, and garden seats; fine bone china vases, utilitarian ewers, and basins, and decorative tiles. Current market values are found in the captions.

Popular Victorian spaniel figures made in Staffordshire, England from c. 1840-1900 presented with a detailed look at all of the Spaniel variations, history, and recent reproductions beautifully illustrated with color photographs. Spaniel types and sizes, tips for collectors, and a helpful glossary are included. Captions offer descriptions, sizes, dates of manufacture, and current values.

Staffordshire dogs usually took pride of place on mantelpieces in 19th century homes where they could

This book is a fascinating and entertaining mixture of the history and characters of the darts world. It features player profiles, trivia—including players' walk-on music, quickest matches, longest matches, 9-dart finishes, the most loved and hated players, and celebrity fans, as well as a treasure trove of statistical information. As such, all the tension, glory, complexity, and irony of the "art of the arras" is portrayed. Funny, interesting, and perplexing, the reader will smile, reminisce, laugh, and occasionally experience bewilderment as the spirit of the oche is brought to life. The wit and skill of players is mixed with expressions of frustration, pain, confusion, and anguish. Fighters, moaners, clowns, and philosophers rub shoulders between the pages, creating an atmosphere that anyone who has either watched or played the game will recognize. With this book, Brian Belton hits the bullseye of a simple passion that has enjoyed a massive resurgence of popularity in recent years.

This little gem of a book is a repository of intriguing, fascinating, obscure, strange and entertaining facts and trivia about Britain and all the things that have made it great. Within this volume are such themes as myths and legends, traditions and customs, great Britons and great British places, while not forgotten is a celebration of the best of British music, food, entertainment and sport and a host of topics that explore the more eccentric and eclectic people and things that contribute to and define Great Britain. Despite being a relatively small collection of islands, there is always something new, fascinating, frivolous or even bizarre to discover about Great Britain – you will find much of it here. Did You Know? There is no location in Britain which is more than 741⁄2 miles from the sea. The first person in Britain to be convicted of speeding was Walter Arnold of Kent, who in 1896 was fined 1s plus costs for driving at a breakneck 8mph. Britain has some thoroughly unusual pub names, including: The Bucket of Blood in Phillack, Cornwall, The Honest Lawyer in Folkestone and The Old Thirteenth Cheshire Astley Volunteer Rifleman Corps Inn in Stalybridge – which also enjoys the honour of having Britain's longest pub name. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is a well-known corgi fan. She has owned no fewer than 30 during her reign, the first being Susan, who was given to her in 1944.