Burton upon Trent
Encyclopedia
Burton upon Trent, also known as Burton-on-Trent or simply Burton, is a town straddling the River Trent
River Trent
The River Trent is one of the major rivers of England. Its source is in Staffordshire on the southern edge of Biddulph Moor. It flows through the Midlands until it joins the River Ouse at Trent Falls to form the Humber Estuary, which empties into the North Sea below Hull and Immingham.The Trent...

 in the east of Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...

, England. Its associated adjective is "Burtonian".

Burton is best known for its brewing heritage, home to over a dozen breweries in its heyday. It originally grew up around Burton on Trent Abbey, the monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...

 of St. Modwen, and had grown into a busy market town
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...

 by the early modern period. While Burton's great bridge over the Trent was in poor repair by the early 16th century
16th century
As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century lasted from 1501 to 1600. It is regarded by historians as the century in which the rise of the West occurred....

 it served as "a comen passage to and fro many countries to the grett releff and comfort of travellyng people", according to the abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...

. The town, which had an estimated population of 64,449 (2001 Census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....

),
lies within the National Forest
National Forest, England
The National Forest is one of England’s most ambitious environmental projects. Across parts of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire, are being transformed, blending ancient woodland with new planting to create a new national forest...

.

There is some confusion as to whether Burton is based in the West Midlands
West Midlands (region)
The West Midlands is an official region of England, covering the western half of the area traditionally known as the Midlands. It contains the second most populous British city, Birmingham, and the larger West Midlands conurbation, which includes the city of Wolverhampton and large towns of Dudley,...

 or the East Midlands
East Midlands
The East Midlands is one of the regions of England, consisting of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. It encompasses the combined area of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and most of Lincolnshire...

, even though all of the urban centre is southwest of the River Dove
River Dove, Derbyshire
The River Dove is the principal river of the southwestern Peak District, in the Midlands of England and is around in length. It rises on Axe Edge Moor near Buxton and flows generally south to its confluence with the River Trent at Newton Solney. From there, its waters reach the North Sea via the...

, which forms the Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...

/Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...

 boundary. This is probably because it was formerly within the East Midlands Utility (electricity/gas) areas, and has Derby postcodes (DE13-DE15). It could also be due to the fact that the local vernacular shares more similarities with that of East Midlands English
East Midlands English
East Midlands English is a dialect traditionally spoken in those parts of English Midlands lying East of Watling Street...

 than West Midlands English
West Midlands English
West Midlands English is a group of dialects of the English language. The accent has experienced ridicule within the UK for its unusual sound. The accent is a result of extensive migration to the region during the Industrial revolution...

. The town is served by the BBC Midlands (West Midlands) region, based in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...

 and before consolidation exercises formed part of the ITV Central (West) region, again based in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...



The town is served by Burton-on-Trent railway station.

Brewing

For centuries, Burton has been associated with the brewing
Brewing
Brewing is the production of beer through steeping a starch source in water and then fermenting with yeast. Brewing has taken place since around the 6th millennium BCE, and archeological evidence suggests that this technique was used in ancient Egypt...

 industry. This is due to the quality of the local water, which contains a high proportion of dissolved salts, predominantly caused by the gypsum
Gypsum
Gypsum is a very soft sulfate mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate, with the chemical formula CaSO4·2H2O. It is found in alabaster, a decorative stone used in Ancient Egypt. It is the second softest mineral on the Mohs Hardness Scale...

 in the surrounding hills. This allowed a greater proportion of hops, a natural preservative, to be included in the beer, thereby allowing the beer to be shipped further afield. Much of the open land within and around the town is protected from chemical treatment to help preserve this water quality.

The town is currently home to five brewers:
  • Coors Brewers Ltd
    Coors Brewing Company
    The Coors Brewing Company is a regional division of the world's fifth-largest brewing company, the Canadian Molson Coors Brewing Company and is the third-largest brewer in the United States...

    : formerly Bass Brewers Ltd, and now the UK arm of Molson Coors Brewing Company
    Molson Coors Brewing Company
    Molson Coors Brewing Company is a company that was created by the merger of two of North America's largest breweries: Molson of Canada, and Coors of the United States, on February 9, 2005...

     – a brewery from Canada
    Canada
    Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

     (co-headquartered in the United States) – which produces Carling
    Carling
    Carling brands are currently owned by the Molson Coors Brewing Company. In South Africa it is distributed by SABMiller.Carling Black Label is the name of a brand of Canadian lager in Australia, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom and South Africa...

     and Worthington Bitter
    Worthington Draught bitter
    -History:The Worthington Brewery was founded in 1761 by William Worthington, although William had brewed his first ale in 1744. WH Worthington pioneered brewing science in 1866 by employing a chemist, Horace Tabberer, who lead the world in separation and cultivation of pure yeast strains. In 1880...

  • Marston, Thompson and Evershed plc, bought by Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries now renamed Marstons plc
    Marston's
    Marston's is the colloquial name for the brewer and pub operator Marston's plc . The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index...

    . The Marston's Brewery also produces draught Bass
    Bass (beer)
    The Bass Brewery was founded as a brewery in 1777 by William Bass in Burton upon Trent, England. The main brand was Bass Pale Ale, which was once the highest selling beer in the UK...

     under licence from InBev
    InBev
    InBev is a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev. The company existed independently for several years - since the merger between Interbrew and AmBev and until the acquisition of Anheuser-Busch. InBev has operations in over 30 countries and sales in over 130 countries...

  • Burton Bridge Brewery, a local company
  • Tower Brewery, a new microbrewery
  • Cottage Brewery, based in the Old Cottage Inn


It is also the corporate headquarters of the pub operator Punch Taverns plc, which was spun out of Bass in 1997.

In addition, the White Shield micro-brewery remains open alongside the Coors Visitor Centre
Coors Visitor Centre
The National Brewery Centre is a museum and tourist attractions in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England. The centre celebrates the brewing heritage of Burton and features exhibits showcasing the history of brewing techniques...

 (previously the Bass Museum of Brewing).

A by-product of the brewing industry, figuratively and literally, is the presence of the famous British icon Marmite
Marmite
Marmite is the name given to two similar food spreads: the original British version, first produced in the United Kingdom and later South Africa, and a version produced in New Zealand...

 factory in the town. This in turn generated the production of Bovril
Bovril
Bovril is the trademarked name of a thick, salty meat extract, developed in the 1870s by John Lawson Johnston and sold in a distinctive, bulbous jar. It is made in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, owned and distributed by Unilever UK....

. Both owned by multinational Unilever
Unilever
Unilever is a British-Dutch multinational corporation that owns many of the world's consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products....



The opening of the River Trent Navigation
River Trent
The River Trent is one of the major rivers of England. Its source is in Staffordshire on the southern edge of Biddulph Moor. It flows through the Midlands until it joins the River Ouse at Trent Falls to form the Humber Estuary, which empties into the North Sea below Hull and Immingham.The Trent...

 at the beginning of the 18th century allowed Burton beer to be shipped to Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...

, and on to the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...

 and Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...

, as well as to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

 where it was being sold in 1712. A number of breweries opened in the second half of the 18th century to take advantage of this trade. The Napoleonic blockade brought this to a halt, leading to some consolidation and a redirection of the trade to London and Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...

 via canals. When Burton brewers succeeded in replicating the pale ale
Ale
Ale is a type of beer brewed from malted barley using a warm fermentation with a strain of brewers' yeast. The yeast will ferment the beer quickly, giving it a sweet, full bodied and fruity taste...

 produced in London, the advantage of the water’s qualities allowed the development of the trade of Burton India Pale Ale
India Pale Ale
India Pale Ale or IPA is a style of beer within the broader category of pale ale. It was first brewed in England in the 19th century.The first known use of the expression "India pale ale" comes from an advertisement in the Liverpool Mercury newspaper published January 30, 1835...

 (an ale specially brewed to keep during the long sea voyage to India). The building of rail links to Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...

 enabled brewers to export their beer throughout the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...

.

Burton came to dominate this trade, and at its height one quarter of all beer sold in Britain was produced here. In the second half of the 19th century there was a growth in native breweries, supplemented by outside brewing companies moving into the town so that over 30 breweries were recorded in 1880. However at the beginning of the 20th century there was a slump in beer sales causing many breweries to fail, unhelped by the Liberal government
Liberal Government 1905-1915
With the fall of Arthur Balfour's Conservative government in the United Kingdom in December 1905, the Liberals under Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman were called in to form a government. In the subsequent election, the Liberals won an enormous majority...

’s anti-drinking attitudes. This time no new markets were found and so the breweries shrank by closure and consolidation from 20 in 1900 to 8 in 1928. A further process of mergers and buy-outs resulted in three main breweries remaining by 1980: Bass, Ind Coope
Allied Breweries
Allied Breweries was the result of a 1961 merger between Ind Coope , Ansells , and Tetley Walker .- Ansells :...

 and Marston's
Marston's
Marston's is the colloquial name for the brewer and pub operator Marston's plc . The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index...

. Today, only Burton Bridge Brewery remains as an independent brewer.

The town's connection with the brewing industry is celebrated by a sculpture of the Burton Cooper, which is now housed in the Coopers Square shopping centre.

The National Brewery Centre (previously Coors Visitor Centre & the Museum of Brewing and before that the Bass Museum of Brewing) which celebrates the town's brewing heritage is its biggest tourist attraction.

Politics and local government

Burton is the administrative centre for the borough of East Staffordshire
East Staffordshire
East Staffordshire is a local government district with borough status in Staffordshire in England. It has two main towns, Burton upon Trent, famous for its breweries, and Uttoxeter, for its racecourse....

 and forms part of the Burton constituency
Burton (UK Parliament constituency)
Burton is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...

. The local Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...

 is Andrew Griffiths
Andrew Griffiths (politician)
Andrew James Griffiths is an English politician. He is the Conservative Member of Parliament for Burton.-Early life:Griffiths grew up in Sedgley and attended Bramford Primary School and High Arcal School. His father, Bob Griffiths, served as Mayor of Dudley in 1982...

, who has represented the Burton (and Uttoxeter) constituency since May 2010.

Burton was incorporated as a municipal borough
Municipal borough
Municipal boroughs were a type of local government district which existed in England and Wales between 1835 and 1974, in Northern Ireland from 1840 to 1973 and in the Republic of Ireland from 1840 to 2002...

 in 1878. The incorporated area was split between the counties of Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...

 and Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...

 - the Local Government Act 1888
Local Government Act 1888
The Local Government Act 1888 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which established county councils and county borough councils in England and Wales...

 incorporated the entirety of the borough in Staffordshire, including the Derbyshire parishes of Stapenhill
Stapenhill
Stapenhill is an area and civil parish in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire in the UK. Stapenhill was a small village owned by Nigel of Stafford in 1086.The village of Stapenhill has long since been surrounded by new housing developments....

 and Winshill
Winshill
Winshill is a suburb to the east of the town of Burton upon Trent, in the borough of East Staffordshire, England.Flanked to the north and east by the South Derbyshire border, historically the parish of Winshill had always been part of Derbyshire until it was transferred to Staffordshire in the late...

. It became a county borough
County borough
County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , to refer to a borough or a city independent of county council control. They were abolished by the Local Government Act 1972 in England and Wales, but continue in use for lieutenancy and shrievalty in...

 in 1901, having reached the 50,000 population required.

It never substantially exceeded the population of 50,000, and at a population of 50,201 in the 1971 census was the smallest county borough in England after Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....

. The Local Government Commission for England
Local Government Commission for England (1958 - 1967)
The Local Government Commission for England was established by the Local Government Act 1958 to review the organisation of local government, and make "such proposals as are hereinafter authorised for effecting changes appearing to the Commissions desirable in the interests of effective and...

 recommended in the 1960s that it be demoted to a non-county borough within Staffordshire, but this was not implemented. Under the Local Government Act 1972
Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....

, the town became on 1 April 1974, an unparished area
Unparished area
In England, an unparished area is an area that is not covered by a civil parish. Most urbanised districts of England are either entirely or partly unparished. Many towns and some cities in otherwise rural districts are also unparished areas and therefore no longer have a town council or city...

 in the new district of East Staffordshire
East Staffordshire
East Staffordshire is a local government district with borough status in Staffordshire in England. It has two main towns, Burton upon Trent, famous for its breweries, and Uttoxeter, for its racecourse....

.

The town became entirely parished on 1 April 2003, when the following parishes were created:
  • Anglesey
    Anglesey, Staffordshire
    Anglesey is a civil parish in the East Staffordshire district of Staffordshire, England. It covers an area in the south of Burton upon Trent, south of the town centre, around Anglesey Road...

  • Branston
    Branston, Staffordshire
    Branston is a village in Staffordshire, England.Branston was originally a small village beside the River Trent and lies to the south of Burton upon Trent. It spread in the 19th century along the main Burton to Lichfield road, which is now the dual carriageway A38. There is much 19th- and...

  • Brizlincote
    Brizlincote
    Brizlincote is a civil parish in Burton upon Trent in East Staffordshire, England. It is in the south-east of the town.The parish was one of 7 new parishes to be created in Burton in 2003. It is one of the more affluent parishes in Burton, with an average house price of approx. £250,000. -Notes...

  • Burton
  • Horninglow & Eton
    Horninglow
    Horninglow is a suburb of Burton upon Trent in East Staffordshire. Horninglow lies to the north west of Burton, and is linked to the town centre by the A511.The parish church of Horninglow is St John the Divine, part of the Diocese of Lichfield.- Area :...

  • Shobnall
  • Stapenhill
    Stapenhill
    Stapenhill is an area and civil parish in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire in the UK. Stapenhill was a small village owned by Nigel of Stafford in 1086.The village of Stapenhill has long since been surrounded by new housing developments....

  • Winshill
    Winshill
    Winshill is a suburb to the east of the town of Burton upon Trent, in the borough of East Staffordshire, England.Flanked to the north and east by the South Derbyshire border, historically the parish of Winshill had always been part of Derbyshire until it was transferred to Staffordshire in the late...



Burton parish itself only covers the town centre, with the other parishes covering various suburbs.

Churches

The mother church of Burton is St. Modwen's
St Modwen's, Burton upon Trent
St Modwen's is the Church of England town centre parish church for Burton upon Trent. It is part of the Diocese of Lichfield.-St Modwen's New Church:The current church building, which dominates Burton's market square, was...

. Other Anglican parish churches built to serve the expanding population include St Paul’s
St Paul’s, Burton upon Trent
St Paul’s Church is an Anglican church on St Paul's Square, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire England. The church opened in 1874 and was designed by the architects James M. Teale and Edmund Beckett Denison, with later additions by G.F. Bodley. Since 2005, St Paul’s has been part of a parish with St...

, St John the Divine
St John The Divine, Horninglow
St John the Divine is the Church of England parish church situated in the suburb of Horninglow, north west of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire...

, St Chad's
St. Chad's Church, Burton-on-Trent
St Chad's Church is an Anglican church on Hunter Street in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire England. It is in the diocese of Lichfield and the advowson is vested in the bishop.-History:...

 and All Saints
All Saints, Burton upon Trent
All Saints is a Church of England parish church situated in Burton upon Trent. It is part of the Diocese of Lichfield.-History:The church was opened in 1905, designed by the architects Naylor and Sale of Derby....

. Dont forget St Marys in Stretton On church Road.

Arts

The main venue for live theatre and other performing and visual arts is The Brewhouse which is run by East Staffordshire Council. During the 1970s and 1980s a number of well known rock bands appeared at the 76 Club
76 Club
76 Club was a nightclub in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England. It is one of the main tourist attractions of the town. During the 1970s-1980s, the club featured shows by well-known rock bands. In 1976, the Sex Pistols recorded their live album Anarchy in the UK: Live at the 76 Club...

 nightclub in Burton, including Dire Straits
Dire Straits
Dire Straits were a British rock band active from 1977 to 1995, composed of Mark Knopfler , his younger brother David Knopfler , John Illsley , and Pick Withers .Dire Straits' sound drew from a variety of musical influences, including jazz, folk, blues, and came closest...

 and the Sex Pistols.

The William Allitt School
William Allitt school
The William Allitt School or, as it is more commonly referred to; William Allitt, is a state school located in the village of Newhall, Swadlincote in South Derbyshire, England...

, based at nearby Newhall
Newhall, Derbyshire
Newhall is a town located in South Derbyshire, England. The village of Stanton is nearby and in the same parish.-Newhall village:The village lies between the A444 to its south and the A511 to its north. To its east is the market town of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, very close to the M42 linking Nottingham ...

, has an Arts Mark and is a Specialist Arts College.

Sport

The town is home to the world renown Burton Albion
Burton Albion F.C.
Burton Albion Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The club's home ground is the Pirelli Stadium, having moved from Eton Park in 2005...

, who play in the Npower Football League 2.

Burton is also the location of the English National Football Centre
St George's Park National Football Centre
St George's Park is the FA's National Football Centre which is situated near Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire and is due to be completed in 2012. It was originally referred to as NFC by The FA and was informally referred to as "Burton" but following a public consultation the FA favoured a name...

, due to be opened in 2012. The NFC has been renamed St George’s Park

Burton RUFC, one of the oldest rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...

 clubs in the country, was established in 1870.

The town is also home to the Burton Canoe Club on the banks of the River Trent. It has recently expanded and built its own clubhouse. Also along the River Trent in Burton are Burton Leander Rowing Club, which was founded in 1847 (and is one of the oldest rowing clubs in the country), and Trent Rowing Club.

Burton is the home of The Powerhouse Gym, International All Round Weightlifting Club, formed in 1985.

Culture

Burton Operatic Society is a Musical Theatre Company based in Burton and produces two productions each year. Visit our web site for more details.

Burton upon Trent was also home to the Burton School of Speech and Drama on Guild Street where many professional and hard-working amateur actors and actresses learned their craft. Following the closure of the school in July 1984, its in-house amateur company the Little Theatre Players continued life as an independent amateur drama company called The Little Theatre Company often referred to locally and by its 70+ members as LTC. LTC currently stages at least four productions a year in the town: two plays, a musical and a youth production.

Claymills Pumping Station
Claymills pumping station
Claymills Pumping Station is a restored Victorian sewage pumping station on the north side of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England. It was designed by James Mansergh and used to pump sewage to the sewage farm at Etwall....

 on the north side of Burton is a restored Victorian sewage pumping station, adjacent to the modern sewage works.

Until 2006, one of Burton's most distinguishable landmarks was the Drakelow Power Station
Drakelow Power Station
Drakelow Power Station refers to a series of three now demolished coal-fired power stations located south of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire in the West Midlands of England, on the River Trent. However, the station was actually located in the county of Derbyshire, in the East Midlands...

, just south of Burton on the opposite side of the River Trent
River Trent
The River Trent is one of the major rivers of England. Its source is in Staffordshire on the southern edge of Biddulph Moor. It flows through the Midlands until it joins the River Ouse at Trent Falls to form the Humber Estuary, which empties into the North Sea below Hull and Immingham.The Trent...

. The cooling tower
Cooling tower
Cooling towers are heat removal devices used to transfer process waste heat to the atmosphere. Cooling towers may either use the evaporation of water to remove process heat and cool the working fluid to near the wet-bulb air temperature or in the case of closed circuit dry cooling towers rely...

s have since been demolished.

Burton was home to the Peel family, who played a significant role in the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...

 and founded the Peelers, which became the modern day police force. The family home is still visible in the town as Peel House on Lichfield Street.

Burton upon Trent has one of the oldest amateur radio
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...

 clubs in the UK. It was formed in 1919, although there were enthusiasts of wireless telegraphy in Burton well before the First World War. One of the founder members of the club was Mr F. V. A. Smith, call sign XSR, (X = experimental station). Mr Smith was licensed on 3 July 1914. One month later he received a message from the Marconi
Marconi Company
The Marconi Company Ltd. was founded by Guglielmo Marconi in 1897 as The Wireless Telegraph & Signal Company...

 spark transmitter at Poldhu
Poldhu
Poldhu is a small area in south Cornwall, England, UK, situated on the Lizard Peninsula; it comprises Poldhu Point and Poldhu Cove. It lies on the coast west of Goonhilly Downs, with Mullion to the south and Porthleven to the north...

 in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...

, being sent to London, on the eve of the outbreak of World War One. The message, which has survived and is in the present club archives, was announcing the mobilisation of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

n, French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

 and Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...

 troops.

HM Queen Elizabeth II visited the town on 3 July 2002 to celebrate her Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II
The Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II was the international celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the accession of Elizabeth II to the thrones of seven countries, upon the death of her father, George VI, on 6 February 1952, and was intended by the Queen to be both a commemoration of her 50...

.

The Statutes Fair takes place in the town every year on the first Monday and Tuesday after Michaelmas
Michaelmas
Michaelmas, the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel is a day in the Western Christian calendar which occurs on 29 September...

 (29 September). This is usually the first Monday and Tuesday in October, but can occasionally fall on 30 September/1 October, as in 2002. The fair occupies the Market Place and parts of High Street, New Street and Lichfield Street for two days.

Business

The Cooper's Square
Cooper's Square
Coopers Square is an indoor shopping centre located in Burton upon Trent , Staffordshire , England. It is owned by the Grosvenor Group.The shopping centre was opened in 1970 by HRH Princess Alexandra....

 shopping centre is the principal shopping area originally opened in 1970 by HRH the Princess Alexandra but since considerably upgraded with a roof being added in the mid 1990s. The older Riverside Shopping Centre (formerly known as Bargate's) is currently derelict,sealed off and demolition is pending. A new shopping area has been added off Guild Street including a multiplex cinema, Matalan
Matalan
Matalan is a British retailer that specialises in shoes and clothes. It was founded by John Hargreaves in 1985. It currently has 200 stores across the UK. The 200th store opened on 22 September 2006 in Croydon...

 and Aldi
ALDI
ALDI Einkauf GmbH & Co. oHG, doing business as ', short for "Albrecht Discount", is a discount supermarket chain based in Germany...

 etc. An additional shopping centre is Octagon Centre on New Street constructed in the mid 1980s. There is another, much smaller shopping centre, Burton Place Shopping Centre which was built in 1986.

In addition to the brewery industry, tyre manufacturer Pirelli
Pirelli
Pirelli & C. SpA is a diverse multinational company based in Milan, Italy. The company, the world’s fifth largest tyre manufacturer, is present in over 160 countries, has 20 manufacturing sites around the world and a network of around 10,000 distributors and retailers.Founded in Milan in 1872,...

 is a major employer in the town, and they are a major sponsor of the Burton Albion Football Club.

The Burton suburb of Branston
Branston, Staffordshire
Branston is a village in Staffordshire, England.Branston was originally a small village beside the River Trent and lies to the south of Burton upon Trent. It spread in the 19th century along the main Burton to Lichfield road, which is now the dual carriageway A38. There is much 19th- and...

 is where the well-known Branston Pickle
Branston Pickle
Branston is a British food brand. It is best known for the original Branston Pickle, a jarred pickled relish first made in 1922 in the Branston suburb of Burton upon Trent by Crosse & Blackwell....

 was invented.

The town had its own municipal buses known as Burton Corporation and later East Staffordshire District Council after 1974. This was taken over by Stevenson's of Spath
Spath
Spath, is a small village north of Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, England.Spath is on the River Tean and is divided from Uttoxeter by the A50 road....

 in the mid 1980s and in turn was absorbed by Arriva
Arriva
Arriva plc is a multinational public transport company owned by Deutsche Bahn and headquartered in Sunderland, United Kingdom. It has bus, coach, train, tram and waterbus operations in 12 countries across Europe, employs more than 47,500 people and services over 1.5 billion passenger journeys each...

. Arriva Midlands
Arriva Midlands
Arriva Midlands is a division of Arriva. It operates bus services around the Midlands area of England and is made up of various previous bus operators.-Arriva Midlands North:...

 and independents now operate locally.The former Burton Corporation depot has been replaced by the Magistrates' Court
Magistrates' Court
A magistrates' court or court of petty sessions, formerly known as a police court, is the lowest level of court in England and Wales and many other common law jurisdictions...

s.

The local Sea Cadet unit is TS (Training Ship) Modwena alongside the River Trent and road bridge. The town's Air Training Corps
Air Training Corps
The Air Training Corps , commonly known as the Air Cadets, is a cadet organisation based in the United Kingdom. It is a voluntary youth group which is part of the Air Cadet Organisation and the Royal Air Force . It is supported by the Ministry of Defence, with a regular RAF Officer, currently Air...

 unit is No 351 (Burton on Trent) Squadron. The local Territorial Army unit is F (Fire Support) Company, 4 Mercian Brigade
Mercian Brigade
The Mercian Brigade was an administrative formation of the British Army from 1948 to 1964. The Brigade administered the regular infantry from the area of England between the Trent, Mersey and Severn rivers that roughly corresponded to the ancient kingdom of Mercia.After the Second World War the...

 an infantry unit at Coltman House
William Harold Coltman
William Harold Coltman VC, DCM & Bar, MM & Bar was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross , the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces...

 TA centre, Hawkins Lane. The unit was formerly a volunteer brigade of the North Staffordshire Regiment
North Staffordshire Regiment
The North Staffordshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army, which was in existence between 1881 and 1959. It can date its lineage back to 1756 with the formation of a second battalion by the 11th Regiment of Foot, which shortly after became the 64th Regiment of Foot...

.

Eatough's (sometimes Etough's) was an innovative shoemaking firm from Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...

 which opened a factory in Burton Road, Branston in 1920. It was the first British shoe factory to introduce music in the workplace (1936), and washable children’s sandals (‘Plastisha’ 1957), but it closed in 1989 as a result of competition from cheap imports.

Briggs of Burton PLC (formerly S. Briggs & Co.) is a Burton-based brewery and process engineering company established in 1732 by Samuel Briggs. Famous for its manufacturing innovation and craftsmanship across the world, Briggs moved from its works in New Street to Derby Street having taken over its rival Robert Morton DG in the mid-1980s. The former site is now occupied by the Octagon Shopping Centre.

Midco Toymaster (formerly Midco Toys Ltd) is Burton Based Independent Toy Store. Established by local man David Middleton in 2002, it is now one of the most respected independent toy stores in the country. Formally based on New Street, now located on High Street.

Burton College

Burton College
Burton College
Burton and South Derbyshire College is a further education college located in Burton upon Trent in England. Early in 2011 the college was renamed Burton & South Derbyshire College.-Courses:...

 is a general further education college and is situated in the town centre. It attracts approximately 13,000 students from Burton and the surrounding towns and villages. It delivers a wide range of courses for all ages, including 14-19 year olds, adults into part-time study, employer training and higher education. Recently a 'university centre' has been developed within the college to enable students to study on franchised higher education courses but is not, in itself a university.

Geography

Town twinning

Blantyre
Blantyre, Malawi
Blantyre or Mandala is Malawi's centre of finance and commerce, the largest city with an estimated 732,518 inhabitants . It is sometimes referred to as the commercial capital of Malawi as opposed to the political capital, Lilongwe...

, Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...

 Elkhart
Elkhart, Indiana
Elkhart is a city in Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. The city is located east of South Bend, northwest of Fort Wayne, east of Chicago, and north of Indianapolis...

, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...

, USA Lingen Ems
Lingen
Lingen is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany. In 2008 the population was 52,353, and in addition there are about 5,000 people who have registered the city as their secondary residence...

, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

 Rochefort
Rochefort, Charente-Maritime
Rochefort is a commune in southwestern France, a port on the Charente estuary. It is a sub-prefecture of the Charente-Maritime department.-History:...

, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

 Toyserkan
Toyserkan
Tuyserkan is a city in and capital of Tuyserkan County, Hamadan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 42,520, in 11,802 families....

, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...

 Bielawa
Bielawa
Bielawa is a town in south-western Poland with 31,988 inhabitants . It is situated in Dzierżoniów County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship ; previously it has been a part of the Wałbrzych Voivodeship ....

, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...


Notable people

HISTORICAL:
  • William Bass
    William Bass (brewer)
    -Career:William Bass was the son of William Bass and his wife Hannah Fish. He had a carrier business with his brother John at Hinckley, Leicestershire...

    , (1717–1787) founder of the brewery business of Bass & Co in Burton upon Trent in 1777
  • Michael Arthur Bass, 1st Baron Burton
    Baron Burton
    Baron Burton, of Burton-on-Trent and of Rangemore in the County of Stafford, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1897 for the prominent brewer, philanthropist and Liberal politician Michael Bass, 1st Baron Burton. He had already been created a Baronet in 1882 and...

     (1837–1909), industrialist and philanthropist, member of the Bass brewing dynasty
  • William Harold Coltman
    William Harold Coltman
    William Harold Coltman VC, DCM & Bar, MM & Bar was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross , the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces...

     (1891–1974), VC recipient
  • Sir Oswald Mosley, Bt.
    Oswald Mosley
    Sir Oswald Ernald Mosley, 6th Baronet, of Ancoats, was an English politician, known principally as the founder of the British Union of Fascists...

     (1896–1980), leader of the British Union of Fascists
    British Union of Fascists
    The British Union was a political party in the United Kingdom formed in 1932 by Sir Oswald Mosley as the British Union of Fascists, in 1936 it changed its name to the British Union of Fascists and National Socialists and then in 1937 to simply the British Union...

  • Phil Seamen
    Phil Seamen
    Phillip William "Phil" Seamen was an English jazz drummer.With a solid background in big band music, Seamen played and recorded in a wide range of musical contexts with virtually every key figure of 1950s and 1960s British jazz...

     (1926-1972), jazz drummer
  • Edward Wightman
    Edward Wightman
    Edward Wightman was an English radical Anabaptist, executed at Lichfield for his activities promoting himself as the divine Paraclete and Savior of the world...

     (1566–1612), a General Baptist
    General Baptist
    General Baptists is a generic term for Baptists who hold the view of a general atonement, as well as a specific name of groups of Baptists within the broader category.General Baptists are distinguished from Particular or Reformed Baptists.-History:...

    , became the last religious martyr to be burnt at the stake
    Execution by burning
    Death by burning is death brought about by combustion. As a form of capital punishment, burning has a long history as a method in crimes such as treason, heresy, and witchcraft....

     for ‘Heresy
    Heresy
    Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...

    ’ in England
  • John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent
    John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent
    Admiral of the Fleet John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent GCB, PC was an admiral in the Royal Navy and Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom...

    , studied at Burton Grammar School. His father wanted the young Jervis to become a barrister but the future Admiral of the Fleet
    Admiral of the Fleet
    An admiral of the fleet is a military naval officer of the highest rank. In many nations the rank is reserved for wartime or ceremonial appointments...

     had other ideas and ran away to join the Royal Navy
    Royal Navy
    The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...

     at the age of 13.


CONTEMPORARY:
  • Andrew Birch
    Andrew Birch
    Andrew Birch was a professor from Copenhagen. Birch was sent in 1781–1783 by the king of Denmark, Christian VII, to examine manuscripts in Italy, Germany, and other European countries.- Life :...

    , Guardian and Private Eye cartoonist, is a Burtonian.
  • Philip Bond
    Philip Bond (actor)
    Philip Bond is a British actor best known for playing Albert Frazer in 24 episodes of the 1970s BBC nautical drama The Onedin Line....

    , actor, who played Albert Frazer in the 1970s series The Onedin Line
    The Onedin Line
    The Onedin Line is a BBC television drama series which ran from 1971 to 1980. The series was created by Cyril Abraham.The series is set in Liverpool from 1860 to 1886 and deals with the rise of a shipping line, the Onedin Line, named after its owner James Onedin...

    , was born in Burton.
  • Paul Burke
    Paul Burke
    Paul Burke may refer to:*Paul Burke , American actor in TV series Naked City and 12 O'Clock High*Paul Burke , basketball player*Paul Burke , English lightweight and light welterweight...

    , artist and co-founder of Porlzilla Designer Toys, lives in Burton and attended Paulet High School and Burton Technical College.
  • David Maurice Curry MP (born in Burton 13 June 1944) is a British politician, being Conservative Member of Parliament for Skipton and Ripon and recently stepping down as chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Standards and Privileges after claims from the Daily Telegraph newspaper regarding his own expenses. His former committee has now ordered him to repay £28,000 and apologise to the House of Commons for his “serious” breach of the rules.
  • Paddy Considine
    Paddy Considine
    Patrick George "Paddy" Considine is an English actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, musician and frequent collaborator with Shane Meadows. Best known to audiences for his portrayals of dark, troubled, morally or mentally ambiguous characters...

     (born 1973), actor, director and musician, was born in Burton upon Trent and grew up on a large council estate in the suburb of Winshill
    Winshill
    Winshill is a suburb to the east of the town of Burton upon Trent, in the borough of East Staffordshire, England.Flanked to the north and east by the South Derbyshire border, historically the parish of Winshill had always been part of Derbyshire until it was transferred to Staffordshire in the late...

    .
  • Mick Dyche
    Mick Dyche
    Mick Dyche is an English rock and folk guitarist and former member of 1970's soft rock band Sniff 'n' the Tears who played guitars on their only major hit Driver's Seat in 1978....

      (born 19-- ?) Extant English rock/session guitarist and former member of 1970s rock band Sniff 'n' the Tears
    Sniff 'n' the Tears
    Sniff 'n' the Tears is a British rock band best known for their 1978 song "Driver's Seat", a hit in many countries . The exception was the UK itself where a problem with EMI's pressing plant meant that the single was not available following the band's appearance on Top of the Pops and it peaked...

     (played guitars on their only hit "Driver's Seat") and later with 'Wild Turkey'and 'Maddy Prior and The Answers' amongst others.
  • Steve Gardner (born 1956), former World All Round Weightlifting and Drug Free Powerlifting Champion, Successful Strongman, and England International Tug of War athlete. Steve was inducted into the All Round Weightlifting Hall of Fame in 2000, and has been Coaching Bartons British Champions 'Holland Tug of War club' for over thirty years, and Burtons 'Powerhouse Gym International All Round Weightlifting Team' for 25 years.
  • Tracey Hallam
    Tracey Hallam
    -Career:Hallam played badminton at the 2004 Summer Olympics. In women's singles, she defeated Juliane Schenk of Germany and Camilla Martin of Denmark in the first two rounds...

     (born 1975), badminton player and winner of the Commonwealth Games gold medal; she was part of Team GB at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.She was knocked out in the third round.
  • Nick Hemming
    Nick Hemming
    Nicholas 'Nick' Hemming is a British musician and guitarist, formerly of early 1990s indie band She Talks To Angels with actor Paddy Considine, film director Shane Meadows and bassist Richard Eaton....

     (born 1973) and Christian Hardy
    Christian Hardy
    Christian Hardy is a British singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer. He performs in The Leisure Society and is a member of Brighton's Willkommen Collective...

     (born 1979) of The Leisure Society
    The Leisure Society
    The Leisure Society is a band formed by Nick Hemming, formerly of early 1990s indie band She Talks To Angels which included actor Paddy Considine, film director Shane Meadows and bassist Richard Eaton. Hemming wrote and performed music for the films A Room for Romeo Brass and Dead Man's Shoes...

     both grew up in Burton upon Trent.
  • Joe Jackson
    Joe Jackson (musician)
    Joe Jackson is an English musician and singer-songwriter now living in Berlin, whose five Grammy Award nominations span from 1979 to 2001...

    , musician and songwriter, was born in Burton and as a young child lived in nearby Swadlincote
    Swadlincote
    Swadlincote is a town and unparished area in South Derbyshire, about southeast of Burton-upon-Trent and about south of Derby. It is the main town of South Derbyshire and the seat of South Derbyshire District Council....

    .
  • Rob McElwee
    Rob McElwee
    Robert "Rob" McElwee was BBC Weather's longest-serving weather forecaster since the departure of Michael Fish. He presented forecasts on BBC News, BBC World News, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC One...

    , longest-serving BBC weather forecaster
  • Olivia Murphy (born 1977-78), former England netball
    England national netball team
    The England national netball team represent England in international netball competition. The team are presently co-captained by Karen Atkinson and Sonia Mkoloma, and were coached by Australian Sue Hawkins through to the end of the 2011 World Netball Championships in Singapore...

     captain, born in Burton, and went to De Ferrers High School, where her father taught P.E.
  • Alastair Yates
    Alastair Yates
    Alastair Yates is a British journalist. He worked with the BBC, on BBC World News and BBC News until his retirement in April 2011.Born and brought up in Burton upon Trent, Yates was educated at Manor House School, Ashby and the former Burton Grammar School...

    , presenter of BBC News and BBC World News, was born in Burton and went to Burton Grammar School. He joined BBC Radio Derby
    BBC Radio Derby
    BBC Radio Derby is the BBC Local Radio station for the English county of Derbyshire, covering all but the northern tip of the county, and also serves eastern Staffordshire, mainly Uttoxeter and Burton upon Trent. The station broadcasts from its studios in Derby on 104.5, 95.3 and 96.0 FM and 1116...

    in the 1970s.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK