Forsbrook
Encyclopedia
Forsbrook is a village
in Staffordshire
, around three miles southwest of Cheadle
and situated on the edge of the Staffordshire Moorlands
.
It is an old village and is mentioned in the Domesday Book
, with the rather unflattering description as waste ground.
The village derives its name from the Old English Fotes-broc - a brook or ditch. The brook flowed through the village square, where it was crossed by a wooden pedestrian bridge and a ford for horses and vehicles, until it was culverted in 1932.
road to Cheadle. However, it gradually grew in size with the coming of the North Staffordshire Railway
to nearby Blythe Bridge
in 1848.
The village totally changed in character during the post Second World War period as a large new housing estate
was built, and the area gradually became an overspill of the Stoke-on-Trent
conurbation. However, the village has still retained its rural charm and is surrounded by some beautiful countryside, and along with neighbouring Blythe Bridge is considered a desirable and much sought after place to live. This is helped by the excellent transport links nearby to the A50
and the local Blythe Bridge railway station
with regular trains to Derby
and Stoke-on-Trent
.
Within the village there is a SPAR
shop, off-licence, a locally renowned butcher
and two public houses, the Roebuck and Butchers Arms. Originally there were four pubs but in common with other village pubs they have long since closed. The other two were called The Miner's Arms (which is now a private residence), and the Bull's Head (which was demolished for road widening).
The village is also home to a Primitive Methodist Chapel which celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2006.
Forsbrook is contiguous with Blythe Bridge, with which it shares a parish council, and Blythe Marsh. It was formerly in the parish of All Saints Dilhorne.
During the First and Second World War 46 men from Forsbrook and Blythe Bridge laid down their lives for their country. The names are recorded on the village war memorial
.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in 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...
, around three miles southwest of Cheadle
Cheadle, Staffordshire
Cheadle is a small market town near Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, with a population of 12,158 according to the 2001 census. It is roughly from the city of Stoke-on-Trent, north of Birmingham and south of Manchester...
and situated on the edge of the Staffordshire Moorlands
Staffordshire Moorlands
Staffordshire Moorlands is a local government district in Staffordshire, England. Its council, Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, is based in Leek and is located between the city of Stoke-on-Trent and the Peak District National Park. The 2001 census recorded the population as...
.
It is an old village and is mentioned in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
, with the rather unflattering description as waste ground.
The village derives its name from the Old English Fotes-broc - a brook or ditch. The brook flowed through the village square, where it was crossed by a wooden pedestrian bridge and a ford for horses and vehicles, until it was culverted in 1932.
History
For hundreds of years the village was only a small settlement, situated on the turnpikeTurnpike trust
Turnpike trusts in the United Kingdom were bodies set up by individual Acts of Parliament, with powers to collect road tolls for maintaining the principal highways in Britain from the 17th but especially during the 18th and 19th centuries...
road to Cheadle. However, it gradually grew in size with the coming of the North Staffordshire Railway
North Staffordshire Railway
The North Staffordshire Railway was a British railway company formed in 1845 to promote a number of lines in the Staffordshire Potteries and surrounding areas in Staffordshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire and Shropshire....
to nearby Blythe Bridge
Blythe Bridge
Blythe Bridge is a village situated in the Staffordshire Moorlands District, although it is effectively a south-eastern suburb of the city of Stoke-on-Trent.-Etymology:...
in 1848.
The village totally changed in character during the post Second World War period as a large new housing estate
Housing estate
A housing estate is a group of buildings built together as a single development. The exact form may vary from country to country. Accordingly, a housing estate is usually built by a single contractor, with only a few styles of house or building design, so they tend to be uniform in appearance...
was built, and the area gradually became an overspill of the Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
conurbation. However, the village has still retained its rural charm and is surrounded by some beautiful countryside, and along with neighbouring Blythe Bridge is considered a desirable and much sought after place to live. This is helped by the excellent transport links nearby to the A50
A50 road
The A50 is a major trunk road in England. It runs from Warrington to Leicester; however, it was once a much longer route.-Current route:...
and the local Blythe Bridge railway station
Blythe Bridge railway station
Blythe Bridge railway station is a railway station in the United Kingdom at Blythe Bridge, Staffordshire Moorlands. The station is served by trains on the Crewe to Derby Line which is also a Community rail line known as the North Staffordshire line. The station is owned by Network Rail and managed...
with regular trains to Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
and Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
.
Within the village there is a SPAR
SPAR
Spar , trades from approximately 12400 stores in 34 countries worldwide and is the world's largest independent voluntary retail trading chain. Spar was founded in the Netherlands in 1932 by retailer Adriaan Van Well and now, through its affiliate organisations, operates through most European...
shop, off-licence, a locally renowned butcher
Butcher
A butcher is a person who may slaughter animals, dress their flesh, sell their meat or any combination of these three tasks. They may prepare standard cuts of meat, poultry, fish and shellfish for sale in retail or wholesale food establishments...
and two public houses, the Roebuck and Butchers Arms. Originally there were four pubs but in common with other village pubs they have long since closed. The other two were called The Miner's Arms (which is now a private residence), and the Bull's Head (which was demolished for road widening).
The village is also home to a Primitive Methodist Chapel which celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2006.
Forsbrook is contiguous with Blythe Bridge, with which it shares a parish council, and Blythe Marsh. It was formerly in the parish of All Saints Dilhorne.
During the First and Second World War 46 men from Forsbrook and Blythe Bridge laid down their lives for their country. The names are recorded on the village war memorial
War memorial
A war memorial is a building, monument, statue or other edifice to celebrate a war or victory, or to commemorate those who died or were injured in war.-Historic usage:...
.
People from Forsbrook
- Arthur BridgettArthur BridgettGeorge Arthur Bridgett was an English footballer who played most of his career, playing at outside left, for Sunderland and also made eleven appearances for England....
(1882–1954), SunderlandSunderland A.F.C.Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
and EnglandEngland national football teamThe England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
footballer - Richard JD Evans (born 1984), Nottingham Lions and Great Britain and Northern Ireland ice hockey and roller hockey player
- Doug LishmanDoug LishmanDouglas John Lishman was an English footballer.Born in Birmingham, Lishman first played as a centre forward for non-league Paget Rangers, before signing as a professional for Third Division South Walsall in August 1946...
(1923–1994), Arsenal and Nottingham Forest footballer settled in Forsbrook.