Rugeley Walk: Town Centre【4K】

Located in the county of Staffordshire, and around 20 miles north of central Birmingham, is the town of Rugeley.

The name 'Rugeley' is derived from Old English 'hrycg' meaning ridge and 'lēah' meaning forest or clearing, presumably in reference to Cannock Chase Forest just west of the town.

In 1259 a market charter was granted to Rugeley by Henry III. Early industry in the town included agriculture, leather tanning, iron working and glass manufacturing. It was once home to an annual horse fair that became known internationally and lasted until the 1930s. The street named Horse Fair at the start of the walk is a nod to this.

In 1777 the Trent and Mersey Canal opened in its entirety. This was the brainchild of engineer James Brindley who had a vision of connecting England's four main rivers (Trent, Mersey, Severn & Thames) in a scheme known as the Grand Cross. The canal was a great boost to Rugeley as goods could now be transported much more efficiently via the waterways than across land with packhorses over varying terrain.

In 1847 the railway arrived in Rugeley, providing a further boost to its industries. Today there are two stations in the town: Rugeley Trent Valley on the West Coast Main Line from London Euston to Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley, and Rugeley Town on the Chase Line that connects to central Birmingham (New Street station).

In 1879 Rugeley Town Hall was completed. Built in the Gothic Revival style, it stood on Market Square. The town hall was demolished in 1978, however the clock tower portion of the building was spared, and is one of Rugeley's most recognisable landmarks today.

In the 1950s Rugeley became a centre for deep-shaft coal mining. In 1960 the Lea Hall Colliery opened. In 1963 the first of two power stations opened just outside the town, known as 'Rugeley A'. This was followed by the second - 'Rugeley B' in 1972. Around their peak they employed around 850 people. However in the 1990s both the colliery and the power stations closed within a few years of each other.

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Filmed: 14th July 2022

Link to the walk on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/bcTDqCKNz5YV1PxbA

Filmed on a Sony FDR-AX700 with a Zhiyun Crane 2 and a Sony ECM-XYST1M Stereo Microphone.

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 Horse Fair
0:24 Upper Brook Street
1:54 Brook Square
2:32 Lower Brook Street
3:36 Albion Street
5:48 St Joseph and St Etheldreda Catholic Church
6:04 Lichfield Street
6:11 Brewery Street
7:58 Brook Square
8:44 Lower Brook Street
10:02 Market Square
10:26 Bow Street
11:19 Market Square
12:32 Market Street
14:55 Anson Street

Видео Rugeley Walk: Town Centre【4K】 канала 4K Explorer