Eccleshall

Butchers, buildings and coaching inns

Perrys has traded in Eccleshall since 1927, although its original shop was in Small Lane rather than its present home at 19–21 Stafford Street. Produce is reared within five miles of the shop, and the business has won both the Countryside Alliance’s Best Butcher in Britain award and Butcher’s Shop of the Year for the Midlands and East of England. Stephen Hill and the team teach artisan skills at the on-site Field to Fork school.

Eccleshall’s High Street is part of a conservation area, with Georgian buildings and later shopfronts shaping its historic centre. Holy Trinity stands separately on Church Street. Eccleshall Castle lies north of the church, off Castle Street; the castle remains belong to the town’s history rather than a stop on a High Street walk.

The Royal Oak at 25 High Street carries much of Eccleshall’s coaching-inn history. Its old stone cellars and former stabling recall travellers passing through town. The pub serves Joule’s ales and has a real fire and covered courtyard. Local legend holds that a tunnel once ran from the cellars to Gaol Butts; it remains a story rather than a route to explore.

Beside the butcher on Stafford Street, the Kings Arms occupies a 17th-century listed building. It once served coaching travellers, and the old stables remain visible. After a 2017 refurbishment, the inn offers pub food, drinks and events, with meat supplied by the neighbouring butcher.

The High Street pub circuit

The Little George occupies part of the old George Hotel on Castle Street, a 17th-century coaching inn that was once Slater’s Brewery tap. Today it combines a café-bar serving coffee, breakfasts, deli food, real ales and guest accommodation.

The Ecclian, at 27 High Street, is Grade II listed and run by Martin and Helen, who took it over after a stretch as Merckx Bar. It has an extensive spirits selection, hosts monthly bingo, and welcomes dogs on leads but not on the seats. Down the street, the Bell Inn has four regular ales including Draught Bass and Timothy Taylor Landlord, plus two rotating guests usually from Izaak Walton, Lymestone or Titanic, a rear garden and a Thursday quiz; it also sponsors Eccleshall Rugby Club.

The Old Smithy on Castle Street combines a restaurant with a relaxed free-house bar, a secluded outdoor seating area and a kitchen that uses locally sourced produce where possible. It is a useful choice for a longer meal after exploring the town.

Eccleshall’s pub circuit has changed over time, while the town’s surviving venues keep the High Street lively.

Playgrounds, bishops and ancient beginnings

Beyond the historic centre, Fletcher’s on Stone Road brings together crazy golf, a miniature railway and a play area, with Gentleshaw Wildlife Centre on the same site. Eccleshall Tennis Club has courts on Chester Road, while Jubilee Playing Field on Hartlands Road offers green space and outdoor gym equipment.

The Grade I-listed church is one of Staffordshire’s notable medieval buildings. Much of the chancel, arcades and tower dates to the 13th century, while the aisles were rebuilt in the 15th. The south porch has a restored quadripartite vault, and the church holds memorials to Bishops of Lichfield, including Bishop Overton’s effigy.

Eccleshall’s long connection with the bishops is recorded in Domesday Book: in 1086 the Bishop of Chester held an estate here with villagers, smallholders, a priest, plough teams and two mills. The town later gained a market charter in 1153, and a bishop’s estate survey counted about 500 residents by 1298, many working in crafts or agriculture.

Castle stories and country paths

The castle’s story began when King John licensed Bishop Geoffrey de Muschamp to fortify the manor house in 1200. Bishop Langton enlarged it in the early 14th century. Parliamentarian forces besieged the castle during the Civil War, and it had been demolished by 1646. Bishop Lloyd built the house within the remains around 1695; the site continued as an episcopal residence until 1867. Today the site is a residence, with its surviving tower, bridge and moat forming part of Eccleshall’s historic setting.

Walk No. 8 starts at the church and follows field paths towards Pershall and Copmere before returning through Smithy Lane and Castle Meadow. The circuit is approximately 4.5 miles; use Ordnance Survey Explorer map 243 with the directions. Expect stiles and electric-fence crossing points along the way.

The market arches recall Eccleshall’s trading past, while civic volunteers maintain flower baskets along High Street.

Planning the visit

Eccleshall has no working railway station; Stafford and Stone are rail options for visitors, with routes 432 to Stafford and 103 to Stone. The A519 runs through town for those arriving by road.

For a longer stay, Stafford Castle offers Norman earthworks about 6.0 miles from Eccleshall in a straight line, while Shugborough has parkland and gardens about 10.8 miles away in a straight line. Road journeys are longer.

From the High Street, Eccleshall offers a simple choice: linger among the pubs and shops, or turn towards Church Street for the church and the start of the country walk.