Newcastle-under-Lyme’s history and heritage

Deep connections to the past are found throughout the borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme, from the War of the Roses to the Industrial Revolution. 

The landscape - reclaimed by nature and the power of imagination - bears a global legacy that remains to this day. 

Museums, heritage centres and more - explore the history of Newcastle-under-Lyme 

More than 2,000 years of history is documented at the Brampton Museum, an award-winning museum with an entire street scene recreated from the past, a toy gallery that delights the heart of every child, whatever their age, and a host of intriguing objects, archives, photographs and art. 

Regular free exhibitions are hosted at the museum, which hosts a range of activities for children and classes and workshops for adults, alongside hosting community groups and regular talks and film shows. 

Enjoy drinks and snacks in The Little Vintage Tea Room at the museum, before a quiet browse in the shop – a showcase for local artists and makers. 

The museum is set in the beautiful Brampton Park, home to an aviary, rose garden and miniature railway, offering ample opportunity to reflect on the past while rooting oneself firmly back into the present by taking stock in the tranquil surroundings of the park. 

While the museum documents the history and heritage of the borough, there is also much to learn about the industrial past of Newcastle-under-Lyme at the Apedale Heritage Centre, home to an impressive collection of mining artefacts and a rich seam of industrial and social history. 

Visitors can delve into history on an underground tour to the coalface itself, with extended tours offering the chance to go even deeper into one of the last working mines in Staffordshire. 

Operating on the same site, the Apedale Valley Light Railway was officially opened in 2010 by the Moseley Railway Trust and operates at weekends. The trust aims to preserve industrial narrow-gauge locomotives, rolling stock and other equipment, with some of the collection on display at the museum. 

Both the heritage centre and railway are based on the site of the former coal mine and within the Apedale Country Park, where the skyline is dominated by a pit wheel dedicated to the miners of Staffordshire. 

Other notable landmarks include Mow Cop Castle. Built in 1754, the folly was deliberately designed to look like a castle ruin perched atop a moorland ridge. 

From here, visitors can enjoy a view across the Peak District to the east, the West Pennine Moors and across the Cheshire Plains to the Welsh mountains. 

From the purely aesthetic to the beautifully functional - a trip to Harecastle Tunnel on the Trent & Mersey canal at Kidsgrove is a must. 

Once one of the longest tunnels in the country, the tunnel was an important route for coal into the Potteries. The original tunnel was built in 1777 by James Brindley, with a second parallel tunnel designed by Thomas Telford opened in 1827. 

In the early days, the two tunnels were used in conjunction, reducing journey times by operating one-way systems for barges travelling in opposite directions.  

Now, only Telford’s tunnel is used, with barges taking more than half an hour to navigate the tunnel in almost complete darkness, with the roar of historic ventilation fans echoing along the way. 

Walkers can enjoy a scenic stroll between the two portals, and along the towpath is the turnover bridge designed to allow horses to cross over the canal without being unhitched from the barges. 

Those looking to step even further back in time may enjoy a visit to Blore Heath Battlefield, the site of a conflict during the War of the Roses, which took place on 23 September 1459 between forces led by the Earl of Salisbury and Lord Audley. 

The battlefield can be viewed from a public footpath and a small lane, although the Audley's Cross memorial is on inaccessible private land. 

A more recent addition to the history books for Newcastle-under-Lyme is the Philip Astley Centre – dedicated to a military hero born in the town who went on to become the original Ringmaster and creator of the modern circus. 

Philip Astley opened a riding school on the south bank of the Thames in 1768, putting on performances that included trick horse riding, acrobats and clowns all within a 42ft diameter ring – a format still used in circuses across the globe today. 

The original Ringmaster, his legacy is recorded at the centre, which hosts circus workshops for all ages as well as film shows and talks.