by Catherine Lear

Created on: March 19, 2010   Last Updated: March 29, 2010

Newcastle under Lyme situated just off the M6 motorway in Staffordshire is an old English market town, the town its self epitomises what a small market town is in England, it has a charm all of its own with its market stalls that sell everything from Bread and cakes, vegetables, meat, fish, to clothes, hardware, flowers, and books. The market operates three times a week selling these items and in between there is an old-fashioned flea market. In addition, once a month a farmers market is held that sells fresh farm goods from local farmers.

The history of Newcastle under Lyme dates back to the 12 century, the New in the castle is because a new castle was built just out side the town that now exists the Lyme refers to a small forest of Lyme trees again just outside the town, both the castle and the forest have long gone.

The town had one prominent person of note in its history that person is General Thomas Harrison who fought on the Parliamentary side during the English civil war in the year 1645, he was a friend of Oliver Cromwell, and as such, was the seventeenth person to sign the death warrant for King Charles1, when the Monarchy was restored a few years later he was arrested and then hung drawn and quartered for his part in the death of the King. A plaque can be seen on the wall of one of the banks in the town center commemorating his birthplace.

In the summer months the town is awash with floral hanging baskets, and at the bottom of the town lies a small floral garden with seats and a small bandstand, at Christmas time the town is lit with Christmas lights and the small roundabouts on the roads around the town will be lit by Christmas lights on large Christmas trees.

There are many other small towns in the Borough of Newcastle under Lyme.

*Clayton.

*Chesterton.

*Cross Heath.

*Silverdale.

*Kidsgrove.

*Wolstanton

The Town has small museum that is situated in a small park, a library just opposite the floral garden, and three good tea rooms along with many good pubs that sell good English beer and good English food. There are many small shops that run in tangent with the market. The local bus service runs from the centre of the town, there is no rail service, the nearest train service is in Stoke on Trent.

Housing is cheaper than in most parts of the county with the average house costing £125,000, schools are good in the Borough and there is a collage just outside the town center, and just three miles from the town center lies Keele University. Just twelve miles down the A35 lies the world famous Wedgwood Pottery factory in the nearby village of Barlaston.

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