Pictured here in 1975, the National School in Gaol Road, Stafford was built in 1825 by St Mary's Church but later transferred to nearby Christ Church. It closed in 1909 but was not demolished until 1984. Image courtesy of tTrry Godridge.

Children's day out, Kidsgrove, summer 1984. During the 1984-85 miners' strike there were ten women's action groups in north Staffordshire who supported the striking miners. They ran food centres, organised collections, manned picket lines and organised children's outings. The children in this photograph are being taken on an trip organised by the Kidsgrove Women's Support Group. Image reproduced by kind permission of the North Staffordshire Miner's Wives Action Group.

Yoxall Church in 1769, a watercolour by an unknown artist from the collections of the William Salt Library.

If you're driving from Eccleshall towards Newport you might notice a ruined tower to your right near Forton. It is the Forton Monument which is located in a field known as Windmill Piece. It was said to have been built in 1780 by Charles Baldwyn, and is simply a folly or decorative feature. The monument incorporates the base of a former windmill and was originally capped by a stone ball. This photograph was taken in 1930, today the monument is much less complete.

Any future Commonwealth Games athletes here? Were you taking part in Croft Primary School sports day in Armitage, June 1980? A Rugeley Times photograph courtesy of the Landor Society

Steam Bus outside Leek railway Station, 1904. The Straker steam bus operated in the Staffordshire Moorlands from 1904 to ferry passengers to the newly built Manifold Valley railway. The routes were Leek and Ashbourne to Waterhouses and Buxton to Hulme End. The gentleman walking towards the camera, with the parcel under his arm is Mr Gould of Compton. Image courtesy of Leek Library.