UTTOXETER

'Uttoxeter' is a small market town in East Staffordshire, in the West Midlands region of England. The current population is approximately 12,000, though new developments in the town will increase this figure. Uttoxeter lies close to the River Dove and is near to the cities of Stoke-on-Trent, Derby and Lichfield. It was twinned with Raisdorf in Germany.

History

Uttoxeter's name has had 79 spellings since it was mentioned in the Domesday Book as "Wotocheshede": it probably came from Anglo-Saxon ''Wuttuceshǣddre'' = "Wuttuc's heath". Some historians point to pre-Roman settlement here and Bronze Age axes have been discovered in the town (now in display in Hanley museum.) It is highly likely that Uttoxeter had some form of Roman activity due to its strategic position on the River Dove and closeness to the large garrison forts at Rocester between 69 and 400, and recently discovered fort at Stramshall.
Uttoxeter also saw the last surrender (Royalist to Parliamentarian) of the English Civil War in 1646, when the Marquis of Hamilton surrendered to General Lambert.
Perhaps the most famous event to have occurred in Uttoxeter is the penance of Samuel Johnson. Johnson's father ran a bookstall on Uttoxeter market, and young Samuel once refused to help out on the stall. When Johnson was older, he stood in the rain (without a hat) as a penance for his failure to assist his father. This event is commemorated with the Johnson Memorial, which stands in the Market Place, in the town centre and there is also an area of town called Johnson Road, which commemorates him.
Uttoxeter was the birthplace of Joseph Cyril Bamford (creator of the JCB Empire), who started his small business in a small garage in the town. Their international headquarters are now based in Rocester, a near-by village.
Mary Howitt (writer of poem 'The Spider and the Fly'), lived in Balance Street, Uttoxeter for a long period of her life. The town had influenced some of her poems. Howitt Crescent, a residential road in the town, was named after her. Recently, three of her poems were displayed in the town's bus shelters by the Uttoxeter Arts Festival Committee to increase awareness of art.
The Writer and Director, Shane Meadows was born and brought up in Uttoxeter. Parts of his film, 'A Room for Romeo Brass' was filmed at Oldfield's Hall Middle School in 1997. He is also known for the films '24:7' and 'Once upon a Time in the Midlands'. Five of Shane Meadows' films, including his new film 'This is England', will be shown at Cinebowl from the 18th to the 22nd June as part of the 2007 Flourish Festival.
Other notables include: - Robert Bakewell (Artist and Craftsman) and Henry Yevele (architect). Admiral Lord Gardner (who commanded a younger Nelson) was born in the town in 1742, and died at Bath in 1810. Another native was Sir Simon Degge, an antiquary, well known for his manuscript notes on Plot's Natural History of Staffordshire.

700 Year Market Charter Anniversary in 2008

Uttoxeter celebrates its 700 year anniversary of the awarding of a Market Charter (1308) in 2008 which underpins the market provision on Saturdays and Wednesdays in particular and other festival markets. The 1308 charter followed a more general Royal Charter granted to the towns' burgesses in 1252. Copies of the charters can be seen in the Town Hall's Alan Dean Suite. The originals reside at the National Archives in Kew and the Deferrers Museum in Leicester.
It is hoped an appropriate celebration will mark the event.

Economy

Uttoxeter's new-look Market Place

The main employers in Uttoxeter are JCB, makers of agricultural machinery and heavy products, at three sites in the local area, and Fox's Biscuits' (previously Elkes'). Also nearby is the Alton Towers Resort, and the Peak District national park.
Another major attraction of Uttoxeter is the racecourse, which is home to the Midlands Grand National.

Transport

Uttoxeter is on the main A50 and has a mainline railway station, Uttoxeter railway station which was opened by the North Staffordshire Railway on October 1, 1881, however, there were earlier stations opened by the North Staffordshire Railway, with full information to be found at Uttoxeter railway station. The bus stop next to the station runs an hourly service to Cheadle and Alton Towers (32A).
Buses to Stafford run every 2 hours; buses to Burton upon Trent run every hour. The 32A operated by First PMT (Potteries) runs every two hours departing from Hanley and arriving at Uttoxeter, there is a revised time table in the summer where frequency of this service is extended to every hour.
At one time it was also the terminus of a branch of the Caldon Canal (aka the Uttoxeter Canal), although most signs of this, apart from an area of Uttoxeter called "The Wharf", have now disappeared - largely because much of the bed of the canal was used in the 19th century as the route of the North Staffordshire Railway main line from Uttoxeter to Macclesfield (which has now also disappeared).

Schools

Uttoxeter has a three-tier schooling system that consists of several First Schools, three Middle Schools (Oldfields Hall Middle School, Windsor Park Middle School and Ryecroft Middle School, Rocester) and a High School. The High School, Thomas Alleyne's, has over 1,200 pupils, an astroturf football pitch, swimming pool, gymnasium and several grass football pitches. Thomas Alleyne's is the only High School in Staffordshire that offers an accelerated mathematics course, RAF fast track scheme and a farm. The school also includes a Sixth Form Centre, and is one of three schools founded by the 16th century priest Thomas Alleyne.
Prior to this educational structure, the town had a selective secondary and Grammar School system which consisted of Oldfields Boys School, Oldfields Girls School and Alleyne's Grammar.

Uttoxeter Town Brass Band at the flourishfestival 2006

Culture

Uttoxeter Civic Society

Uttoxeter Civic Society was re-established in 2004 to act as a civic watch dog and to protect and promote the history and heritage of Uttoxeter. The Civic Society's range of activities can be found on their website.

Uttoxeter May Festival

2007 saw the re-introduction of the May Festival and May Market staged in the town's historic market place. The market known as the 'Gay Boys Market' a season agricultural recruitment market. Both events came to an end, the former probably due to religious objection, in the early 19th century.
The 2007 event, which will continue to be held each bank holiday Monday in May annually, included a range of traditional music and dance and May Pole dancing.
The event opened with the tradtional slaying of the Green Man by Uttoxeter's May Princess and performing on the day were the Picknalls First School International Dance Group, Uttoxeter and Stafford Morris Men, Black Dog Molly Border Morris from Stoke, Bare Bones Border Morris from Lougborough, Abbots Bromley Horn Dancers and Celtic Folk Group Seamus O'Blivion and the MegaDeath Morris men.
Organised and funded by the Civic Society.

The Flourish Festival

The 2007 Flourish Festival was a huge success, bringing local, national and international talents to Uttoxeter. The voluntary group held over 30 different events from the 16th to the 23rd June attracting over 1,600 visitors.
Visual Arts & Film, Drama, Dance, Music and Food based activities were run throughout the week celebrating the arts in Uttoxeter.
The 2008 dates have yet to be announced. Please visit flourishfestival.co.uk for further details and pictures of the 2007 festival.

The Uttoxeter Lions

Each year, The Uttoxeter Lions run a successful Bonfire and Fireworks Night in November and the Uttoxeter Christmas Cracker in the town centre every December. The 2006 Cracker Night took place on Thursday 14 December.
Uttoxeter Lions also hold a booksale on the first Saturday of each month at the St Johns Ambulance Brigade Hall on Carter Street, 10.00am - 2.00pm, admission free.

Sport

Uttoxeter Rugby Union Football Club

Uttoxeter Rugby club was formed in 1982 when JCB Rugby club began to play its games at Oldfields sport and social club in Uttoxeter establishing the first rugby side in the town traditionally associated with football. In those days there was no league structure in place nationally so Uttoxeter played "friendly" fixture and developed great rivalries with other local sides including Rugeley and Cannock to name two which have endured over the last 20 years.

TV & Media

Television Appearances

Uttoxeter also obtained minor fame as the setting of a recurring comedy sketch by comedians Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie in their BBC television series ''A Bit of Fry and Laurie''. In the sketch, two obnoxious business entrepreneurs develop grand plans for a popular sports centre. There is indeed a sports centre in Uttoxeter, although it is not run by comedians and the sketch derives its humour from the fact that Uttoxeter is in fact a very quiet and sedate town. The name can also be said with mild humorous effect.
The town also featured in Country File, as a 'mystery town'. The towns' cattle market featured in the programme, ironically it was the last cattle market ever in the town centre site in 2005. Local people participated in the programme included David Denny, Secretary of the Civic Society, local Uttoxeter Advertiser and Uttoxeter Racecourse staff.
Oldfields Hall Middle School was featured in the film A Room for Romeo Brass, written and directed by Shane Meadows and Paul Fraser, two ex-Uttoxetarians who have risen to fame. Shane's most recent film, 'This is England' is written about the Skin-Heads living in 1980's Uttoxeter.

Places of Interest

★ 'St. Mary's Church'.

★ The 'Uttoxeter Heritage Centre' is open to all on Carter Street. Free Entry.

★ The 'Market Place' contains the town's ''War Memorial'', ''Millennium Monument'' and the ''Dr. Johnson Memorial''.

★ 'Uttoxeter Racecourse' is one of Uttoxeter's most famous landmarks and is a short walk from the town centre.

Uttoxeter Racecourse

★ 'Uttoxeter Golf Course' is a short walk from the main town.

★ 'Bramshall Road Park' is the town's recreational ground and offers tennis courts, skate ramps, a basketball court, a football pitch, a bowling green and two children's play areas, as well as floral arrangements and plenty of grass!

★ The 'Wednesday' and 'Saturday Markets' are held weekly in the town's Market Place.

★ The 'Spook Market' is run every Friday in the town's newly refurbished Market Place.

★ The 'Alton Towers Resort' is around from Uttoxeter.

★ The 'Peak District National Park' is a short drive from the town.

Developments

Town Centre Improvements

Uttoxeter has recently gone through an exciting development scheme, with the Market Place, High Street and Carter Street under gone a complete transformation. The work was carried out by Staffordshire County Council and the main elements are now complete. Some parts of Carter Street and High Street are still awaiting completion, due to the Cattle Market's development. The project is a £1.5million initiative of the successful UttoxeterPlus programme.

Dovefields Retail Park

Dovefields Retail Park was first created in 1998 with the opening of a Tesco supermarket on the edge of the town. There is still a lot of controversy regarding the store and its objectives to extend to around . Tesco Uttoxeter is a very successful store, due to its location and did send a shockwave of shop closures throughout the town in the late 90s and early 00s.
This included the closure of a Somerfield supermarket at Trinity Square. Part of Somerfield's rationale to close the store was the fact its sister company (at the time), Kwik Save, had a store in the The Maltings. This was extensively refurbished as a Kwik Save Concept Store in 2005, and re-branded in early 2006 to the Somerfield facia. In May 2007 however this store is changing names again - this time to the Co-op.
The retail park was further expanded in 2002 with the creation of seven large retail outlets, which feature Focus, Argos, Brantano, Pets at Home and Carpet Right.
In 2005, work commenced on the new entertainment development situated between Focus and Tesco. The development was officially opened in September 2006 with an opening party and laser show. This complex has been built by M.J. Barrett Developments and is home to a bowling alley, a 3-screen cinema, a children's creche and a fitness centre (opening later than the others). These facilities are a welcome addition to the town's infrastructure and was used for the Flourish Fesitval's film event.

The Cattle Market Development

The old Cattle Market, which closed in November 2005, is currently being demolished to make-way for a retail and housing development, consisting of of retail space. The land was bought from Bagshaws by the Town Council, and sold onto Taylor Woodrow for around £3million.
The start date had been set at ''November 2005'', though due to public pressure to include more car parking and the Town and Borough Councils not being satisfied with the finalised designs, this has now been put back to later in 2006.
The project should be complete in 2009 and will feature retail space, housing and 200 extra car parking spaces.
The new Cattle Market is soon to be built by M.J. Barrett on the out-skirts of the town.

Uttoxeter Town Hall

The existing Town Hall is currently going under evaluation for re-use. The 'White Elephant', as it has been termed, is not producing enough cash to keep it afloat. Therefore the council have chosen to invite two developers to draw-up some ideas for its redevelopment. Taylor Woodrow is one of the candidates, which is also currently working on the Cattle Market Development (see above).
Both themes include Cafe/Restaurants, with some space for community facilities. There has been some objection to the plans from members of the public. For now the Town Council are still deciding on what is best for the town.
The Flourish Festival proved however this year, that the Town Hall can be used for exciting activities to the benefit of the town and brought back a feeling of community cohesion and culture to the town.

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