View source for Stone, Staffordshire

{{Short description|Market town in Staffordshire, England}}
{{Distinguish|Stone}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2012}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country = England
| official_name = Stone
| static_image_name = {{multiple images
| image1 = Trent and Mersey Canal in Stone, Staffordshire - geograph.org.uk - 7095675.jpg
| image2 = Crown Street in Stone, Staffordshire - geograph.org.uk - 6988124.jpg
| image3 = Church of St Michael and St Wulfad, Stone - geograph.org.uk - 5330069.jpg
| image4 = High Street, Stone - geograph.org.uk - 5580304.jpg
| image5 = Boatyard buildings in Stone, Staffordshire - geograph.org.uk - 6935403.jpg
| image6 = Stone Railway Station - geograph.org.uk - 5580842.jpg
| image7 = Westbridge Park in Stone, Staffordshire - geograph.org.uk - 6905199.jpg
|align = center |total_width = 280|perrow=1 2
}}
| static_image_caption = {{ubl|Left to right,|Top: The [[Trent and Mersey Canal]] at Crown Wharf|Upper: Crown Street and Stone Parish Church|Lower: High Street and Boatyard buildings|Bottom: {{rws|Stone}} railway station and Stone skyline from Westbridge Park}}
| coordinates = {{coord|52.908012|-2.144385|display=inline,title}}
| population = 17,278
| population_ref = ([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 census]])
| shire_district = [[Borough of Stafford|Stafford]]
| shire_county = [[Staffordshire]]
| region = West Midlands
| constituency_westminster = [[Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge (UK Parliament constituency)|Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge]]
| post_town = STONE
| postcode_district = ST15
| postcode_area = ST
| dial_code = 01785
| os_grid_reference = SJ903337
| parts_type               = Suburbs of the town
| p1                       = [[Aston-by-Stone]] (Part)
| p2                       = [[Little Stoke, Staffordshire|Little Stoke]]
| p3                       = [[Oultoncross]]
| p4                       = [[Oulton Heath]]
| p5                       = [[Stonefield, Staffordshire|Stonefield]]
| p6                       = [[Walton, Staffordshire|Walton]]
}}

'''Stone''' is a [[market town]] and [[civil parish]] in the [[Borough of Stafford]] in [[Staffordshire]], England. It is situated approximately 7 miles (11 km) north of [[Stafford]], 7 miles (11 km) south of [[Stoke-on-Trent]] and 15 miles (24 km) north of [[Rugeley]]. As a notable canal town, Stone is recognised for its rich history, originating from the early [[Bronze Age]] and continuing through the [[Industrial Revolution]], with the introduction of the [[Trent and Mersey Canal]] shaping the town's development and local industry.

Originally governed as an urban district council and a rural district council, Stone became part of the Borough of Stafford in 1974. Over the years, the town has seen a steady growth in its population, which was recorded as 12,305 in the [[1991 United Kingdom census|1991 census]], 14,555 in [[United Kingdom 2001 census|2001]] and 16,385 in [[United Kingdom 2011 census|2011]].

== Etymology ==
The [[place-name]]'s meaning is exactly what is stated, a "stone, [[rock (geology)|rock]]", from the [[Old English language|Old English]] ''[[wikt:stan#Old English|stān]]'' (stone).

The local story is that the town was named after the pile of stones taken from the [[River Trent]] raised on the graves of the two princes, Ruffin and Wulfad, killed in AD 665 by their father, King [[Wulfhere of Mercia]], because of their conversion to [[Christianity]].<ref>David Farmer, [[Oxford Dictionary of Saints]], ([[Oxford University Press]], 2011) - [http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199596607.001.0001/acref-9780199596607-e-1664?rskey=DYce8P&result=1674 Wulfad].</ref> However, this legend is unlikely to be true. Wulfhere was already a Christian when he became king, and the story on which it is probably based is set by [[Bede]] in another part of the country over ten years after Wulfhere's death.

More recent research points to older, though no less interesting nor tangible, possibilities regarding its name and founding. Around Stone lie several Romano-British sites and it is not inconceivable that the name alludes to the stone remains of a bridge or milestone, perhaps continuing the Roman road from [[Rocester]] to [[Blythe Bridge]] and then potentially through Stone. The settlement of Walton (which now forms a suburb) is ancient Brythonic (Celtic/ancient Briton place name). The most likely derivation for most places called Stone is from a prehistoric megalith, Roman milestone, a natural boulder or rock formation, or from 'a place where stone was obtained'.<ref>(see JEPNS <div style="display: inline-block; position: relative; cursor: pointer;padding-left:3px;padding-right:20px;border-radius: 8px;box-shadow: 0 1px 1px #ddd, 0 1px 1px #555;box-shadow: 0 1px 1px #ddd, 0 1px 1px #555;white-space: nowrap;" title="Call: 3 1970-1 13" class="DetectedNumber">3 1970-1 13</div>),</ref> A Keuper sandstone outcrop on the north side of Stone, long quarried for building materials, may be the topographical feature from which the place was named. It may also be noted that a huge stone or erratic is recorded on Common Plot<ref>(JNSFC <div style="display: inline-block; position: relative; cursor: pointer;padding-left:3px;padding-right:20px;border-radius: 8px;box-shadow: 0 1px 1px #ddd, 0 1px 1px #555;box-shadow: 0 1px 1px #ddd, 0 1px 1px #555;white-space: nowrap;" title="Call: 1897-8 XXXII 165" class="DetectedNumber">1897-8 XXXII 165</div>),</ref> and in that respect it is unclear whether Stone Field here, one of the open-fields of Stone,<ref>(Stone Field 1665 SRO D327215/21/1-9,1798 Act; see also StEnc 556)</ref> is 'the field at Stone' or 'the field with the stone'.<ref>(Horovitz, D. 2003. Nottingham University. A Survey of the Place Names of Staffordshire)</ref>

== History ==
There is a [[Bronze Age]] ring ditch at Pirehill suggesting occupation in prehistoric times.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

Stone lies within the territory of the Iron Age Celtic tribe 'the [[Cornovii]]' (people of the horn; perhaps a horned god or topographical feature), mentioned by [[Ptolemy]] in the 2nd century AD in his ''[[Geography (Ptolemy)|Geography]]''. To the north-west of Stone lies one of their hill forts, which overlooks the Trent and perhaps the salt production in the region.

The early history of Stone is unclear and is clouded by the 12th century medieval romance concerning the murder of the Saxon princes Wulfad and Rufin by their father, Wulfhere of Mercia, who reputedly had his base near Darleston ([[Wulfherecester]]). The murder of Wulfad in the 7th century and his subsequent entombment under a cairn of stones is the traditional story (described as "historically valueless" by Thacker{{who|date=November 2024}} 1985: 6).{{cn|date=November 2024}}

The church built over the stones marking the graves of Wulfad and Rufin in 670 lasted until the 9th century, before being destroyed by [[Danelaw|invading Danes]]. It was replaced in 1135 by the [[Augustinians|Augustinian]] [[Stone Priory]], which survived until its [[Dissolution of the Monasteries|dissolution]] in the reign of [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]]. The building collapsed in 1749 and the present church of St. Michael's<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stmichaelschurchstone.co.uk/bells |website=St Michael and St Wulfad's church |title=History |access-date=22 November 2024}}</ref> was built in 1758. All that remains of the original priory is the [[rib vault|rib-vaulted]] undercroft which forms the foundations beneath Priory House, which is located on Lichfield Street opposite the Frank Jordan Community Centre.

[[File:North Pirehill Farm - geograph.org.uk - 345140.jpg|left|thumb|275px|North Pirehill Farm]]

Stone lay within the [[Pirehill Hundred|Pirehill hundred]] of Staffordshire named after nearby Pire Hill.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/STS/Hundreds/Pirehill.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100810001359/http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/STS/Hundreds/Pirehill.html |archive-date=10 August 2010 |chapter=Pirehill Hundred |title=History, Gazetteer and Directory of Staffordshire |first=William |last=White |location=Sheffield |date=1851}}</ref> In 1251 [[Henry III of England|Henry III]] granted Stone a [[market town|market]] [[royal charter|charter]].

{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = Stone Inclosure Act 1798
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of Great Britain
| long_title            = An act for dividing and enclosing certain common fields, in the parish of Stone, in the county of Stafford, called Stone Field and The Sandpits.
| year                  = 1798
| citation              = [[38 Geo. 3]]. c. ''78''
| territorial_extent    = [[Great Britain]]
| royal_assent          = 21 June 1798
| commencement          = 21 June 1798{{efn|name=aopca|The [[Acts of Parliament (Commencement) Act 1793]].}}
| repeal_date           = 
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = Current
| original_text         = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}
The Common Plot (also known as ''Mudley Pits'') is a large area of open and wooded common land, sited just to the north of the town of Stone. It was reserved as an area of common land for the inhabitants of the town when the previous strip-farmed fields were enclosed by the ''{{visible anchor|Stone Inclosure Act 1798}}'' ([[38 Geo. 3]]. c. ''78''). The [[Prince William, Duke of Cumberland|Duke of Cumberland]] built extensive winter fortifications and a camp here; traces of which can still be seen, during the winter of 1745/46. The purpose of the camp was to bring the Duke's army down from the freezing [[Staffordshire Moorlands]] and [[Peak District]], where they had been seeking to stop an advance on London by a force of 6,000 [[Jacobitism|Jacobite]] rebels. The rebels were thought to be using [[pack-horse]] routes over the high country, with the aim of reaching [[Derby]]. Stone was also strategic in preventing any break-away Jacobite group going across to Wales to recruit more men there but, with winter coming on, the Jacobites decided to retreat back to Scotland.

Stone Urban District was an [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|urban district]], based on the Stone [[civil parishes in England|civil parish]] which equates to the town of Stone. There were two amendments in parts of the [[Stone Rural]] parish in [[Stone Rural District]] were transferred in. The district was abolished by the [[Local Government Act 1972]] and replaced with [[Borough of Stafford|Stafford Borough Council]] and Stone Town Council. The latter publishes a history of Stone.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stonetowncouncil.gov.uk/history-of-stone/ |website=Stone Town Council |title=History of Stone |date=17 February 2016 |access-date=22 November 2024}}</ref>

=== Roads ===
Stone stands in the valley of the [[River Trent]], and was an important stopping-off point for [[stagecoach]]es on one of the roads [[toll roads|turnpiked]] in the 18th century. A directory for 1851 says that "Stone was a very lively town and a great thoroughfare for coaches, carriers and travellers. No fewer than 38 stage coaches passed through the town daily."{{citation needed|date=January 2022}} The main coaching route was the London to [[Holyhead]] route, via [[Watling Street]] as far as [[Lichfield]] and then the [[A51 road|A51]].

To support the coaching trade, Stone was a principal stopping point with many [[coaching inn]]s to refresh both horses and travellers. Notable hostelries include the Crown Hotel, Crown & Anchor, Red Lion and the Black Horse Inn.

=== The Trent and Mersey Canal ===
{{main|Trent and Mersey Canal}}
[[File:Stone - Canal de Trent et Mersey11.JPG|thumb|250px|Trent and Mersey Canal]]
[[File:The Trent and Mersey Canal at Stone - geograph.org.uk - 962538.jpg|thumb|250px|Trent and Mersey Canal]]
[[File:Lock gates and The Star, Stone, Staffordshire - geograph.org.uk - 1479165.jpg|250px|thumb|Lock gates and The Star]]

The [[River Trent]], which runs through the town, had been used for cargo-carrying vessels since [[Roman Britain|Roman]] times, but further inland smaller boats could only be used. Seasonal fluctuations in water depth proved insurmountable, although cargo could be carried from the sea as far south as Wilden Ferry (south-east of [[Derby]]), where the [[River Derwent, Derbyshire|River Derwent]] joins the Trent and increases the quantity of water, then onwards by road. Prior to [[Tarmacadam|tarmac]] roads, journeys overland by roads were slow and delicate wares were prone to breakages over the rough terrain.

[[James Brindley]], the canal builder, put forward the scheme to build what he called the ''Grand Trunk Canal'' to connect the two rivers, [[River Mersey|Mersey]] and Trent in 1766. It was backed by [[Josiah Wedgwood]],  who saw that it offered an efficient way to bring raw materials to the potteries and to transport finished wares to his customers.

By 29 September 1772, two days after Brindley's death, 48 miles of the Grand Trunk Canal (now known as the Trent and Mersey Canal) from Wilden Ferry to Stone was navigable; the length past Burton-on-Trent was completed in 1770.

On completion of the Star Lock, a grand opening was held and during this opening a cannon was fired in celebration; however, disaster struck and the cannon damaged the new lock, requiring a rebuild.

Stone became the headquarters of the canal company with its office at Westbridge House, sited then below Star Lock on what is now Westbridge Park. The offices were moved later to Stoke-on-Trent.

=== Brewing industry ===
[[File:Joule's Brewery Warehouse, Trent and Mersey Canal, Stone - geograph.org.uk - 599964.jpg|thumb|250px|The warehouse of Joule's Brewery, on the Trent and Mersey Canal]]

Due to the quality of the local water beneath Stone, two brewers were located here carrying on the Augustinian monks' tradition of beer making. The most notable was John Joule & Sons Ltd, established in 1780.<ref name="century">{{cite book |last1=Barber |first1=Norman |date=2012 |editor1-last=Brown |editor1-first=Mike |editor2-last=Farleigh |editor2-first=Ray |editor3-last=Smith |editor3-first=Ken |title=A century of British brewers plus plus · 1890-2012 |location=New Ash Green, Kent |publisher=Brewery History Society |isbn=978-1-873966-19-8 |oclc=1043086520 }}</ref> The company was acquired by [[Bass Brewery|Bass Charrington]] in 1968 and ceased brewing at the end of October 1974.<ref name="century"/> The brewery was demolished in the autumn of 1977; the adjacent bottling plant was closed some years before. The canal played a great part in the export of beer. Joules once owned a pair of boats that delivered coal to the brewery and, as late as the 1950s, had the telephone number ''Stone 1''. Joules' draught beer stores and bottling plant remains an imposing building on the canal and can be clearly identified by the red cross logo of John Joules in the brickwork.

The second brewer was Montgomery & Co, acquired by the Bent's Brewery Co of Liverpool in 1889; it was located on what is now Mount Industrial Estate. It was also taken over by [[Bass Brewery]] and closed on 31 March 1968. The brewing industry in Stone ceased after the closure of Joules and Bents, following an aggressive takeover from the nearby [[Burton upon Trent]] brewers in the 1960s and 1970s. In recent years, it has begun anew with the opening of the Lymestone Brewery in 2008. This family-run microbrewery is based in part of the original Bents brewery.

[[File:The Star Inn - geograph.org.uk - 670020.jpg|250px|thumb|The Star Inn, Stone]]

More recently, a second microbrewery, trading under the name ''Joules'' (dropping the 'John' due to trademark reasons), has begun brewing in [[Market Drayton]], [[Shropshire]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Cheers as brewery marks its success, Business with roots in medieval past now one of county's biggest |work=Shropshire Star |date=29 July 2016|page=16 |first=James |last=Pugh}}</ref> These local beers are available in multiple pubs across the town and the wider region; Lymestone Brewery also has their own public house, The Borehole Inn, situated next to the brewery itself on the Mount Industrial Estate.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Contact us |url=https://www.lymestonebrewery.net/contactus |access-date=2 March 2024 |website=Lymestone Brewery}}</ref>

The Star public house was fully licensed in 1819, although the building predates the canal by some 200 years. The building has in its time been a butcher's shop and slaughterhouse. Stabling for boat horses was available up to the 1950s and the business relied heavily on the canal for trade.

=== Railway ===
The coming of the railway was to end Stone's era as a coaching and canal town. The [[North Staffordshire Railway]] opened its main line from Stoke-on-Trent through Stone to [[Norton Bridge, Staffordshire|Norton Bridge]] on 3 April 1848; the following year a branch line from Stone to [[Colwich, Staffordshire|Colwich]] began operating.

One industry that did flourish under the railway era was the shoe industry; at its height in 1851, there were 16 shoeworks. The industry however declined after Australia, the main shoe market, imposed an import tax on the industry.

==Buildings==
Stone has many buildings of interest including the [[Grade II listed]] Hayes House and the Catholic chapel of St Anne.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/map-search?postcode=ST15%208SZ&clearresults=True#?search=ST15%208SZ|title = Search the List - Map Search &#124; Historic England}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1374235?section=official-list-entry | title=THE HAYES HOUSE, Stone Rural - 1374235 &#124; Historic England }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1297480|title=CATHOLIC CHAPEL OF ST ANNE, Stone - 1297480 &#124; Historic England|website=historicengland.org.uk}}</ref>

==Religion==
[[File:St Michael's Church, Stone - geograph.org.uk - 962490.jpg|left|thumb|St Michael's Church]]
Stone Parish Church, dedicated to [[Saint Michael]] the Archangel, is at the south end of the town located on what used to be Stone Priory. It was commenced in 1753, and finished in 1758.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Stone (Staffordshire) |volume= 25 | page= 958; line 3 |quote= The church of St Michael dates from 1750 |short= 1}}</ref> The present clock dates from 1896.

Christ Church stands on the north side of the town and was erected in 1839.

==Education==
State education within Stone is based on the three tier school system, with a range of first and primary schools, two middle schools (Walton Priory Middle and Christchurch Academy) and a high school ([[Alleyne's Academy]]). Independent education is served by the Catholic [[St Dominic's Priory School (Stone)|St Dominic's Priory School]] founded with the convent of the same name in the 19th century by Mother [[Margaret Hallahan]] when the school was originally known as ''Blessed Imelda's Enpension School''.

==Economy==
[[File:Rebekah at Stone - geograph.org.uk - 1134797.jpg|250px|thumb|''Rebekah'', at Stone]]

[[Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service]] has its headquarters just south of Stone. [[Yarnfield]] Park Training and Conference Centre just outside the town is a major training centre for the UK telecommunications industry. It is owned by [[BT Group]] and run by [[Accenture]].

The canal still dominates the town.  Many canal side sites have in recent times been taken over for modern day use including The Moorings, a development of apartments based on the old Stubbs warehouse. Apartments and housing surround the old Trent Hospital, once the workhouse. Housing developments also border the canal.

Commercial traffic has now been replaced by the leisure craft that pass through Stone each year. The Canal Cruising Company today operates from the historic site of the canal maintenance and boat building operations of the Trent and Mersey Canal Company. This restored docks complex with its workshops, by Yard Lock, continues to be used for the maintenance of pleasure craft and historic boats. In 2010, a new marina opened just south of the town, below Aston Lock, with moorings for pleasure craft, a farm shop and a café.

Stone is the key UK manufacturing site for the [[Quickfit apparatus|Quickfit]] laboratory glassware system which finds widespread use in many school, college and university science departments.

The National Association of Chimney Sweeps is located in the town.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nacs.org.uk/ |title=NACS |website=National Association of Chimney Sweeps}}</ref>

The Stone Food and Drink Festival takes place the first weekend in October<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stonefooddrink.org.uk/index.htm |title=Stone Food & Drink Festival |website=Stone Food & Drink}}</ref> and brings together the very best in local produce and cooking talent. It attracts in excess of 20,000 visitors to the town and runs for one week, with the main event on the town's Westbridge Park on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

==Transport==
[[File:Stone railway station.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Stone railway station]]

[[Stone railway station]] is a stop on a spur of the [[West Coast Main Line]] between [[Colwich Junction]] and {{rws|Manchester Piccadilly}}. [[London Northwestern Railway]] operates an hourly semi-fast service in each direction between {{rws|Crewe}} and {{rws|Stafford}}, via {{rws|Stoke-on-Trent}} and {{rws|Kidsgrove}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.londonnorthwesternrailway.co.uk/travel-information/journey-planning/train-timetables-and-schedules?crs=SNE |title=Train timetables and schedules |website=London Northwestern Railway |date=15 December 2024 |access-date=23 February 2025}}</ref>

Stone's main bus routes are:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bustimes.org/localities/stone-staffs |title=Stone bus services |website=Bustimes.org |access-date=23 February 2025}}</ref>
* 101: between [[Hanley]], [[Stoke-on-Trent]], [[Tittensor]], [[Trentham, Staffordshire|Trentham]], [[Newcastle-under-Lyme]] and [[Stafford]]. [[First Potteries]] operates the route on Mondays-Saturdays, with [[D&G Bus]] running it on Sundays.
* 100: between Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent and Stone; operated by D&G Bus.

Two trunk roads pass through the town: the [[A34 road (England)|A34]] links [[Winchester]], [[Birmingham]],  [[Manchester]] and [[Salford]]; and the [[A51 road|A51]] connects Lichfield with [[Chester]]. Stone is by-passed by the [[M6 motorway]].

The Trent and Mersey Canal passes through the town. The canal towpath is accessible to walkers and cyclists northbound towards [[Barlaston]], Trentham and Stoke-on-Trent; to the south, it connects the town with Burston, [[Weston, Staffordshire|Weston]] and [[Great Haywood]].

==Sport==
The town is home to two football clubs: [[Stone Old Alleynians F.C.]] of the {{English football updater|StoneOlA}} and [[Stone Dominoes F.C.]]

Stone Old Alleynians F.C is the largest football club in the Midland’s region, with over 70 teams and 1,600 members, being based at Alleyne’s Sports Centre, Stone.   



[[Staffordshire County Cricket Club]] play [[Minor Counties Championship]] matches at [[Lichfield Road]], as do the town's [[cricket]] club, Stone Cricket Club.

== Media ==
=== Television ===
Television news is covered by [[BBC Midlands Today]] and [[ITV Central]], both of which come from [[Birmingham]]. Stone can receive good to marginal signals from the [[Sutton Coldfield transmitting station]] and from [[The Wrekin transmitting station]], which can be received in the higher parts of town.

=== Radio ===
Stone's local radio stations are [[Hits Radio Staffordshire & Cheshire]] and [[BBC Radio Stoke]], which broadcast from studios in [[Stoke-on-Trent]]. However, some parts of the town can also receive [[Hits Radio Black Country & Shropshire]], [[Greatest Hits Radio]], [[BBC Radio WM]], [[BBC Radio Cymru]] and [[Heart (radio network)|Heart]] and [[Smooth Radio (2014)|Smooth]] from the [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]] and [[North West England|North West]].

=== Newspapers ===
Stone is covered by two daily newspapers: ''[[The Sentinel (Staffordshire)|The Sentinel]]'' from Stoke-on-Trent and the ''[[Express and Star]]'' from [[Wolverhampton]]. 

The weekly ''Staffordshire Newsletter'' and the bi-monthly ''Stone and Eccleshall Gazette'' also cover the town.

=== Magazines ===
* The Stone and Eccleshall Gazette

=== Community news ===
Stone has an independent community news website called ''A Little Bit Of Stone''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alittlebitofstone.com |website=A little bit of Stone |title=Latest Stone News Articles |access-date=1 Jan 2017}}</ref> which delivers up-to-date news and information for the residents and visitors of the town.

==Notable people==
[[File:John Jervis, Earl of St Vincent by Lemuel Francis Abbott.jpg|thumb|140px|[[John Jervis, Earl of St Vincent]], ca.1795]]
[[File:Portrait of William Bernard Ullathorne.jpg|140px|thumb|[[William Bernard Ullathorne]], pre 1889]]
[[File:Official portrait of Helen Morgan MP crop 2, 2024.jpg|thumb|140px|[[Helen Morgan (politician)|Helen Morgan]], MP 2024]]
[[File:Birchall.JPG|140px|thumb|[[Chris Birchall]], 2010]]
[[File:Joe Clarke 2016.jpg|140px|thumb|[[Joe Clarke (canoeist)|Joe Clarke]], 2016]]

* [[Werburgh]] (ca.650–700),<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15588b.htm New Advent website] retrieved 29 September 2017</ref> an Anglo-Saxon princess, was born in Stone and died in Trentham
* [[James Brindley]], (1716 – 1772)<ref>{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Brindley,_James |volume= 04 |short=x}}</ref> the Surveyor-General of the [[Trent & Mersey Canal]]
* [[John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent]], (1735 in [[Meaford Hall, Staffordshire|Meaford Hall]] – 1823)<ref>{{Cite RNB1823 |wstitle=John Jervis, Earl of St Vincent |volume=1 |part=1 |pages=12–32 |noicon=1}}</ref> colleague of [[Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson|Lord Nelson]], victor in a battle [[Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1797)|Cape St Vincent]] in 1797. He was buried in the family mausoleum in Stone.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160513172122/http://pmsa.org.uk/pmsa-database/6485/ Database of Public Monuments and Sculpture] retrieved January 2017</ref> The south end of Stone High is named: - ''Earl St Vincent Square''. There is also monument in the crypt of [[St Paul's Cathedral]].<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= St Vincent, John Jervis, Earl of |volume= 24 |last= Hannay |first= David McDowall |author-link= David McDowall Hannay| pages = 49&ndash;50| short=1}}</ref>
* [[Thomas Oldfield (Royal Marines officer)|Thomas Oldfield]] (1756–1799), an English major in the [[Royal Marines]].<ref>{{cite DNB|wstitle= Oldfield, Thomas (1755-1799) |volume= 42 |last= Vetch |first= Robert Hamilton |author-link= Robert Hamilton Vetch |pages= 103-104 |year= |short=1}}</ref>
* [[Stebbing Shaw]], (1762 near Stone –1802)<ref>{{cite DNB|wstitle=Shaw,_Stebbing |volume= 51 |short=x}}</ref> a cleric, local historian and topographer
* [[Peter De Wint]], (1784 in Stone – 1849)<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= De Wint, Peter |volume= 8 | page = 139|short=1}}</ref> landscape painter
* [[William Bernard Ullathorne]], (1806 – 1889)<ref>{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Ullathorne,_William_Bernard |volume= 27 |short=x}}</ref>  Roman Catholic [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham|Bishop of Birmingham]] is buried locally
* [[William Austin (bishop)|William Austin]] (1807–1892), Bishop of [[Diocese of Guyana|Guyana]] in [[South America]] for 50 years. 
* [[Augusta Theodosia Drane]] (1823–1894)<ref>{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Drane,_Augusta_Theodosia |volume= 08 |short=x}}</ref> writer, Roman Catholic nun and [[prioress]] of Stone convent.
* [[Thomas Smith (trade unionist)|Thomas Smith]] (1847 in Stone – 1919) trade union leader<ref>[http://www.nednewitt.com/whoswho/S.html Ned Newitt website] retrieved 29 September 2017</ref> and Liberal politician, general secretary of [[National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives|National Union of Boot and Shoe Rivetters and Finishers]]
* [[Frank Clewlow]], (1885 in Stone – 1957) actor-director, worked in England, Scotland, Australia<ref>[http://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/415221 AusStage website] retrieved 29 September 2017</ref> & New Zealand
* [[Eva Morris]], (1885 – 2000) the [[supercentenarian|oldest]]<ref>[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB7368476E2281F&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Philadelphia Inquirer - 3 November 2000] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826005024/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB7368476E2281F&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |date=26 August 2018 }} retrieved 29 September 2017</ref> person in the world from December 1999 to her death in November 2000 at a local nursing home, aged 114
* [[Sarah Ward (politician)|Sarah Ward]] (1895–1965), politician, MP for [[Cannock (UK Parliament constituency)|Cannock]] and member of [[Staffordshire County Council|Staffs CC]] for almost 20 years <ref>{{cite book |last1=Dale |first1=Iain |last2=Smith |first2=Jacqui |title=The Honourable Ladies: Volume I: Profiles of Women MPs 1918–1996 |date=4 September 2018 |publisher=Biteback Publishing |isbn=978-1-78590-449-3 |page=128 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lvhqDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT128 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[L. T. C. Rolt]], (1910 – 1974)<ref>[http://oxonblueplaques.org.uk/plaques/rolt.html OXFORDSHIRE BLUE PLAQUES SCHEME] retrieved 29 September 2017</ref> author of ''‘Narrowboat’'' and several engineering biographies
* [[Frank Thomas (bishop)|Frank Thomas]] (1930 in Stone – 1988)<ref>[http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bthomasfg.html Catholic-Hierarchy.org] retrieved 29 September 2017</ref> Roman Catholic [[Bishop of Northampton]]
* [[David Warrilow]], (1934 in Stone – 1995)<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1995/08/29/obituaries/david-warrilow-60-an-actor-who-interpreted-beckett-dies.html New York Times, Obituaries] retrieved 29 September 2017</ref> actor, interprets the works of [[Samuel Beckett]]
* [[Cedric Price]], (1934 in Stone – 2003)<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/cedric-price-36932.html Independent, Obituaries] retrieved 29 September 2017</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/society/2003/aug/15/urbandesign.artsobituaries Guardian, Obituaries] retrieved 29 September 2017</ref> an architect, teacher and writer on architecture
* [[Terry Darlington]] (born c.1940?)<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/content/articles/2005/07/21/narrowboat_darlingtons_channel_feature.shtml BBC Stoke and Staffordshire] retrieved 29 September 2017</ref> author of ''Narrow Dog to Carcassonne'' & ''Narrow Dog to Wigan Pier''
* [[A. N. Wilson]] (born 1950 in Stone)<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/biography/A-N-Wilson Encyclopædia Britannica] retrieved 29 September 2017</ref> writer and newspaper columnist
* [[Ian Morris (historian)|Ian Morris]] (born 1960)<ref>[http://www.ianmorris.org/biography.html Ian Morris website, Biography] retrieved 3 October 2017</ref> historian and author of [[Why the West Rules—For Now]], went to [[Alleyne's Academy|school]] in Stone
* [[Kirsty Bertarelli]] (born 1971), songwriter and beauty pageant; [[Miss United Kingdom]] 1988 
* [[Scout Niblett]] (born 1973 in Stone)<ref>[http://www.incendiarymag.com/interviews/scoutnibblett/she_interview_scout_niblett Incendiary Magazine 2009] retrieved 29 September 2017</ref> an indie rock musician, real name ''Emma Louise Niblett''
* [[Helen Morgan (politician)|Helen Morgan]] (born 1975),<ref>{{cite news |title=Confident Lib-Dem hoping to make history in North Shropshire by-election |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/oswestry/2021/11/24/lib-dem-hoping-to-make-history-in-north-shropshire/ |access-date=22 December 2021 |work=Shropshire Star |date=24 November 2021 |quote=She was born and raised in Stone, Staffordshire, before moving to Buckinghamshire.}}</ref> [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] politician, MP for [[North Shropshire (UK Parliament constituency)|North Shropshire]] since 2021; brought up and went to [[Alleyne's Academy]] in Stone
* [[Jackie Degg]], (born 1978 in Stone)<ref>[https://uk.askmen.com/celebs/women/models_300/339_jakki_degg.html Askmen website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929032222/https://uk.askmen.com/celebs/women/models_300/339_jakki_degg.html |date=29 September 2017 }} retrieved 29 September 2017</ref> former glamour model and actress.

=== Sport ===
* [[Tom Fishwick]] (1876 in Stone – 1950) cricketer, played first-class cricket for [[Warwickshire County Cricket Club|Warwickshire]]<ref>[https://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/13068.html Tom Fishwick] at [[ESPNcricinfo]] retrieved 31 December 2020</ref>
* [[Arthur Fernie]] (1877 in Stone – 1959) cricketer, played first-class cricket for [[Cambridge University Cricket Club|Cambridge University]] and the [[Marylebone Cricket Club]]<ref>[https://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/13031.html Arthur Fernie] at [[ESPNcricinfo]] retrieved 31 December 2020</ref>
* [[Billy Tompkinson]] (1895 in Stone – 1968) footballer, played 302 games mainly for [[Rochdale A.F.C.|Rochdale]] & [[Stockport County F.C.|Stockport County]]
* [[Bertie Shardlow]] (1909 in Stone – 1976)<ref>[https://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/228564.html Wisden, Obituaries in 1976,  ESPNcricinfo] retrieved 30 September 2017</ref> cricketer, boat [[carpenter]] and father of [[Paul Shardlow]]
* [[Jack Moore (sportsman)|Jack Moore]] (1911-ca.2008). amateur footballer, referee and tennis player.
* [[Russell Flower]] (born 1942 in Stone)<ref>[http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/13099.html ESPNcricinfo] retrieved 30 September 2017</ref> left-handed batsman, bowled slow left-arm orthodox
* [[Paul Shardlow]] (1943 in Stone – 1968)<ref>[http://nasljerseys.com/Players/S/Shardlow.Paul.htm NASL Players] retrieved 30 September 2017</ref> football goalkeeper and cricket player
* [[John James (footballer, born 1948)|John James]] (born 1948 in Stone)<ref>{{Hugman|10043|John James|access-date=30 September 2017}}</ref> footballer, played 381 games, mainly for [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]] 
* [[Chris Banks (footballer, born 1965)|Chris Banks]] (born 1965), footballer, played 766 games, mainly for [[Bath City F.C.|Bath City]] & [[Cheltenham Town F.C.|Cheltenham Town]]
* [[Stan Collymore]], (born 1971 in Stone)<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100120222544/http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/history/past-players/stan-collymore liverpoolfc.tv] retrieved 30 September 2017</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/mar/14/newsstory.sport Stan of many parts, The Guardian, 14 March 2004] retrieved 30 September 2017</ref> former footballer, played 287 games and 3 for [[England national football team|England]] & TV pundit
* [[Keri Lees]] (born 1972 in Stone)<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200418025401/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ma/keri-maddox-1.html Sports Reference LLC website] retrieved 30 September 2017</ref> retired athlete, competed in the hurdles at the [[2000 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Chris Birchall]], (born 1984)<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/5085332.stm BBC News, Crown and Anchor, Stone, Staffordshire 16 June 2006] retrieved 30 September 2017</ref> footballer, played 286 games and 44 for [[Trinidad and Tobago national football team|Trinidad and Tobago]]; school in Stone
* [[Andy Wilkinson]], (born 1984 in Stone)<ref>[http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=28632 Soccerbaser] retrieved 30 September 2017</ref> footballer defender, played 205 games, mainly for [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] 
* [[Lizzie Neave]] (born 1987)<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200418040247/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ne/lizzie-neave-1.html Sports Reference LLC 2016] retrieved 30 September 2017</ref> Olympic canoeist, lived in Stone and trained at the Stafford and Stone Canoe Club. 
* [[Joe Clarke (canoeist)|Joe Clarke]] (born 1992)<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/36686884 BBC Sport 10 August 2016] retrieved 30 September 2017</ref><ref>[http://news.sky.com/story/olympic-hero-joe-clarke-had-to-beg-to-take-up-kayak-10531504 SkyNews 11 August 2016] retrieved 30 September 2017</ref> Olympic gold medalist at the [[2016 Summer Olympics]] in Rio, attended [[Alleyne's Academy]] in Stone
* [[James Bolton (footballer)|James Bolton]] (born 1994), footballer, has played over 300 games

==Twin towns==
Stone is [[sister city|twinned]] with [[Bagnacavallo]], Italy.

==See also==
* [[Listed buildings in Stone, Staffordshire]]
* [[Listed buildings in Stone Rural]]
* [[Stone Meadows]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Stone, Staffordshire|Stone}}
* [http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/STS/Stone 1851 description of Stone parish]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110716060316/http://www.lichfield.anglican.org/stoke/stonecc/church.htm Christ Church]
* [http://www.canaljunction.com/canal/trent_mersey.htm The Trent & Mersey Canal]
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Stone (Staffordshire) |volume= 25 | page= 958 |short= 1}}
* [http://www.thepotteries.org/tour/index_south.htm Website of Potteries.org Neville Malkin's "Grand Tour" of the Potteries Retrieved Feb 2017] = Has several old pictures, drawings and historical narrative about St Michael's Church, the Jervis Mausoleum, Joule's Brewery and the railway station

{{Staffordshire}}
{{Civil Parishes of Stafford}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Stone, Staffordshire| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Staffordshire]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Staffordshire]]
[[Category:Borough of Stafford]]