Brown Edge, Staffordshire

Brown Edge is a village and civil parish in the Staffordshire Moorlands district of Staffordshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 2,406, increasing to 2,486 at the 2011 Census.^[1] The village is on the fringe of The Potteries Urban Area, and is about 5 miles north-east of Hanley in Stoke-on-Trent.

History

Brown Edge lies within the boundaries of the ancient Saxon kingdom of Mercia. However, before 1800 the village consisted of no more than several farm cottages, some of which survive today. Throughout the 19th century, the village remained largely untouched by the pottery and mining industries of Stoke-on-Trent and it was not until only around 1950 when the villagers began working in local mines such as Chatterley Whitfield. Brown Edge also annually practices the local tradition of Well Dressing. This is an ancient festival which has its roots in pagan worship and involves blessing the local wells or springs on which the villagers would once have depended for their water by decorating the location with flowers. In modern times this is done by pressing items such a flower, coffee beans and coloured gravel into clay covered boards which are left up for several days around the time of the summer festival. The neighbouring village of Endon also participates in this practice, though it has fewer wells.

Businesses

Brown Edge has several small businesses including a family-owned group of stores (Keith's Supermarket, Keith's Newsagents, Keith's Workshop) a local Post Office, two mechanics and the local pubs, The Hollybush and The Rose & Crown (now known as Top Pub). The largest of these, Keith's Supermarket attracts customers from around the local area and supplies a range of products from food to gardening and DIY equipment and can be found on the highstreet.

Events

Brown Edge holds many annual events, the main one of which being the Summer Fair during which the well dressing is performed. This event usually occurs in late June or early July, but dates have been known to change from year to year dependant on weather forecasts and the decisions of the organising committee.

Famous People

Cricketer and umpire John Steele was born in Brown Edge and along with his brother David, the England batsman, lived here for several years.

References

↑ "Civil Parish population 2011". Retrieved 6 December 2015.

External links

Coordinates: 53°04′34″N 2°08′17″W / 53.076°N 2.138°W / 53.076; -2.138

Ceremonial county of Staffordshire

Unitary authorities	Stoke-on-Trent

Boroughs or districts	Cannock Chase East Staffordshire Lichfield Newcastle-under-Lyme South Staffordshire Stafford Staffordshire Moorlands Tamworth

Major settlements	Biddulph Burntwood Burton upon Trent Cannock Cheadle Eccleshall Fazeley Hednesford Kidsgrove Leek Lichfield Newcastle-under-Lyme Penkridge Rugeley Stafford Stoke-on-Trent Burslem Fenton Hanley Longton Stoke Tunstall Stone Tamworth Uttoxeter See also: List of civil parishes in Staffordshire

Rivers	Anker Blithe Churnet Dane Dove Manifold Mease Penk Sow Swarbourn Tame Trent Wheelock

Canals	Birmingham & Fazeley Caldon Lichfield Shropshire Union Staffs & Worcestershire Trent & Mersey Wyrley & Essington

Topics	Flag Museums Schools Grade I buildings Grade II* buildings Windmills High Sheriffs

Civil parishes of Staffordshire Moorlands

Council	Staffordshire Moorlands District Council

Civil parishes	Alstonefield Alton Bagnall Biddulph Blore with Swinscoe Bradnop Brown Edge Butterton Caverswall Cheadle Checkley Cheddleton Consall Coton Dilhorne Draycott in the Moors Endon and Stanley Farley Fawfieldhead Forsbrook Grindon Heathylee Heaton Hollinsclough Horton Ilam Ipstones Kingsley Leek Leekfrith Longnor Longsdon Oakamoor Onecote Quarnford Rushton Sheen Tittesworth Warslow and Elkstones Waterhouses Werrington Wetton

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