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Coordinates: 52°48′00″N 2°06′28″W / 52.799907°N 2.107672°W / 52.799907; -2.107672
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Forebridge
Forebridge Lock-up, Stafford
Forebridge is located in Staffordshire
Forebridge
Forebridge
Location within Staffordshire
Population3,651 (Ward Profile)[1]
OS grid referenceSJ925224
• London142 mi (229 km) SSE
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townSTAFFORD
Postcode districtST17
Dialling code01785
PoliceStaffordshire
FireStaffordshire
AmbulanceWest Midlands
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Staffordshire
52°48′00″N 2°06′28″W / 52.799907°N 2.107672°W / 52.799907; -2.107672

Forebridge is a district of Stafford in the Borough of Stafford in Staffordshire, England. It is one of the oldest parts of the town, dating as far back as the 14th and 15th centuries.[2]

History

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Forebridge was once part of the ancient parish of Castle Church, with it first mentioned as land given in 1288 south of the River Sow. In 1304, it was renamed as Forebridge Green. In 1372, the pastures around Forebridge were enclosed for use by Lord Stafford.[3]

The Hospitals of St. John and St. Leonard and the Austin Friars House

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The estimated location of St. John's Hospital and Chapel, occupied by former the White Lion Pub.

The hospital of St. John and its chapel are believed to have been situated on the site of Lichfield Road and White Lion Street. According to British History Online, the entry about the hospital and its chapel is quoted as follows:

The hospital and chapel are thought to have stood at the junction of Lichfield Road and White Lion Street on the site now occupied by the White Lion Inn. (fn. 284) The hospital is known to have existed in 1208. Its seal depicts a cruciform building with 13thcentury features (fn. 285) and may possibly perpetuate an approximate image of the chapel as it was when the matrix was struck. The west part of the White Lion Inn, now used as a clubroom, is built of stone and may represent the remains of the chapel.

— British History Online, Castle Church, Lesser Estates
The estimated site of St. Leonard Hospital, now occupied by St. Leonard's Avenue.

The hospital of St. Leonard is believed to have been located between St. Leonard's Avenue, east of Lichfield Road, and close to the West Coast Main Line. Unlike St. John's Hospital and its chapel. St. Leonard's Hospital is not as easy to find.[4]

According to a chapter in the book, "Monasticon Anglicanum : A History Of The Abbies And Other Monasteries, Hospitals, Frieries, And Cathedral And Collegiate Churches, With Their Dependencies, In England and Wales" published in 1846. The free chapel of St. Leonard and hospital of St. John are mentioned.[5] The page entry reads as follows:

STAFFORD. ST. JOHN'S HOSPITAL here, near a river, on the green of Forebrigge, had a master and several poor brethren. It was valued 26 Hen. VIII. at 101. per annum. The SPYTTEL or Free Chapel of St. Leonard was valued in the Valor of the 26th Hen. VIII. at 41. 12s. 4d. per annum.

— James Bohn, Monasticon Anglicanum : A History Of The Abbies And Other Monasteries, Hospitals, Frieries, And Cathedral And Collegiate Churches, With Their Dependencies, In England and Wales, Staffordshire.
St Austin's Church occupies the site of the Austin Friars House and the Augustinian Friary

The Austin Friars was founded as an Augustinian Friary in 1344 by Ralph Stafford.[6] The site was influential on the local street names such as "Austin Friars, Friars Road, and Friars Terrace". The site of the house was demolished in the 1780s, and a small chapel was later built on the site of the friary's land. The chapel, after some minor alterations, later became known as "St. Austin's Catholic Church", which continues to be an active place of worship and community gatherings.[7]

St Paul's Church

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St Paul's Church

The church is located off Lichfield Road, with construction originally taking place in 1840 and carried out by Henry Ward. The church was completed in 1844 and built in classic Victorian Gothic style. In 1877, a mission church and school were built on Garden Street.[8] In 1887, a 122-foot spire and its tower were added to the church.[9] Its spire is visible in the skyline of Stafford due to its position on a steep hill. The church is a Grade II listed building, given in February 1994 by Historic England,[10] who described some of the churches interior and exterior as:

Transepts have 4-light north and south windows with roundels above, presumably with eagle and winged lion (not visible because of scaffolding, at survey); 2-light windows to returns. Steeple has diagonal buttresses becoming shallow angle buttresses; sill course with quatrefoil above; 2-light louvred bell openings, the hoods with head stops; cornice with Tudor flower and broach spire, the broaches forming plain pinnacles; weather cock. Nave has 2-light north and south windows; west facade has entrance of single order, hood with head stops, flanked by windows of 2 single-chamfered trefoil-headed lights; 5-light west window on sill course, roundel above with relief of winged man and large figure of St Paul to gable. INTERIOR: hammer beam roofs with pendants and cusping; double-chamfered crossing arches on round shafts; ashlar west gallery on 3 arches has ball-flower and arcaded balcony front.

— Historic England, CHURCH OF ST PAUL, Official List Entry

The church is the main parish church for Forebridge and continues to be an active place of worship, community gathering and hosts events for religious and non-religious.[11][12]

Saint Joseph's Covenant

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The former St Joseph's Convent, now in use as a nursing home

Saint Joseph's Covenant opened in 1903, originally as a girls-only school and covenant. It was operated by sisters of the French Order of St. Joseph of Cluny.[13] It building it operated from was originally named "Forebridge Villa"[14], which was built in the early 19th century.[15] The building ceased being used as a girls-only school in 1989. The building was later converted for use as a care home for elderly residents.[16]

Additionally, the charity originally registered to operate and maintain the convent officially ceased trading in 2015.[17]

The Green Hall

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The Green Hall

The Green Hall was originally built in the 1820s for a local solicitor named "Charles Webb". It later became Staffordshire County Council's Architect's Department until 2015, when it was closed and sold off. It has since been converted into residential apartments.[18] The hall is also a Grade II listed building, given in January 1951 by Historic England. In the official entry listing for the building. It describes some of the interior and exterior as:

2 storeys with attic; symmetrical 7-window range; 2-window ends break forward Wide 1st floor sill band; ends have angle pilasters with incised lines and entablature, the cornice of which extends across centre; pilaster strips with incised lines and cornice with anthemion antefixae to attic. Entrance has small-paned overlight to paired glazed doors; Ionic porch with paired columns.

— Historic England, GREEN HALL, Official List Entry

Forebridge Lock-up

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Forebridge Lock-up on White Lion Street

The Forebridge Lock-up dates back to the 18th century and was originally used as a prison cellby the local police force. Mostly used for minor crimes such as drunk and disorderly conduct and vagrancy. The lock-up was only ever a temporary measure before the accused would be either released or taken to HM Prison Stafford.[19] The structure was demolished in 1976 and later re-erected on the original site. Likely following the completion of Queensway, which runs directly opposite it. The structure was given Grade II listed status in January 1951.[20]

The structure is also located opposite the former White Lion Pub, which has since been converted into residential and other uses.

Stafford Baptist Church

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Stafford Baptist Church

The Stafford Baptist Church was built in 1858 to serve the local Baptist congregation in the town, which had resided in the town as far back as the 1650's. The current building was opened to worship and community gatherings in 1896.[21] Additional modifications took place to the building, with the most notable being the "skeleton spire" on the church tower.

The church continues to be an active place of worship for the local Christian-population and hosts secular events.[22]

The church is located close to Stafford town centre.

Amenities

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The main shopping centre for Forebridge is the "Stafford Hough Retail Park" and the nearby "Queens Shopping Park" in nearby Queensville. As well as Stafford town centre.

Transport

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There are regular buses to Lichfield, Rugeley, Cannock, Hednesford and Penkridge.[23] Stafford railway station is a short distance to the northwest.

References

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  1. ^ "Forebridge (Ward, United Kingdom) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location". citypopulation.de. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  2. ^ "Castle Church | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  3. ^ "FOREBRIDGE CONSERVATION AREA STAFFORD CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL" (PDF). Stafford Borough Council. Kathryn Sather & Associates Heritage Conservation Consultants. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  4. ^ "St Leonards Hospital". www.heritagegateway.org.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  5. ^ Monasticon Anglicanum : A History Of The Abbies And Other Monasteries, Hospitals, Frieries, And Cathedral And Collegiate Churches, With Their Dependencies, In England and Wales (in Latin) (Digital ed.). James Bohn. 1846. p. 774. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  6. ^ "Stafford Austin Friary". www.heritagegateway.org.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  7. ^ "Our Story". St Austin's Stafford. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  8. ^ "St Paul's CofE (C) Primary School - GOV.UK". www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  9. ^ "St Paul's Church, Stafford". www.search.staffspasttrack.org.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  10. ^ "CHURCH OF ST PAUL, Non Civil Parish - 1298174 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  11. ^ "Stafford: St Paul, Forebridge - CHR Church". facultyonline.churchofengland.org. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  12. ^ "St Pauls, Lichfield Road". www.achurchnearyou.com. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  13. ^ Page, William (1959). The Victoria History of the County of Stafford: Cuttlestone hundred (east). University of London, Institute of Historical Research. p. 98. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  14. ^ Pevsner, Nikolaus (1 January 2002). Staffordshire. Yale University Press. p. 248. ISBN 978-0-300-09646-0. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  15. ^ "Saint Josephs Covenant". www.search.staffspasttrack.org.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  16. ^ Moody, Jenny (23 April 2022). "The best care homes in Stafford". Staffordshire Live. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  17. ^ "Find that Charity | GB-CHC-237340 | Convent of the Religious Order of St Joseph De Cluny". findthatcharity.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  18. ^ "Green Hall, Lichfield Road, Stafford". www.search.staffspasttrack.org.uk.
  19. ^ "Stafford Lock-up". www.search.staffspasttrack.org.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  20. ^ "FOREBRIDGE LOCK UP, Non Civil Parish - 1195356 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  21. ^ "Baptist Church, Stafford". www.search.staffspasttrack.org.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  22. ^ Church, Stafford Baptist. "Stafford Baptist Church". www.staffordbaptistchurch.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  23. ^ "Queensville – Bus Times". bustimes.org. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
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