Population 1,082 Sovereign state United Kingdom Local time Saturday 2:40 AM | OS grid reference 135 miles Post town STAFFORD Dialling code 01785 | |
 | ||
Weather 8°C, Wind S at 11 km/h, 93% Humidity Points of interest CANNOCK CHASE GERMAN, Freda's Grave, Glacial Boulder | ||
Brocton is a village and civil parish in the English county of Staffordshire. It is within the borough of Stafford. The village describes itself as the Gateway to Cannock Chase, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Contents
- Map of Brocton UK
- Location
- Population
- Description
- Brocton Military Training Camp
- Model World War I battlefield
- References
Map of Brocton, UK
Location
It is located about four miles (6 km) south-east of Stafford town centre.
Population
The 2011 census recorded a population of 1,082 in 445 Households. The parish comes under the Stafford Non-Metropolitan District.
Description
The village is just outside the built-up area of Stafford, on the edge of Cannock Chase. The parish is one of the most affluent areas in Staffordshire and is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). There is a single shop/post office and some of the most beautiful timber framed houses in Staffordshire. Good examples can be seen in Park Lane and The Green.
Brocton Military Training Camp
Brocton was once well known to servicemen as a World War I Military Training Camp, remnants of which can still be seen up at the top of Chase Road. J.R.R. Tolkien came to Staffordshire in August 1915 when he served his military training at an Army camp on the ancient forest and Royal hunting ground of Cannock Chase, Stafford. The military camp near Brocton was situated on the high ground of the 100 square miles (260 km2) of the chase, with its rolling moorland, unusual rock formations, and far-reaching views leading to dense forest all around. In March 1916 Tolkien married Edith Bratt and they moved into accommodation in Great Haywood, a small village on the edge of the Chase. Walking from the camp to his wife's house at the Presbytery in Great Haywood, Tolkien would have passed through the many-changing wild landscapes of the chase and past the great sessile oaks of Brocton Coppice, many of which still stand at over 1000 years old.
Model World War I battlefield
In September 2013 it was reported that Staffordshire County Council would excavate the World War I model battlefield near Brocton, which had been constructed by German Prisoners of War held in a camp on nearby Cannock Chase and guarded by soldiers of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade (Earl of Liverpool's Own). The model of the village and surrounding area of Messines in Belgium, which included replica trenches and dugouts, railway lines, roads, and accurate contours of the surrounding terrain, would be open to public view for a few weeks before being buried over again to ensure its preservation. The excavation is revealing amazing details of the 40 metre square battlefield, which is said to be perfectly preserved. "Staffordshire County Council will be using laser-scanning technology to re-create the site as a 3D interactive model that can be explored online."
Near Brocton is Brocton Hall the country house and golf course.