The best traffic-free bike rides around Cop Mere

A lovely old Joules pub, steeped in history. The Royal Oak is a quintessential coaching inn of the 1900s which provided substantial stabling and accommodation for travellers. Its story dates back even further than the coaching inn era, the origins of the building can be seen in the attics; the central chimney may even pre-date the ancient timbers. The attics, long abandoned reveal a set of small eerie servants rooms with no natural light. With lath and lime plaster and small oak framed door openings, these rooms evidence an ancient building and suggest the Royal Oak was a substantial inn well before the old toll roads. The Inn’s name also suggests royalist loyalty at the time of the English civil war which explains the rumour of a tunnel leading from the cellars to Gaol Butts nearby. The cellars are certainly ancient; old stone and arched and do reveal an intriguing closed passage. The coaching era heralded a major change of the Oak, in the early 1800’s the arches would have been added and the attics abandoned in favour of extensions to the pub including the coaching stables and the fine assembly rooms. In Victorian times, the inn was radically changed again, staircases and internal toilets added and rooms amalgamated and the introduction of a bar servery. Before this it is likely the inn would not have had a servery – just ale in jugs poured straight from the cask in the cellar.

A fabulous bakery & cafe selling homemade bread & cakes, and a lovely breakfast menu.

There has been a Church in Norbury for well over 1000 years. North Burie (Norbury) was a Saxon Settlement and St. Chad, the first Bishop of Mercia, may have come from Lichfield to found a church here. The current building was completed in the 14th Century, circa 1340, probably by Ralph de Botiller (d 1342), Lord of the Manor, whose tomb is in the chancel. Close by the tomb is the oldest Staffordshire brass memorial plate. The lady depicted is the wife of Ralph de Botiller (d 1359). The home in the 14th Century of the Bottilers and subsequent Lords of the Manor was on a moated site which the remains can still be seen close to Norbury Manor Farm (a short walk from Norbury Junction). The church was constructed in the 'Decorated' Style, indicated by the design of the medieval windows, and other architectural features including the Sedilia- stone niches for seats for the clergy. The Church consists of a wide nave and a long chancel, constructed from local red sandstone. The high pitched, lofty timber framed nave roof is thought to be the original, although the chancel roof, is probably late 15th or 16th Century. The medieval church had a west tower, which was replaced in brick in 1759, possibly by William Baker (1705-71), architect of Audlem, although the new tower is said to have been built around older stonework at the base (and has 17th Century bells). Restoration in 1826-29 (recorded on tablet on north vestry) included addition of north vestry and a west gallery, at a cost of £700. The gallery was later taken down and the present pews were installed later in the 19th Century. The east window was installed in 1873 to the design of Miss C.S. Burne.

All Saints Church stands on an elevated site in the village of Forton, near Newport with views of the Aqualate estate. The original church was built at Forton in 1199 though the Saxon font in the Church tower indicates it was a site of worship before this date. The yew tree to the left of the path is 1300 years old. The church has undergone several major changes but the east and north wall of the chancel survive and the round head slit window on the chancel north wall confirms the church has a 12th Century foundation. In 1729 five new bells were given to the church. The most prominent monument is the alabaster tomb of Thomas Skrymsher (died 1633), knight of Aqualate and his family.

Forton Hall is a stone gable house of Jacobean appearance but is dated 1665.

Lambarts Bridge No 41 is a minor waterways place on the Shropshire Union Canal (Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal - Main Line) between Norbury Junction (Junction with former Newport Branch) (1 mile and 7¼ furlongs to the southeast) and Knighton Wharf (This was the wharf for the Cadbury factory.) (2 miles and 3¾ furlongs to the west). It is at one end of Grub Street Cutting. https://canalplan.uk/place/cn7b

feel like old wild west farm... back to the past ;)

Little river and lake