Lightwood & Locality

Local books, with Fred Hughes

‘LIGHTWOOD and Locality’ is a local history book published in 2003 by the Shooters Hill and Lightwood Heritage Group written by Gillian and Anthony Swift. It is big book crammed with a mass of research, illustrated documents and period photograph and achieves exactly what the authors have set out to do: to produce a glorious compendium of oral history of one of North Staffordshire’s most historical districts.

This bumper book covers Meir, Meir Heath and Rough Close as well as the two localities of the title. Embracing every aspect of community life it describes its Roman connections and the discovery of the famous Lightwood Hoard.

The story of the famous pot containing a hoard of Roman coins, permanently on display at the Potteries Museum, has always been a good tale to tell. The story goes that young Dorothy Collier came home from school in the mid 1960s when her father pointed out a terracotta vessel he’d unearthed while gardening. Unfortunately dad’s spade had smashed the pot and revealed the contents of coins moulded to the shape of the urn. Dorothy told dad to contact the museum who sent archaeologists to confirm the importance of the find. Further site examinations indicated the line of a Roman road from Uttoxeter to Chesterton.

Early origins of Cocknage, Star and Garter and Gravelly Bank are also well covered, but the book’s greatest appeal is the oral collection the authors have compiled from many individuals both living and dead.

There are chapters on the erection of the amazing Godesburg Villa built by a rich family of German settlers and the nearby Pittsburgh House, a large dwelling sponsored by the US city as part of the ‘lend-lease’ scheme.

This is a book filled with memories and is in the best traditions of oral history. If I have one criticism it is very minor but niggling: there are no chapter heading or indexes. But some people may find this contributes to its charm. It can be purchased from local bookshops.