Alton, Staffordshire

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name = Alton
latitude = 52.977
longitude = -1.890
population =
shire_district = Staffordshire Moorlands
shire_county = Staffordshire
region = West Midlands
constituency_westminster= Staffordshire Moorlands
post_town = Stoke-on-Trent
postcode_district = ST10
postcode_area = ST
dial_code = 01538
os_grid_reference = SK073422

Alton is a village in the county of Staffordshire, England. It is noted for the theme park Alton Towers, built around the site of Alton Mansion (also named Alton Towers), which was owned by the Earls of Shrewsbury and designed by Augustus Pugin.The village is located on the eastern side of the Churnet valley. It is mentioned in the Domesday Book, and contains numerous buildings of architectural interest; the Round-House, Alton Castle (now a Catholic youth retreat centre), St Peter's Church, The Malt House, St John's Church and of course Alton Mansion.

Alton was served by Alton railway station which was opened by the North Staffordshire Railway on July 13, 1849 and closed in the 1960s.

The chained oak in Alton is famous by the ride Hex at Alton Towers and the legend involving the Earl of Shrewsbury.

The village is home to seven public houses, including 'The Talbot', 'The Bulls Head', ' The Royal Oak', 'The Bridge House', 'The White Hart', 'The Blacksmiths Arms' and 'The Lord Shrewsbury' (formerly The Wild Duck, now wrongly named. Should have been the 'Earl of Shrewsbury').

External links

* [http://www.crsbi.ac.uk/ed/st/alton/index.htm Information on Saint Peter's church]
* [http://www.wishful-thinking.org.uk/genuki/STS/Alton/StPeter.html Saint Peter's church]
* [http://www.francisfrith.com/search/england/staffordshire/alton/alton.htm Photographs of Alton]
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