Peg’s Cottage to Holy Trinity, Eccleshall

Turquoise painted window frames and the cheerful floral displays of Peg’s Cottage capture Eccleshall at its summery best.  This drawing continues the north side of the High Street concluding at No 80 where it meets Holy Trinity Church.

This row of  cottages is unlisted but falls within the conservation area. At the time of writing, I have an exhibition up in Eccleshall Library of all nine of my Eccleshall street drawings.  It’s one half of a twin exhibition – Staffordshire streets are on display a few doors along at Gallery at 12.

I’m inviting people to add their own history to this archive/blog and I’ve been delighted by the response so far. Thank you to all those who have contributed! It’s all to easy to see history as big events but we all make history wherever we go.  Adding a few names and occupations brings life to these homes.

The cottage with the red door belongs to No 68, where Martin and Julie Ratcliffe lived during the early 80’s until around 2013.  Martin is an architect and Julie works for the Fire Service. They raised their two sons here, Tom a GP in Yorkshire and Sam, an artist/record producer.

Next door (64/66) used to be two cottages where Mick and Jackie Murray lived for a similar period. Francesca, their daughter, now works for Staffordshire Police. The youngsters all went to Lonsdale School.

To see a photo of these cottages between 1890-1900, here’s a link to  Staffordshire Past Track where you can see them in the distance.

No 74 is listed grade 2 and is described in British Listed Buildings online:

‘Mid C19 villa ornée. Engraved stucco; central projecting bay with gable having a blocked window at centre and a renewed window (with glazing bars) at either side; ornamental bargeboards. Ground storey has 2 later bow windows flanking a moulded wood doorcase with fluted pilasters and 6-panelled divided door, all under a tiled lean-to roof; projecting eaves; ornamental tiles.‘

No 76 is also listed grade 2 and British Listed Buildings on line  describes it:

‘Late C18. The core late C16 or early C17. Plastered brick with stone plinth;
gabled end to west partly of timber frame (exposed during restoration work,
1978); 2 storeys; 3 sash windows, the outers 3-light and the central with keyblock;
plain pilasters at sides with moulded caps; central pediment; moulded cornice
at 1st floor; moulded wood pilaster doorcase with pediment, part-glazed panelled
door, and stone steps up; plain eaves; tiles. The interior has some exposed
ceiling beams.’

In 1871, Ivy Mount was once home to schoolmaster Joseph Bernard. Staffordshire Past Track has a photo of a man standing outside the house – no name but the photo dates between 1890-1900. It also shows the ornate railings which have since gone, possibly during the war effort.

From British Listed Buildings Online:

‘Grade 2 listed.  Late C18. The core late C16 or early C17. Plastered brick with stone plinth; gabled end to west partly of timber frame (exposed during restoration work, 1978); 2 storeys; 3 sash windows, the outers 3-light and the central with keyblock;
plain pilasters at sides with moulded caps; central pediment; moulded cornice at 1st floor; moulded wood pilaster doorcase with pediment, part-glazed panelled door, and stone steps up; plain eaves; tiles. The interior has some exposed ceiling beams.’

To see this building during the 1920-30’s, Staffordshire Past Track have a photo here.

Last of all, we reach the end of High Street where it leads into the boundary of  Holy Trinity Church and its grade 2 listed lychgate designed by the architect Basil Champneys in 1892.  From here High Street meets Church Street.

Staffordshire Past Track  has a photo which shows a clear view down the High Street  taken during the 1960’s.

I hope you can visit the twin exhibitions in Eccleshall on until the end of November. Eccleshall streets in the library and Staffordshire streets in Gallery at 12. All my Eccleshall drawings are available to buy as limited edition prints through Gallery at 12 or contacting me directly and all my drawings can be seen in full on my website Drawing the Street.

Thanks for reading,

Ronnie