Cheddleton: Churches, Mills and Railway Heritage

Cheddleton combines church and heritage history with mill and railway heritage. Your stay can therefore focus on several distinct themes: St Edward the Confessor Church and historic crosses, the preserved machinery of Cheddleton Flint Mill, and railway history. In addition, walking trails run along the Caldon Canal or through Coombes Valley Nature Reserve. When planning, you can consider which of these themes you would like to shape your stay.

Church and Monuments

St Edward the Confessor Church dates from the late 12th century and was built from locally sourced Cheddleton stone. The churchyard also contains a significant monument: the cross is designated an ancient monument and has a medieval base. Its upper section is by George Gilbert Scott Jr.; the Instruments of the Passion on it were designed by William Morris.

Another historic cross is the Butter Cross, west of Lowerhouse Farm. The medieval standing cross is at the junction of two paths and is believed to remain in its original location. It is designated a Scheduled Monument. Tours of St Edward the Confessor Church and its tower are available by appointment; arrange a time in advance.

Mill Machinery on the Caldon Canal

Cheddleton Flint Mill has been undergoing restoration since 1967 and has been preserved as a museum by the Cheddleton Flint Mill Industrial Heritage Trust ever since. The surviving mill machinery includes two overshot waterwheels, powered by the River Churnet. The southern wheel is 20 feet 5 inches (6.2 metres) in diameter, while the northern one is 22 feet (6.7 metres); the northern wheel is therefore the larger of the two.

Near Cheddleton Flint Mill, Springs Bridge, Bridge No. 41, crosses the Caldon Canal. The listed bridge dates from the early 19th century. A walking trail also leads to the mill: the Deep Hayes circular walk follows the canal for one mile to Cheddleton Flint Mill. Check route details before setting out.

Railway History and Walking Trails

Cheddleton Station was built in 1849 and is now the operational headquarters of the Churnet Valley Railway. Cheddleton Museum features themed exhibitions from a collection of more than 3,500 railway artefacts. Together, the station and museum give railway history in Cheddleton its own distinct focus.

For a longer walk, Styles in Stone runs about six miles east from Cheddleton, through Coombes Valley Nature Reserve to the edge of Ipstones. Trail conditions can change, so check them before your walk. This makes it easy to distinguish the two route distances: the canal section of the Deep Hayes circular walk to the mill is one mile long, while Styles in Stone describes a route of about six miles towards Ipstones. Whether you would rather focus your stay on church and heritage history, mill machinery, railway heritage, or a walk is a concrete choice.

Discover more destinations: Stone, Whittington, Hatherton, Burntwood, Tutbury, Pattingham, Gayton, Meerbrook

For the main travel overview: Staffordshire.