Favourite or best looking buildings in Stafford.

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
As expected, everyone's favorite buildings are from 'old' Stafford. Would anyone like to nominate any of the 'new' (20th or 21st century) buildings?


Stafford and Rural have built some very decent places recently. The houses they have built on Austin Firars put many private house builders to shame, really nice looking new houses, and although not a particularly great building, the flats they ahve built on Greyfriars SARH have at least attempted to fit in with the old hospital opposite in the design of the new building. The new college extension is inkeeping as well imo.

As an aside, we seem to be the only country in Europe that doesn't spend money on new buildings, and by that I mena we just seem to want to build everything as cheaply as possible, I see new building in Germany and Holland and just am wow'ed by the design ideas they've come up with and the amount spent to ensure that the building are classy as well as useful.
 

Lucy

Well-Known Forumite
The run of houses on Newport Road, opposite the Brunswick Terrace junction, are often overlooked, as we drive past intent on the potential hazards on the road between the sorting office and the King's Horse.
I always wanted one of those, but couldn't ever afford one as a first house.
 

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
I always wanted one of those, but couldn't ever afford one as a first house.

I did until I realised that the gardens aren't priovate or connected to the house, they have some weird sort of access road between the house and the garden. Would be a nightmare if the dog needed a piss in the night :D
 

Lucy

Well-Known Forumite
That's relatively common in lots of the terraces around town, it's what they did in the era I guess.
 

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
That's relatively common in lots of the terraces around town, it's what they did in the era I guess.

I've seen access across gardens regularly, but this is a full on road that you can get cars down, I've never seen that before?
 

Lucy

Well-Known Forumite
Oh okay, I think the terraces by the railway bridge at Moss Pit are similar.
 

alphagamma

Well-Known Forumite
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Brooklands school is an attractive and unusual historic building (photo: J Marwood)
 

citricsquid

Well-Known Forumite
I have never ever understood why the rent on these places isn't reduced when they are vacant for endless stretches of time :S Surely some rent is better than none???

I'd guess that it's part opportunity cost, part due to the way that the office space market functions. That's office space for at least 100 people, a business with a headcount of >100 probably isn't going to quibble over a few thousand pounds a month, and due to the length of office space contracts (5+ years?) it would be better for them to hold the space at the current price waiting for a suitable business to come along than lease it at a much lower price long term. Assuming a business of 100 people, £25k average salary, that space is already pretty cheap, my employer spends a lot more than that per employee on space.
 

Chick

Well-Known Forumite
For me, the original houses in Brunswick Terrace are truly handsome-looking houses, and I would love to own one! I'd be interested in learning more about their history if anyone knows. If you own one of them, I envy you!
View attachment 3552
All I know is that the street was started in approximately 1830 and finished in around 1860. We think ours was built in approx 1850 but the deeds to the house were lost in a fire at a bank long before we moved in apparently
They are grade II listed which does have planning restrictions
 

Cue

Well-Known Forumite
I like the new Stafford Council Building.

Here here! Maybe I'm just too young to appreciate the old but the council buildings are certainly up there in my list of architectural designs in Stafford.

For me, the original houses in Brunswick Terrace are truly handsome-looking houses, and I would love to own one! I'd be interested in learning more about their history if anyone knows. If you own one of them, I envy you!
View attachment 3552

They are very solid houses, we looked at renting one a couple of years ago and consulted a neighbour about the trains - apparently there was no noise to be noticed when you're inside which bodes well for their sound proofing. Considering on Ingestre Road which isn't right next to the tracks you will find stuff rocking back and forth when a freight goes past that's pretty good.

The only downside is they're a bit skinny, so you don't get much floor space for the price you'd pay for one.


If we're talking residential buildings I very much like the estates up Kingston Hill*. Very solid houses unlike some more modern buildings popping up recently (but who doesn't love paper thin walls in a three story town houses right?). From my short life in the homeowner's world I've certainly found houses built in the 80s have a good balance of structural integrity and not being inconveniently old.

*Disclaimer: I bought one, maybe I'm biased.
 

joshua

Well-Known Forumite
Stafford Tool & Die factory, St Patrick's Place. Stafford Tool & Die made machinery for the shoemaking industry at their factory at St Patrick's Place.
 

age'd parent

50,000th poster!
Freddy Sandys, provided nuns habits and various ecclesiastic stuff circa 1960.
I was seconded out by Newco to cut black material into 2 yard lengths for a couple of days in 1961
 
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