Withnail
Well-Known Forumite
Or so some say?I believe Stafford owes it's very existence to the Saxon v Dane struggle of that time, or so some say.
That's the narrative of the town's foundation.
Based on pretty solid Archaeological evidence.
Or, almost certainly, Stafford was a minor British settlement from the Iron Age, was a minor Romano-British settlement by the time of the Roman incursion, was accommodated by the Mercians as they advanced eastward - note the many "Walton" s we have nearby - before becoming a Burh in the frontline battle against the Danelaw.Or possibly Stafford owes its origins to a Roman settlement near the crossing point over the Sow. One could look at the possibility of a mislaid Roman road running from Penkridge to Trent Vale & Chesterton.
In simple terms, a spur of decent alluvial land, naturally defensible on three sides, with good access by land and water, is just good real estate.
Then you find it has a seam of clay that is good enough quality to make some top quality pots from - i'm going to milk this for the next 100 years...