Introduction: The Old Hough and the New Hough, Stafford
Date: 1979 - 1980 (c.)
Description: Until around 1980 there were two large houses and a lodge in an area known as the Hough in Stafford. These buildings were very near to the Lichfield Road (A34); however, they were all difficult to see because they were surrounded by dense hedges and trees.
In the aerial view above there is a glimpse of the Old Hough top right, in the centre is the New Hough and on the left amongst the trees is the Hough Lodge. Also on the left is the Lichfield Road. This area has been known as The Hough for many years and is located between Forebridge and the Queensville Bridge.
On maps dated 1881 and 1901 The Hough (later known as the Old Hough) is clearly seen as a large house surrounded by gardens and farmland. Adjacent to the house was the Hough Lodge and a range of service buildings which included stables, bakery and Laundry. There is an earlier mention of the Old Hough in a newspaper cutting dated 1820.
Siemens purchased the farm and land in 1901. Over the years the Old Hough buildings had many uses including as a works library by the Company Education Department and later as a storage area for the Pensions Office. The Old Hough was demolished around 1980. The bakery, stables and yard remained and were used for many years by the Site Services Building Maintenance department as a base for their plumbers, painters, roofers, gardeners and bricklayers and their equipment. These building were demolished in February 2006 as part of a redevelopment of the Lichfield Road site and the area became part of the Hough Retail Shopping Park. The Hough Lodge was demolished around January 2009.
The New Hough was built in 1907 and was the residence of the Manager with his servants, a groom and a gardener. The Architect was Arnold Mitchell of Hanover Square, London. The estimated cost was £1,500.00. The building was later enlarged on the ground floor to provide a larger kitchen and staff sitting room. In the 1960s David Hicks, a leading Interior Decorator from London, refurbished the House.
When English Electric established its Headquarters in Stafford, Lord Nelson lived in the New Hough and important customers, guests and visitors stayed there or at Broc Hill, another Company property near Milford. In later years the New Hough became the Company Guest House and continued to be used for important customers and guests.
During GEC and later Alstom's ownership, the New Hough continued to keep its own staff with a housekeeper, part-time chef, cleaner and gardener. The housekeeper had a separate apartment of several rooms and a sewing room in the roof top story of the house. The garden was very large with formal borders, hedges, and lawns; there was also a croquet lawn and a tennis court with their own pavilions and a large vegetable garden. Between the house and the stables was a squash court, a range of garages, a greenhouse and kennels for the dogs. Also in the garden was a pig-sty located far from the house but near to the Main Office block. The pig-sty was later enlarged and converted into cycle sheds for employees.
On 29 November 1996 a Royal visit was made to the Transformer Company by the Duke of Edinburgh and prior to the factory tour the Duke was provided with refreshments in the New Hough.
Along with many other changes to the Lichfield Road Site, the New Hough closed and the contents were sold by Auction on Saturday 20 July 2002. The sale Catalogue listed 230 items of furniture and effects, including a part George III longcase clock by Robert Greaves of Macclesfield.
During the redevelopment of the Site the New Hough was stripped of the wood panelling in the hall, stairs and landing and the staircase removed. All the ground floors rooms were knocked into one large area. The New Hough opened November 2007 as a Frankie and Benny’s New York American Diner/Restaurant.
Special thanks to Mrs Christine Gray and Mr Bob Metcalfe for their information on this subject.
