Gayton, Staffordshire

Town, Village or Hamlet: Village
County: Staffordshire
Grid Reference: TF727193
Date Visited: January 2019
Challenge Status: Requirements satisfied



Although Gayton is close to where we live, it is tucked away so neatly that you have to have a reason to go there to sample its delights. This was only my second visit to Gayton and I must admit the village surprised me, with its Heritage Walk and historic value to the local area. There is an incredible tree in the churchyard and not knowing anything about trees we guessed it might be an elm.

Gayton in Staffordshire is a small village located to the east of the county town of Stafford. The name 'Gayton' is probably derived from the Anglo Saxon 'geat' meaning 'a primitive enclosure approached from a gate or narrow way'. There are several other villages called Gayton around Great Britain.

The village contains an historic and rare lamp box (see the video), which contains the symbol for Edward VII, who only reigned from 1901 to 1910. There is also a traditional red telephone box. Both the lamp box and the phone box are owned by the Gayton Heritage Society.

In Gayton there is also a new village hall that was built using a lottery grant and a church dedicated to St. Peter. Parts of the church date back to the 12th Century.















In 1904 an hotel was built in Gayton called 'The Gayton Hotel'. This has since been demolished and replaced by houses.