Cawsand, Cornwall

Town, Village or Hamlet: Village
County: Cornwall
Grid Reference: SX431503
Date Visited: Early January 2008
Challenge Status: Requirements satisfied, but a revisit to further explore the village would be nice.



In January 2008, we went down to the very south of Great Britain to Cawsand for the wedding of Lisa's brother. Her brother was married in Polhawn Fort, a few miles away.

Cawsand in January was cold, but as a Midlander living in the centre of Great Britian, anywhere on the coast is always a treat, whatever the weather. We stayed in the local pub called The Cross Keys Inn, and when we go to Cawsand again this is where we will stay. The village of Cawsand is joined with the village of Kingsand and these two villages are often called twin villages.

The video above is just a short clip of our children playing on the beach and a shot of the village.

Fradswell, Staffordshire

Town, Village or Hamlet: Village
County: Staffordshire
Grid Reference: SJ878255
Date Visited: January 2019 (and many other times before and after)
Challenge Status: Requirements satisfied

Living only a few miles away, we have been to the village of Fradswell on many occasions, mainly to the village hall to various events put on by the villagers. It's just far enough away from the busy A51 to give you a feeling of living in deep countryside, with farmland, hills, trees and grassy land for miles.




Fradswell is a dispersed village located a few miles to the north-east of the town of Stafford.

It's main centre of social activity is the village hall, built in 2016 to replace the WW1 nissen hut that had been gifted to the village after the war. There is also a church, dedicated to St. James the Less.

Fradswell Village Hall

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.

Seighford, Staffordshire

Town, Village or Hamlet: Village
County: Staffordshire
Grid Reference: SJ878255
Date Visited: January 2019 (and many other times before and since)
Challenge Status: Requirements satisfied


What a better place to start than the childhood home of Lisa Fairy. Lisa spent about ten years of her life here with her brothers and sister before moving closer to nearby Stafford.

Seighford is located about a mile from the north-eastern corner of the county town of Stafford. With the countryside stretching to the north and west, Seighford is a small village bordered by farmland. The main features are an 11th Century church dedicated to St. Chad, a 19th Century primary school and a ford.