The Newcastle Way runs over the sandstone ridges of Ashley and forms part of a route approximately 40 kilometres long. The area also has a distinctive architectural history: Ashley is home to a listed parish church, a Congregational Chapel with an adjoining school, and historic houses with a range of features. This makes it possible to view the place from two specific perspectives: the landscape along the route and the architectural styles and dates of individual buildings. To decide whether Ashley suits your travel interests, it helps to distinguish between its natural setting and architectural heritage.
Landscape along the Newcastle Way
The sandstone ridges describe the local landscape through which the Newcastle Way passes; approximately 40 kilometres is the length of the entire route. The two details therefore serve different purposes: the first places the route in Ashley’s landscape, while the second gives an indication of the route’s overall scale. The Newcastle Way is marked with blue discs bearing a pitwheel symbol, yellow arrows and oak signposts. If you take the route and its waymarking into account when choosing a destination, you can factor these landscape and marking features into your travel plans.
The chapel and its architectural features
The Congregational Chapel is dated to 1841, and the adjoining school to 1868. The dates are thus attributed separately to the two parts of the building. The chapel has a street-facing gabled façade with a dentilled eaves cornice, as well as a round-arched window with its original shutters. The sequence of dates highlights the school’s later construction, while the façade features bring the chapel’s architecture to life. If you compare historic architectural styles, you will find two different points of interest here: the dates of the chapel and school, and the chapel’s distinctive design.
Churches and their history
The Church of St John the Baptist in Ashley is a listed parish church with a Grade II* designation. The present-day Our Lady & St John the Baptist church opened in 1823. Fr James Egan designed its distinctive exterior and ceiling. It is an early example of a small Catholic church built after the Catholic Emancipation Act. The parish church status and designation are the main features of the Church of St John the Baptist; for Our Lady & St John the Baptist, its opening date, attributed design and religious and historical context are the defining details.
Historic houses
Nos 48 and 49 (Cottage of Content) is a listed building with a Grade II designation. The Cottage of Content is a pair of cottages believed to date from the 17th century, now forming a single house. Ashley Farmhouse retains largely intact timber framing. The two houses have different points of interest: the Cottage of Content is notable for its present form as a single house made from an earlier pair, while the farmhouse is notable for its preserved timber framing. Ashley’s architectural heritage therefore offers the chance to consider both changes to a building’s form and a surviving architectural feature.
Discover more destinations: Stone, Himley, Drointon, Coven, Leek, Rugeley, Burton-upon-Trent, Alton
For the wider travel overview: Staffordshire.
