The History of Armitage-with-Handsacre Parish

Welcome to the history of Armitage-with-Handsacre, a Staffordshire parish whose story stretches back nearly a thousand years.

From medieval lords and ancient churches to canals, potteries, schools, farms, football teams and village memories, the history of the parish is far richer than its size might suggest. The people who lived here helped shape not only their local communities but also industries and institutions whose influence reached far beyond Staffordshire.

This website is a one-place study of the parish. It brings together original research into the people, buildings, families and events that have shaped Armitage, Handsacre and the surrounding area. Drawing on parish records, maps, photographs, newspapers, wills, trade directories and many other sources, it seeks to reconstruct not only what happened here, but how ordinary people lived their lives.

Among the subjects explored are St John the Baptist Church, Hawkesyard Hall, the pottery industry, Armitage Shanks, local schools and businesses, military service, village organisations, historic buildings and the families who called the parish home. Visitors can follow the parish’s development through the timeline, explore collections of postcards and photographs, search historical records, or browse articles covering every period from the medieval era to the twentieth century.

I grew up in the parish, first in Handsacre and later in Armitage, and this site is the result of many years of research and collecting. My aim is to create a lasting resource that preserves and shares the history of the parish for residents, descendants, researchers and anyone interested in Staffordshire’s past.

If you have photographs, documents, memories or information relating to the parish, I would be delighted to hear from you. Every contribution helps to build a fuller picture of our shared history.

Richard Ewing

Picture credit

Handsacre Temple by Gifford Foote – used with permission