Stone Nest

There is a Bronze Age ring ditch at Pirehill suggesting occupation in prehistoric times. Stone lies within the territory of the Iron Age Celtic tribe 'the Cornovii' (people of the horn; perhaps a horned god or topographical feature), mentioned by Ptolemy in the 2nd century AD in his Geography. To the north-west of Stone lies one of their hill forts, which overlooks the Trent and perhaps the salt production in the region. The early history of Stone is unclear and is clouded by the 12th century medieval romance concerning the murder of the Saxon princes Wulfad and Rufin by their father, Wulfhere of Mercia, who reputedly had his base near Darleston (Wulfherecester). The murder of Wulfad in the…

The River Trent, which runs through the town, had been used for cargo-carrying vessels since Roman times, but further inland smaller boats could only be used. Seasonal fluctuations in water depth proved insurmountable, although cargo could be carried from the sea as far south as Wilden Ferry (south-east of Derby), where the River Derwent joins the Trent and increases the quantity of water, then onwards by road. Prior to tarmac roads, journeys overland by roads were slow and delicate wares were prone to breakages over the rough terrain. James Brindley, the canal builder, put forward the scheme to build what he called the Grand Trunk Canal to connect the two rivers, Mersey and Trent in 1766.…