25th August 1910 SS
N.S. FIELD CLUB
Excursion to Stone, Sandon, and District.
The fifth excursion of the members of the North Staffordshire Field Club for the present season took place on Wednesday. Members, to the number of between fifty and sixty, travelled to Stone by the 9.46 a.m. train. Here waggonettes were in attendance to convey the excursionists on the routes carefully mapped out by the leaders of the day, the president, Mr. J.H. Beckett, and the hon. secretary, Mr. W. Wells Bladen, and which took them several miles through particularly interesting scenery, and brought them in touch with many points of historical and geological interest.
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DRIVING THROUGH A TORRENTIAL RAINFALL
After luncheon, the waggonettes were again resorted to in order to continue the journey to Sandon. The route taken was via Moddershall, Idlerocks (by the kind permission of Mrs. Wedgwood), and Hilderstone. Throughout the morning the weather was beautifully fine and summerlike. With very little warning a torrential downpour took place early on in the afternoon journey lasting for about half-an-hour and drenching everybody who had the misfortune to be out in the open. Despite the discomfort the journey was proceeded with in the carriages to Sandon church. Here the architectural and other points of interest were pointed out by Mr. Alexander Scrivener, and the Vicar, the Rev. V. E. Sauerlaender, M.A. The church, dedicated to St. Ann, is situated in Sandon Park. Mr. Scrivener pointed out that considerable interest attached to the church on account of its association with the historian Sampson Erdeswick. The tower is of the late fifteenth century. That which is now the south aisle is believed to have been the original church. Mr. Scrivener pointed out the various alterations which had taken place down to the restoration in 1840; he described the memorials in the church and gave some interesting facts concerning the different owners of the estate. The church registers recorded the burials of soldiers killed in the fight at Hopton Heath in 1643. Attention was directed to a tomb stone in the churchyard, the wording on which is reputed to have been written by Dr. Johnson, a relation of one of the parties.
A MOATED SITE
Owing to the lateness of the hour, it was found impracticable to visit the moated site of an ancient mansion, the residence of Sampson Erdeswick the antiquary, which was part of the programme. The spot, however, could be seen from the churchyard, and Mr. Scrivener explained that the house was a half-timbered edifice defended by strong walls and a deep moat.
The drive was continued through Sandon Park, by the kindness of Lord Harrowby, and the return journey to Stone was made by way of Enson Moor, Aston, and Walton. At the Crown Hotel the party sat down to tea. Most of the excursionists returned to Stoke by the 6.35 train.
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