Penkridge

infobox UK place

country = England
official_name= Penkridge
latitude= 52.7252

longitude= -2.1164

population = 7,000
shire_district= South Staffordshire
shire_county = Staffordshire
region = West Midlands
constituency_westminster= Stafford
post_town= Stafford
postcode_district = ST19
postcode_area= ST
dial_code= 01785
os_grid_reference= SJ922141

Penkridge is a market town in Staffordshire, England with a population of 7,836 (Census 2001). However Penkridge's status as a town is relatively new. Many locals will still refer to it as a village.

Location

Penkridge is situated in the district of South Staffordshire in the county of Staffordshire. It is located between Wolverhampton approximately ten miles to the south and Stafford five miles to the north, and lies on the River Penk from which its name is derived.

Facilities

Penkridge's local market still runs and is open on Wednesday and Saturday. The large Grade I listed church on the western edge of Penkridge is called St. Michael's; people passing by road or train will see it, and its magnificent tower illuminated at night. A smaller Methodist church is located on the main A449 route through the town.

The town has a large number of pubs, each serving good food and ale. There are also numerous sports clubs in Penkridge with a well respected cricket, football, rugby union and tennis club.

Every November for one night the town centre is turned into a Victorian Christmas Market. Penkridge has its own historical stocks and cells still to be seen in the town centre.

Transport

Penkridge lies on the A449 and is mid-way between junctions 12 and 13 of the M6 motorway. It is served by National Express long-distance coaches, and also by local buses provided by Arriva. It has a railway station on the West Coast Main Line, and can also be accessed by the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal.

Education

Penkridge has three First Schools (Marshbrook, St Michael's and Princefield), one middle school (Penkridge Middle School) and one high school (Wolgarston, recently granted Specialist Technology College status). The High School has its own swimming pool and the council-run leisure centre is on the same site. Villages and hamlets on the outskirts of Penkridge also use the Middle and High schools.

England's former capital?

A local legend claims that King Edgar made Penkridge his capital for three years whilst he was reconquering the Danelaw. However most historical sources see the reign of Edgar as an uneventful one and there is no record of any internal strife between English and Danes during his reign, making this claim disputable. ["Was Penkridge the capital of England?" at http://www.penkridge.org.uk/anglosaxtimes.htm]

It should also be noted that Queen Elizabeth the First frequently visited Penkridge, enjoying walks along the river and, according to rumour, lodging at the White Hart Inn.

Notes

External links

* Penkridge weather station (for climate data)
*
* Penkridge Viaduct