Cannock's name is derived from the ancient Celtic word cnoc meaning 'high place', 'a prominence', which has relatives in Scottish, Irish and German; the name obviously refers to the town's location overlooked by the Cannock Chase upland area. The name of the town first appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Chenet, which changed to Canoc by the 12th century, while later Medieval charters and documents rendered the name as Cnot, Canuk and more recently as Cank, a local variant which appears on some 19th century maps. The modern English word chase is derived from the Middle-English word chace, which denotes a 'tract of land for breeding and hunting wild animals'. (Mills, p.70; Poulton-Smith, pp.28-9)
There are several large boulders in Cannock which are thought to have originated from granite outcrops in the English Lake District about 150 miles to the north-north-east. All of the boulders now visible are clustered at the High Green end of the Bowling Green in the town centre; there are two around the base of the old Conduit building, while the largest lies on the Newhall Street side of the Linford Arms public house. These stones, and others now buried in the grounds of St. Luke's Church, were once thought to have been the remains of some form of prehistoric enclosure, perhaps a Neolithic or Bronze-Age stone circle.
Although there is no evidence to prove that these massive rocks once formed part of an ancient druidical religious site, there is absolutely no doubt that they were brought here by natural means. The stones are glacial 'erratics', transported here by glacial action about ten-thousand years ago at the end of the last Ice-Age, and worn round and smooth in the process, which itself lasted many thousand years. It requires no stretch of the imagination however, to picture our ancient ancestors looking at these boulders and realising that they were out of place in the landscape and thus in some way 'special', and further reasoning that they were placed here by a supernatural agency. Not having developed the science of geology, our forbears may quite naturally have assumed that these rocks were placed here by the actions of the Gods themselves, and that they subsequently used them to mark-out the borders of a sacred druidical grove.
There are pitifully few pieces of archaeological evidence from prehistoric times in Cannock, aside from an ancient Barrow or Burial Mound at Saredon (SJ9508), which has now been ploughed-out, and a 'barbed and tanged arrowhead' found in 1938 at Cannock (SJ 9783 1094), both of which have been tentatively dated to the Bronze-Age. (AHDS)
The record of Iron-Age activity in Cannock is sadly lacking any detail whatsoever.
The Roman road Watling Street passed close by Cannock to the south, on its journey from the Roman port of Dubris (Dover) in Kent to the legionary fortress of the 14th Legion at Viroconium (Wroxeter) in Shropshire close to the border between England and Wales; two of the road stations built by the Romans along this military highway are situated within the Cannock Chase area at Letocetum (Wall) south of Lichfield and at Pennocrucium (Water Eaton) south of Penkridge. Despite the proximity of the Watling Street there are no known Roman remains in Cannock itself and it would seem that the activities of the Romans were conducted elsewhere.
There are no known archaeological remains in Cannock which may be dated to the Anglo-Saxon period.
The primary Domesday entry for Cannock contains a few clues which help us recreate how the town may have looked in A.D.1086, the full entry and a translation from the Latin shorthand used by the compilers of Domesday is given below:
"[In Cuttlestone Hundred] the King holds CHENET (Cannock). Earl Algar held it. 1 hide, with its dependencies. Land for 15 ploughs. 8 villagers and 3 smallholders with 3 ploughs. Woodland 4 leagues wide and 6 leagues long. Before 1066 it paid nothing; value now 20s." (The Domesday Book, 1086, 1.25)
The Domesday entry tells us that Cannock had been taken from the Saxon Lord Ælfgar by King William 'The Conqueror', who had retained title to it himself; for a discussion of the former landholdings of Lord Ælfgar see the CCH page for Rugeley. The rest of the entry is explained below:
There is no mention of any meadowland in the Domesday entry, but as four-fifths (80%) of the land cleared for cultivation was not being used, apparently, it is possible that the difference between the neglected fallow fields and any existing meadows may have been indistiguishable at the time of the survey. We are told that the manor of Chenet paid nothing in annual tax at the time of King Edward, but by Domesday this had risen to twenty silver solidi or 'shillings'. This marked increase in taxable worth is displayed very infrequently in the Staffordshire Domesday record, the only other settlements in the Cannock Chase area being Cannock itself, Rodbaston, Acton Trussell, Hatherton, Kinvaston and Hilton; it is noteable that all of these vills are situated to the west and south-west of the Chase Uplands in or near the Penk Valley. (VCHS, Vol.iv, p.15)
That, however, is not the whole story, for the Domesday Book contains another entry for Cannock which appears under the heading:
"[In Cuttlestone Hundred] Ælfric holds 1 carucate of land in CHENET (Cannock). Land for 1 plough. He has 3 smallholders. Value 5s." (The Domesday Book, 1086, 17.5)
This entry is interesting as it acknowledges one of King William's Thanes, Ælfric as holding title to one carucate of land in Cannock, a Danish unit of measurement equivalent to the Saxon hide and thought by some to represent the total worth of corn gathered from a hypothetical area of 120 acres. Ælfric had one 'plough' cleared and available for cultivation, which amounted to an area of 120 acres (see discussion above), and was worked for him by three tenant smallholders who also paid him rent for the privilege of farming his land. Ælfric's little piece of Cannock was worth five silver shillings per calendar year - a quarter of the worth of the town itself.
Ælfric is mentioned in one other entry in the Staffordshire Domesday record, as the former Lord of the Manor at Cooksland in Pirehill Hundred (SJ8626) on the Gamesley Brook between Stafford and Eccleshall, where he and another Saxon freedman named Toki together held sway over twice as much farmland as at Cannock, with five acres of meadow and a small piece of woodland in addition, worth a total tax assessment of six silver shillings a year. This land was apparently taken from them and granted to Robert of Stafford instead, with Ælfric being granted tenure of the plot at Cannock in return, which may not have been such a bad deal, as his Cooksland co-tenant does not appear to have been granted anything in compensation for his loss. (Domesday, 11.26)
 Plan of St. Luke's Church, based on that on page 31 of The Old Parish Churches of Staffordshire by Mike Salter. |
 Saint Luke's Church viewed from the south |
 Soldiers Recieving Communion window outside south chapel |
The earliest textual evidence which mentions the existence of a church in Cannock occurs in a papal decree issued by Pope Celestinus II at Lateran, and dated to the first year of his papacy, namely 1143. The decree confirmed the donation of the churches of Cannock, Rugeley, Alrewas and (Abbots) Bromley to the Bishop of Coventry and the Church of Lichfield, together "with other appurtenances within the diocese." Hackwood also tells us that:
"A gift of the towns of Cannock and Rugeley with their churches was made to the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield by Richard I., 4th December, 1189, which was afterwards confirmed by Henry III., 10th April 1230." (Hackwood, p.96)
In Harwood's County Survey of 1820, there is an interesting entry for Cannock, which states:
"near the church [there lies] a stone of great weight and magnitude, which has been sunk under the surface of the ground, and the plough passes over it. Several large stones are here the objects of curiosity, and are probably the remains of Druidical habitations."
St. Luke's church in Cannock boasts both a clock and a sundial, and in the churchyard on the south side of the church lie the remains of a Preaching Cross mounted upon Calvary Steps which, being in a sad state of repair and missing all but the lower three feet of the shaft of the cross, may only be dated somewhat tentatively to the fourteenth century.
The tower contains a peal of six bells, five of which were cast in 1747, and one in 1849. The aperture diameters and inscriptions recorded on the individual bells are as follows:
A hunting lodge was built in the 'Forest of Cannock' in 1088 during the reign of King William II and remained in the royal favour until 1189 when it was usurped from its position as the royal hunting lodge on the Chase by the nearby lodge at Radmore, built between 1157-9, after the Cannock Lodge had been granted to the Bishop of Lichfield. It is possible that the Royal Hunting Lodge attributed in ancient manuscripts to Cannock is represented by the remains of the known Homestead moat which was in use from Medieval to Post-Medieval times. The site of this ancient moat now lies a few hundred yards north of the Longford House roundabout on the A5 "Watling Street" beneath the houses and gardens of Stirling Place (SJ 9676 0973) at the corner of Wellington Drive and Bideford Way. (AHDS)
Saint Mary's Hospital (SJ9710) was first mentioned in parish records in 1220 but was abandoned by 1242. (AHDS)
In days gone by the previous residents of Cannock suffered during the summer months with water shortages. This was primarily due to the fact that the town is situated on a gravel plateau which rapidly drains off any surface water. This recurring situation was solved in the early 16th century by a wealthy resident of the town, Dr. William Birch, a local landowner who reputedly lived in the large house opposite the Bowling Green - now part of the Technical College. This eminent gentleman donated the water supply from a copious spring on his land at Leacroft, about one and a half miles south of the town. Upon receipt of this gift, the local parishoners in 1736 formed the Cannock Conduit Trust, whose Deed of Covenant records that:-
"Dr. Byrch gave the spring of water arising in his meadow at Leacroft, called Stringer's Meadow, for the benefit of the Inhabitants; and further granted free ingress from time to time, and at all times, into the said Meadow, for the laying and necessary repair of the pipes."
In order to lay the necessary pipes, the sum of £478 and 9s was raised by public subscription, among the Trust's eighty-eight subscribers being Dr. Hough, Bishop of Worcester, who was related to the Birches of Leacroft by marriage. It was this same bishop who subsequently petitioned the Earl of Uxbridge to "permit the enclosure of thirty acres of Cannock Chase, the rents of which were to be devoted to the reparation and improvement of the Waterworks." In 1853 the South Staffordshire Water Works came into being, which used the catchment around Cannock and Lichfield, and supplied water to the surrounding area. With the advent of this modern water supply, use of the Conduit water fell off, but in the early twentieth century was still supplying six pumps and a number of private consumers. The Conduit head (SJ 9794 1020) was renovated during the 1980's at the same time as the nearby bowling green, local sandstone being used to effect its repair.
This line was built by the South Staffordshire Railways company between Walsall and Cannock to exploit the Cannock Chase coalfields. The branch opened for freight and passengers in 1858 but ceased carrying passengers in 1965 reopening again in 1998, all the while remaining in use for freight traffic. The following railway stations along the Cannock Branch Railway were all opened in 1858: Hednesford Station (SK 000 125), Cannock Station (SJ 985 098) and Wyrley & Cheslyn Hay Station (SJ 985 076). (AHDS)
The first plan to link the towns of Walsall and Rugeley by rail was proposed by North Staffordshire Railways in 1846 but the overambitious proposal was rejected. The opening of the Cannock Branch Railway in 1858 provided the impetus for LNWR to propose extending the line from Hednesford across the Cannock Chase uplands via the glacial valley of the Rising Brook to Rugeley, and in 1859 after a bitter court battle with South Staffordshire Railways the line was completed; LNWR later acquired the Cannock Branch Railway from South Staffordshire Railways in 1861. (AHDS)
This branch line of the Cannock Mineral Railway was opened in 1867 to service two areas of the Cannock Chase coalfields; the first ran from Pool Pits (Hednesford) via Cooper's Lodge to meet the Littleworth Tramway at Heathy Leasons, while the second branch ran from the East Cannock Junction of the Cannock Mineral Railway and ran south-east to Norton Canes. The branch was also known as Anglesey's Railway due to it being sponsored by the Marquis of Anglesey who resided at Beaudesert Hall on the Chase at the time. Both branches were closed completely in the 1960's when operations ceased at the coalmines the line served. (AHDS)
This railway was opened in 1880, running from the Cannock Chase Railway junction at Littleworth to the western end of the Littleworth Tramway; like the Cannock Chase Railway which served the same coalfields, traffic ceased on the line in the 1960's. (AHDS)
The Cross Keys Inn (SK 001 125) is a two-story building of timber and stucco dated to 1746. Cannock Council House (SJ 9793 1024) was built in the 18th Century, it's gate and railings were added in the 19th. Saint Peter's Church (SK 006 119) was built in 1867 to 1868 with alterations made in 1905 to 1906. (AHDS)
"A large stuccoed house (SK 0017 1234) with Jacobean characteristics built in 1831 for Edmund Peel, third son of Sir Robert Peel. The house is of two storeys; advanced wings at sides with stepped gables having obelisk finials. The recess has an arched loggia over the lower storey, surmounted by a balustrade of pierced arcaded type. All windows are multi-ported casements formerly in square hood moulds. There is a smaller central gable with finials and an armorial shield. Now in use as a hotel." (AHDS, NMR_NATINV-1325372)
"Two storeyed house (SJ 975 104) of early 20th century date with rendered brick walls and a hipped, tiled roof (1900 - 1932). In the mid 20th century a wing was added. The house was converted to an old peoples home (1933 - 1966), then closed and re-opened as a hospital for the mentally handicapped (1967 - 1984)." (AHDS, NMR_NATINV-1068003)
The north-west end of the Cannock town centre 'pedestrianised zone' houses several notable features, the most obvious being the Bowling Green. This excellent flat green of fine old turf is enclosed by a brick-built perimeter fence, its rhomboid outline covering an area of just over one acre. The green drops from north-west to south-east by around two feet six inches, and the roots of the lime trees which surround the green on three of its sides cause slight undulations in the playing surface, leading to some "interesting bowls".
There was a dispute in the late nineteenth century between Cannock Bowling Club and Cannock Town Council over the actual ownership of this "old pleasure ground", the Club claiming that they had held possession for over one-hundred years, the Council arguing that the Green was public property. The disagreement was fought-out in Walsall County Court, which resulted in the Council originally winning their case. The Club appealed against the decision in the London Courts and were granted a re-hearing at Walsall, which proceedings were finally resolved by the creation of the Cannock Bowling Green Trust.
Dated 23rd October 1896, the Trust Deed sets forth the constitution of the Trust, which was vested in eight trustees, four from the Club and four from the Council, with an impartial chairman. The Trust's purpose was "to preserve the ground for ever as and for the purpose of a Bowling Green," which was let to the Club at a "peppercorn rent", so long as it contains at least twelve bona-fide members. The Trust Deed named Mr. Bernard Gilpin as its first chairman.
The grounds were renovated in the early 1980's, during which time an interesting discovery was made in the roof-space of the club house, then being extended. Two small pieces of wood were found, on which were the signatures of the original joiner and bricklayer, both dated 1932. After its official re-opening in the 1980's, the Bowling Green was patroned by HRH The Prince of Wales, a fact which is commemorated by a plaque on the wall of the shelter on the Green's northern side. A plaque in the club-house also records the names of each of the Club Presidents since the formation of the original Trust.
This exclusive club currently has around eighty members, mostly retired locals, the average age being "in excess of sixty" and the oldest member in 2001 being eighty-five years of age.
The remains of a World War II Anti-Aircraft Battery at Middle Hill (SJ 964 079) survive in good condition according to the CBA Defence of Britain Archive, whereas the Royal Observer Corps Monitoring Post in Cheslyn Hay (SJ 9690 0810) which was in operation during the post-WWII 'Cold War' period, has been destroyed. (AHDS)