Etchinghill, also known as Etching Hill, was once a singular village, until it was engulfed by the simultaneous growth of
Rugeley,
Staffordshire
Staffordshire (; postal abbreviation Staffs.) is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. It borders Cheshire to the northwest, Derbyshire and Leicestershire to the east, Warwickshire to the southeast, the West Midlands Cou ...
. It is now an
electoral district
An electoral district, also known as an election district, legislative district, voting district, constituency, riding, ward, division, or (election) precinct is a subdivision of a larger state (a country, administrative region, or other polity ...
/
ward. Etching Hill is situated just over one mile from the actual town centre. Its name historically derives from the large, forested hill on Mount Road - famed for its characteristic ice-age sandstone tip. Etching Hill backs on to
Cannock Chase and comprises several housing estates; a recognisable mixture of buildings from the town's early years and numerous modern developments. The area is much-coveted by those looking to move to
Rugeley because of its scenic qualities and the presence of two successful
primary schools.
Etching Hill is a very short distance away from the forest location that has hosted open-air concerts for music acts such as
Status Quo
is a Latin phrase meaning the existing state of affairs, particularly with regard to social, political, religious or military issues. In the sociological sense, the ''status quo'' refers to the current state of social structure and/or values. W ...
,
The Zutons,
Jools Holland
Julian Miles Holland, (born 24 January 1958) is an English pianist, bandleader, singer, composer and television presenter. He was an original member of the band Squeeze and has worked with many artists including Jayne County, Sting, Eric C ...
, and
UB40. The event, scheduled by the
Forestry Commission, was subject to much controversy; certain local residents of neighbouring
Slitting Mill harboured fears that the successive performances would be detrimental to the local wildlife and disruptive to the local population. This was proved to be unfounded. The venue continues to attract big names on a yearly basis.
Etching Hill is also the home of Rugeley Cricket and Tennis Clubs, and was the location of a horse racing course in the 1800s.
External links
Brereton and Rugeley Parish WebsiteEtching Hill Women's Institute Website
Villages in Staffordshire
Rugeley
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