| The Staffordshire market town of Newcastle-under-Lyme developed around the twelfth-century castle and was granted a charter by Henry II in 1173. The town's growth between the twelfth and eighteenth centuries was driven by industries including the hat-making trade and silk and cotton mills. Later industries included brick manufacturing, engineering, iron casting and coal mining. In this book, local author Mervyn Edwards highlights fifty of the town s buildings and structures that reveal its history, character and changing face across the centuries. No book on Newcastle-under-Lyme s architecture would be complete without a critical analysis of the borough s approach to building preservation and the gradual erosion of the town s visual appeal. The town still offers some architectural glories, such as the art deco Lancaster Buildings, the elegant Unitarian Meeting House and the majestic tower of St Paul s Church. Newcastle-under-Lyme in 50 Buildings highlights the treasured buildings of this Staffordshire borough. |
