Deceptive country scene

Glorious weather as summer gets under way.  Enough sun to ensure warmth, and (of course, this is England!) cool enough to be outdoors a lot.

This stretch of the River Tean (which is no more than ever this wide, and which, curiously, never leaves Staffordshire) at Spath suggests the forgotten English countryside of yore.  However, behind the treeline, and about half-a-mile away, a huge industrial estate is taking shape.
Most deceptive.

The end for Offa

As Offa was a Staffordshire man (as well as a king), I think I'm justified in using this scene, albeit that it is in Wales. 
This is the point at the northern end of Offa's Dyke - an earthwork ditch & rampart created (probably) to keep out the marauding Welsh in the eighth century. Much of it can still be seen, thanks to conservationists; and one can walk a prescribed long-distance path along what remains.

King Offa, though controlling most of middle England, kept his main court at Tamworth, which is in Staffordshire.

Sat-nav nightmare

This ford is one of those sat-nav nightmares one reads about.  It's on the most direct road from Great Bridgeford to Seighford, yet I'd be unwilling to drive through along here and through that water.  BUT - a sat-nav is quite likely to take you toward it. 
Even during these very dry days of the moment it is six inches deep; and in winter it can rose to eight inches and more.
I'd be interested to know what local drivers think...

This post was featured on My Town Shoot-Out

Warned off swimming

The River Sow, at Creswell, slows down here at this point, becoming a wide & shallow pool, and just quiet enough for this bit to be regarded as a swimming hole.
Yet... even in these hot holiday days, there was a not a child to be seen here.

I'm guessing that - nowadays - parents might be horrified at the thought of their children playing in 'wild' water, and so have warned them strongly not to come here.

Lord Of The Rings on the bridge

In The Lord Of The Rings, by JRR Tolkien, the village of Tavrobel has in it a bridge at which two rivers meet.  Tolkien's son Christopher has confirmed that the site is based on the real village of Great Haywood, here in Staffordshire.
Tolkien lived near here for a while as he recuperated after a stint in the trenches in World War One.

This view from the famous Essex Bridge looks toward the River Trent (on the right) and the River Sow (on the left). 

There is also a canal tucked away a little behind all that greenery - the start of the Staffs & Worcester - but I don't suppose an Old English scholar would have wanted to include that aspect...

Hug bridge

The course of the River Dane marks the boundary with Cheshire on Staffordshire's North-Western side. 
Running over the river, you will find 'Hug Bridge' which is the main crossing hereabouts - on the A523 at Rushton Spencer.

It's not a very distinguished bridge, but it is listed.