Meaford, Staffordshire

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Meaford is a landmark hamlet in the English county of Staffordshire.

It lies at the junction of the A34 and A51 roads, north of the town of Stone. It is on the River Trent, while Meaford Lock is on the Trent and Mersey Canal. Meaford's most famous son is John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent, the naval hero (see below).

[edit] Meaford Hall

Meaford Hall dates from the late 17th century when the estate was acquired by William Jervis of Chatcull. It remained the seat of the Jervis family for almost 250 years. It was the birthplace of Admiral John Jervis, later 1st Earl St Vincent, hero of the defeat of the Spanish at the Battle of Cape St Vincent in 1797.

The Hall was much extended and modernised by Lady Forester, daughter of Edward Jervis Jervis, 2nd Viscount St Vincent in the late 19th century but was sold in 1943. Thereafter it was variously occupied by the United States Forces, and by a school and latterly it served as the headquarters of the building company Percy Bilton Ltd. Following a period of unoccupation and neglect the Hall was restored by a new owner and was reopened on 14th February 1997 the bicentenary of the Battle of Cape St Vincent.