Description:Gayton is situated in the Trent Valley between Sandon and Chartley, approximately 6 miles north east of Stafford. It also contains the hamlets of Hartley Green and Wetmore.
The name Gayton probably means a primitive enclosure approached by a gate or narrow way, from the Anglo-Saxon ‘geat’. An alternative suggestion is that it means Gaega’s dwelling, derived from an old English personal name.
In the Domesday Book of 1086 it is recorded as Gaitone. At that time the manor was part of the extensive lands of Earl Roger and worth 30 shillings per year. It was tenanted to Goisbert and Ulvric. There was sufficient arable land to support four ploughs. In terms of its population there were 10 villeins (an unfree tenant who held his land by performing agricultural services) and six bordars (a small holder of land who farmed on the edge of the settlement). We know that there were six acres of meadow. There was also woodland of one league in length and half a league in breadth.
In the Hearth Tax assessment of 1666 a total of 33 households were assessed as liable for the payment of tax on 48 hearths. The largest property was that of George White who had six hearths. Seven households were recorded as being too poor to pay the tax. George Madder, whose will and inventory is included here is listed as having two hearths.
Gayton is situated on fertile, loamy soil mainly laid down to pasture and well suited for the principal occupation of farming. Other occupations have been represented in the village on a smaller scale and include a 19th century watchmaker, William Halden, as well as the 20th century engineering firm of T.B. Knight. There was also a village post office. The Gayton Hotel, in existence from 1904, was demolished recently for new homes.
St Peter’s church has a Norman chancel arch and a Norman font. There is a 13th century tomb recess and medieval floor tiles, some of which bear the arms of the Erdswicke and Ferrers families. There is also an ancient effigy of one of the Ferrers family. The church was renovated in 1732, and the tower dates from that time. It was renovated again in 1870 and during this time four stone coffins were discovered, one with a Maltese cross. The earliest parish register dates from 1584
It is possible that Samuel Wright of Shelton had the idea of manufacturing 19th century encaustic tiles from the medieval church tiles at Gayton. He took out a patent which he later sold to Herbert Minton, head of the Minton Pottery. These manufactured tiles are famous as the Minton tiles.
The Church School provided education for the children, enhanced by charitable bequests. In 1800 Mr. G. Brown left enough money for the teaching of reading to four poor children. Misses Sarah and Elizabeth Mellor also left money for the Church School. A school for boys and girls was built by the Earl of Harrowby in 1870 to educate 60 children. It later became a National School and the charity monies left by Mr. Brown and Misses Mellor were used to maintain the school library and provide prizes.
There are no non-conformist churches in the village but there is evidence that John Swain of Gayton wanted to use his house as a place of worship for Protestant Dissenters in 1807.
There is evidence of a Tudor water garden at Gayton moat house with a stew pond for fish possibly dating from the 13th century.