Market Square, Stafford

Description:This view was taken looking north across the Market Square towards Gaolgate Street in Stafford. In the centre the single-decker bus belongs to Ipswich Borough Transport and it is an East Lancashire bodied Dennis Falcon. It is thought to be on loan to Midland Red for type testing as they had several around this time.

The Market Square was laid out with flower beds, trees and seating in 1953 to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Later in 1992, as part of the pedestrianisation of the town centre, the bus shelter was removed, the square was paved and the A34 was re-routed around the town.
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In the background, all of the buildings remain (June 2022) although some have changed use on several occasions. Left to right: a glimpse of Boots the Chemist shop, Barclays Bank, entrance to Stafford Market, Wrygges a clothing shop (the building painted white), which in later years had various occupants, currently it is occupied by Specsavers Opticians and Audiologists. centre right is the Alliance and Leicester Building Society which later became the Santander Bank, on the extreme right is the former National Provincial Bank which became the NatWest Bank, later it was a Pizza Express restaurant and currently it is the No. 3 café bar and restaurant.

This photograph was taken by Stafford photographer Tony Boydon.